Filed under: BellatorPat Curran used a spectacular head kick to knock out Marlon Sandro Saturday night and win the Bellator Fighting Championships Summer Series featherweight tournament.
Four minutes into the second round of what had been a good, back…
Pat Curran used a spectacular head kick to knock out Marlon Sandro Saturday night and win the Bellator Fighting Championships Summer Series featherweight tournament.
Four minutes into the second round of what had been a good, back-and-forth fight, Curran exploded with his right leg directly across Sandro’s face, knocking him flat on his back and out cold. Curran pounced and landed three punches on the ground, but those were unnecessary: The head kick was what did it.
“I’m speechless,” Curran said after the fight. “I feel great. I can’t explain it — I feel great.”
The victory establishes the 23-year-old Curran as one of the most exciting fighters in the featherweight division, not just in Bellator but in all of mixed martial arts. Sandro was widely regarded as the best featherweight outside the UFC, and now Curran has stopped Sandro in sensational fashion.
Curran previously won a Bellator lightweight tournament before dropping down to featherweight, and overall he’s 6-1 in Bellator, with the only loss coming to the promotion’s lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez. Curran’s overall MMA record is 15-4, and he has to be considered one of the real rising stars of the sport. His finishing kick on Saturday night was spectacular.
It’s time!Bellator 48 is finally here and Bleacher Report has all the results, reactions and analysis live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.The card features the featherweight tournament finals bout between Pat Curran and Marlon Sandro.Also on …
It’s time!
Bellator 48 is finally here and Bleacher Report has all the results, reactions and analysis live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
The card features the featherweight tournament finals bout between Pat Curran and Marlon Sandro.
Also on the card is undefeated Bellator Heavyweight champion Cole Konrad who will be taking on Paul Buentello in a non-title fight.
The main card will also feature former UFC Heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez who will be facing the “Kimbo Killer” Seth Petruzelli in a heavyweight bout.
Myself and Tim McTiernan will be here all night on Bleacher Report for all the Bellator 48 coverage you need!
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the Bellator 48 live blog for Marlon Sandro vs. Pat Curran, the main event of tonight’s Bellator card from the Mohegan Sun.
Sandro (19-2) battles Curran (15-4) in the finals of the Summer Series Featherweight Tournament for a chance to challenge Joe Warren for the title at a later date.
Round 1: A touch of gloves and we’re underway. Sandro lands a right hand early. Curran looks for a flying knee and Sandro lands a right as he does it. Sandro’s speed advantage is a factor early. He lands a left hook. Curran lands a body kick. Sandro lands a leg kick and Curran comes over the top with a right. Both land. Sandro with a spin kick to the body. Curran lands a couple body kicks as the round winds down. Sandro tried a late takedown but Curran easily stopped him. Still, it’s Sandro’s round 10-9.
Round 2: Curran lands a right behind the ear in close quarters. Sandro shrugs it off though. In an exchange, Curran finds the same spot. After a rough first round, maybe he’s finding something here. Sandro lands a hard uppercut moments later. Curran is now bleeding from near the left eye. They clinch and Curran puts him against the cage. Sandro maneuvers his way free. Sandro’s snappy jab are finding their target. A Curran head kick skims its target. Body shot from Sandro. A Curran head kick out of nowhere knocks Sandro cold. Sandro ducked right into it. Curran lands a few unneeded follow-up shots, but it was over, in a finish that brought the crowd out of their seats.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the Bellator 48 live blog for Marlon Sandro vs. Pat Curran, the main event of tonight’s Bellator card from the Mohegan Sun.
Sandro (19-2) battles Curran (15-4) in the finals of the Summer Series Featherweight Tournament for a chance to challenge Joe Warren for the title at a later date.
Round 1: A touch of gloves and we’re underway. Sandro lands a right hand early. Curran looks for a flying knee and Sandro lands a right as he does it. Sandro’s speed advantage is a factor early. He lands a left hook. Curran lands a body kick. Sandro lands a leg kick and Curran comes over the top with a right. Both land. Sandro with a spin kick to the body. Curran lands a couple body kicks as the round winds down. Sandro tried a late takedown but Curran easily stopped him. Still, it’s Sandro’s round 10-9.
Round 2: Curran lands a right behind the ear in close quarters. Sandro shrugs it off though. In an exchange, Curran finds the same spot. After a rough first round, maybe he’s finding something here. Sandro lands a hard uppercut moments later. Curran is now bleeding from near the left eye. They clinch and Curran puts him against the cage. Sandro maneuvers his way free. Sandro’s snappy jab are finding their target. A Curran head kick skims its target. Body shot from Sandro. A Curran head kick out of nowhere knocks Sandro cold. Sandro ducked right into it. Curran lands a few unneeded follow-up shots, but it was over, in a finish that brought the crowd out of their seats.
Filed under: BellatorBellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad beat his most accomplished opponent to date on Saturday night, defeating former UFC heavyweight contender Paul Buentello by unanimous decision. But the fight did nothing to change Konrad’s …
Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad beat his most accomplished opponent to date on Saturday night, defeating former UFC heavyweight contender Paul Buentello by unanimous decision. But the fight did nothing to change Konrad’s reputation as a dull fighter more interested in winning decisions than finishing fights.
The fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, booed loudly during much of the fight, which didn’t have a lot of action. Buentello, who declined to engage in the stand-up, deserves more of the blame for the lack of action than Konrad. But Konrad is Bellator’s heavyweight champion, and he’s the one who was hearing the boos afterward.
The judges cored the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, and there’s no question that Konrad deserved to win. But there are major questions about whether the fans will want to watch Konrad.
