Tag: MMA

Rampage Jackson vs. King Mo: Winner, Scorecard and Analysis

In an odd outcome, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson defeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in a unanimous decision at Bellator 120.All three judges scored it 29-28 for Jackson. With the win, Rampage took the light heavyweight tournament and earned himself a s…

In an odd outcome, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson defeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in a unanimous decision at Bellator 120.

All three judges scored it 29-28 for Jackson. 

With the win, Rampage took the light heavyweight tournament and earned himself a shot at light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton.

But he didn’t seem happy with the result. Per Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, during the post-fight interview Rampage said:

King Mo was clearly dissatisfied with the decision. He called out Bellator head man Bjorn Rebney. Fox Sports’ Damon Martin captured that and other wild post-fight events:

Mo had legitimate beef with the decision. It did appear that he deserved to win the bout.

In the first round, he dominated most of the time with his takedowns and top control. Rampage couldn’t get to his feet until later in the round.

Once he did, it was too late to capture Round 1.

In the second round, Rampage’s power and boxing became factors. His jab and uppercuts opened up a nasty gash over Mo’s eye. There was also significant swelling under it as well.

Mo had brief moments, but it appeared Rampage took the round.

In an uneventful third round, Mo seemed to do the best work. He scored a takedown that should have been the difference in the round. Instead, the judges saw it the other way.

It wasn’t the worst decision, but it was certainly debatable.

Rampage will get his shot at the light heavyweight title, but some time down the line, it seems like he and King Mo need to meet again.

It’s hard to tell which direction Mo should go at this point. He could continue to battle in hopes of getting another shot at Rampage.

For now, his immediate future is in limbo.

 

Follow me. I dig combat sports.

@BMaziqueFPBR

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Bellator 120 Results: Grades for Every Main Card Fighter

After the better part of a year angling to make it happen, Bellator finally hit the pay-per-view airwaves on Saturday night from Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. It was the promotion’s first crack at paid viewership after Bellator 106 sli…

After the better part of a year angling to make it happen, Bellator finally hit the pay-per-view airwaves on Saturday night from Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. It was the promotion’s first crack at paid viewership after Bellator 106 slipped through the cracks in November, and it was a decent night of action from the second-best MMA promotion in North America.

This one almost slipped through the cracks too, though, saved by some last-minute reshuffling of the card. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal were elevated to the main event, and former headliner Michael Chandler landed a new opponent after Eddie Alvarez left him at the alter due to a concussion.

Plenty went down for Bjorn’s Boys of the Bellator cage. Here are the grades for their night’s work.

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Bellator 120 Results: The Real Winners and Losers from Jackson vs. Lawal

You’d be forgiven for forgetting, but Bellator actually had some fights on Saturday night. 
Bellator 120 was the first pay-per-view event in the promotion’s history, but the whole thing felt like a limp toward the finish, rather than the celebrati…

You’d be forgiven for forgetting, but Bellator actually had some fights on Saturday night. 

Bellator 120 was the first pay-per-view event in the promotion’s history, but the whole thing felt like a limp toward the finish, rather than the celebration of a new phase in the life cycle. In other words, the big day arrived despite the circumstances around it, not because of them.

Not up on your Bellator history? Follow me to the blackboard. See, it wanted to make its pay-per-view debut seven months ago with Bellator 106 but slapped the whole thing back down to cable after main-eventer Tito Ortiz pulled out on late notice. It only comes now despite the highly conspicuous absence of the promotion’s biggest star, Eddie Alvarez, who pulled out of his main event title fight with Michael Chandler.

When Bellator announced that the pay-per-view, this time, would go on as scheduled, insiders and hardcore fans howled with indignation and, yeah, laughter. The card, went their argument and/or punch line, wasn’t strong enough to carry a PPV in the first place. No way was this a viable, big-time card without the promotion’s two best fighters to anchor it.

Maybe, maybe not. But put aside the armchair quarterbacking on buy numbers and the future of the company for a moment. Laboring in the long, dark shadow of the UFC, Bellator has always struggled for respect and probably always will. When Saturday night finally rolled around, fighters had their day in court to determine the worth of the event.