“I took a lot of criticism for just wrestling,” Konrad said after the fight, which was mostly a stand-up battle. “I wanted to come out and show against a great striker that I can stand up. I think I proved that to some people tonight.”
But Konrad, who improved his professional MMA record to 8-0, didn’t prove that he can be an exciting headliner for a major fight card. Konrad is an outstanding wrestler and a solid young MMA fighter, but Bellator has a problem on its hands when its heavyweight champion leaves the crowd booing.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the Bellator 48 live blog for Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello, a heavyweight bout on tonight’s Bellator card from the Mohegan Sun.
Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad (7-0) fights for the first time this year in this non-title bout against UFC and Strikeforce veteran Paul Buentello (29-13).
Round 1: The big men stalk each other around the cage. One of Konrad’s first jabs opens up a small cut on Buentello’s head. Buentello is very passive early, maybe finding range. Konrad is throwing out jabs but not much with power early. Konrad fires out a combination, but Buentello avoids the big shots. Crowd is restless quickly. Buentello lands a hard uppercut but doesn’t follow it up with anything. Konrad with a couple leg kicks and a straight right. It’s a 10-9 for Konrad.
Round 2: Buentello’s cornerman berated him in between rounds. He got five minutes of standup, which is probably what he wanted, and he gave the round away. He comes out in the second with a little more purpose, moving forward. Konrad fires off a couple jabs and leg kicks. Well, looks like Buentello’s early aggression is gone already. Konrad is fighting Buentello’s fight and winning. Buentello pops him with a knee, Konrad looks to take him down but reconsiders and stays standing. Konrad lands a hard right with 30 seconds left. The two exchange against the cage for a moment but Konrad backs away. Closer round but it’s still Konrad’s, 10-9.
Round 3: Konrad hurt Buentello with a right hand. Buentello fell to the ground and Konrad took his back, landed some shots and went for the finish. He tried to sink in a rear naked choke but Buentello tucked his chin and Konrad gave it up. He kept on his back, then Buentello rolled over and Konrad landed in half-guard. Konrad worked shots to the body as Buentello tried to regain guard. With 1:00 left, ref Dan Miragliotta stood them up. Buentello landed a left jab, then tried to follow with an uppercut but Konrad weaved out of the way. Buentello landed an uppercut and Konrad clinched and moved him against the fence as the round ended. It’s another 10-9 for the champ, who will probably win a unanimous decision.
Winner: Cole Konrad def. Paul Buentello via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the Bellator 48 live blog for Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello, a heavyweight bout on tonight’s Bellator card from the Mohegan Sun.
Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad (7-0) fights for the first time this year in this non-title bout against UFC and Strikeforce veteran Paul Buentello (29-13).
Round 1: The big men stalk each other around the cage. One of Konrad’s first jabs opens up a small cut on Buentello’s head. Buentello is very passive early, maybe finding range. Konrad is throwing out jabs but not much with power early. Konrad fires out a combination, but Buentello avoids the big shots. Crowd is restless quickly. Buentello lands a hard uppercut but doesn’t follow it up with anything. Konrad with a couple leg kicks and a straight right. It’s a 10-9 for Konrad.
Round 2: Buentello’s cornerman berated him in between rounds. He got five minutes of standup, which is probably what he wanted, and he gave the round away. He comes out in the second with a little more purpose, moving forward. Konrad fires off a couple jabs and leg kicks. Well, looks like Buentello’s early aggression is gone already. Konrad is fighting Buentello’s fight and winning. Buentello pops him with a knee, Konrad looks to take him down but reconsiders and stays standing. Konrad lands a hard right with 30 seconds left. The two exchange against the cage for a moment but Konrad backs away. Closer round but it’s still Konrad’s, 10-9.
Round 3: Konrad hurt Buentello with a right hand. Buentello fell to the ground and Konrad took his back, landed some shots and went for the finish. He tried to sink in a rear naked choke but Buentello tucked his chin and Konrad gave it up. He kept on his back, then Buentello rolled over and Konrad landed in half-guard. Konrad worked shots to the body as Buentello tried to regain guard. With 1:00 left, ref Dan Miragliotta stood them up. Buentello landed a left jab, then tried to follow with an uppercut but Konrad weaved out of the way. Buentello landed an uppercut and Konrad clinched and moved him against the fence as the round ended. It’s another 10-9 for the champ, who will probably win a unanimous decision.
Winner: Cole Konrad def. Paul Buentello via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Filed under: Bellator, NewsFormer UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez was on a 12-fight winning streak and appeared to be on the way back, if not to a title than at least to respectability. But Seth Petruzelli put a stop to any talk that Rodriguez…
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez was on a 12-fight winning streak and appeared to be on the way back, if not to a title than at least to respectability. But Seth Petruzelli put a stop to any talk that Rodriguez is back.
Petruzelli brutally knocked Rodriguez out in the first round of their Bellator fight on Saturday night: Petruzelli landed a spinning kick to the head to knock Rodriguez off balance, and then when Rodriguez recovered and charged forward with his hands down, Petruzelli leveled him with a big right hand to the chin. With Rodriguez on his back, Petruzelli whaled on him with a double hammerfist, and then the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
The official time of the technical knockout victory was 4 minutes, 21 seconds of the first round. For Rodriguez, the loss was the first time he’s been finished since losing to Tim Sylvia at UFC 41.
For Petruzelli, this was his most significant win since knocking out Kimbo Slice in 2008, in a nationally televised fight that led to the downfall of the old EliteXC promotion. Now Petruzelli says he wants to help build Bellator as an up-and-coming promotion.
“I’m so happy,” Petruzelli said afterward. “That light heavyweight belt for Bellator has my name written all over it, and I’m coming for it.”
It’s time!
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the 
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — This is the 
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