What kind of argument did they present? That rubber match between Alvarez and Chandler will have to wait, but in the meantime, Chandler faced a dangerous (if lesser-known) lightweight in Will Brooks for the interim lightweight strap. And in the main event, former UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson took on Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. And there were some other interesting (from one point of view or another) fights to be found across the card.

As always, the final stat lines only reveal so much. Here are the real winners and losers from Bellator 120.

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Bellator 120: 2 Fights for Rampage Jackson to Take Next

Bellator 120 saw the return of Rampage Jackson. In his way was a popular commodity in the form of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. The fight represented two of the biggest names in Bellator throwing down in the main event.
The fight was the culminat…

Bellator 120 saw the return of Rampage Jackson. In his way was a popular commodity in the form of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. The fight represented two of the biggest names in Bellator throwing down in the main event.

The fight was the culmination of a heated rivalry between the two big personalities. Many verbal swipes were taken during the heated buildup and near-physical altercations happened, making this a bitter feud. 

When the fight actually happened, Jackson took a unanimous decision in a closely contested bout. It could have gone either way and could spawn a rematch down the road. 

Who should Rampage Jackson be matched up with in the interim? Let’s take a look at the only two options he has at this point.

 

King Mo Lawal

The fight was close. Many people thought that Jackson won, but it really could have gone to Lawal.

The feud is actually legitimate. Whether we care or not is another question, but you have to think Bellator would jump all over the promotion of a rematch.

This fight had some drama, though it failed to live up to expectations. It was hard with the buildup, though, as there was so much talk, we thought it would be a great fight.

A second bout with King Mo would be big-time. The two fighters failed to finish each other, but if they were to throw down again, I am sure a few fans would tune in for it.

 

Emanuel Newton

This fight is obvious. That is because the winner of Rampage Jackson-King Mo Lawal was supposed to fight Emaunuel Newton for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship.

Newton is an interesting fighter with some dynamic techniques. He has the wrestling and athleticism to make Rampage uncomfortable and make this a fight. That being said, Newton and Jackson have trained in the past, which may make them a little hesitant to fight. However, if it’s to hold gold, I don’t see why Jackson wouldn’t be more than willing to throw down with Newton.

Newton has the chance to be a star. Rampage has the name to make him a star. That’s why this fight is interesting.

Rampage can continue his resurgence with a win over Newton. Not only that, but he would also become a champion in both UFC and Bellator, an accomplishment not yet had by any fighter. That in itself draws interest, even though Rampage himself is a draw on his own.

Who would win, the current young champion or the former champion returning to form?

If Newton wins, he is a champion that the UFC needs to pursue in the near future. If Rampage wins, he proves he is not done in this crazy sport.

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Michael Chandler vs. Will Brooks: What We Learned from Interim Title Fight

Bellator 120 was supposed to feature a rubber match for the lightweight title between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. Instead, Chandler fought Will Brooks for the interim title on Saturday.
Chandler is the former lightweight cha…

Bellator 120 was supposed to feature a rubber match for the lightweight title between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. Instead, Chandler fought Will Brooks for the interim title on Saturday.

Chandler is the former lightweight champion, while Brooks was a shoo-in to become a future champion with Bellator. When the fight was over, Brooks took a close split decision from the former champion.

What did we learn from this fight? Let’s take a look. 

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Brooks and his resilience. He was down early thanks to Chandler’s ability to get him to the mat, but Brooks used athleticism and cardio to come back.

It was close, but Brooks showed he is a top-notch athlete. Chandler took him down, but Brooks fought back like a warrior. Beating Chandler is a big deal, and Brooks showed he is the real deal. 

 

What We Learned About Brooks

He is a top lightweight in this sport. I have been saying that since he dominated Satoru Kitaoka in Japan, but he really proved it by beating Chandler.

He is definitely a fighter to keep your eye on. 

 

What We Learned About Chandler

He still has to improve. Despite being a Bellator champion in the past, he proved that he is not a world-beater like he showed in his previous bouts.

He got tired quickly and was outgrappled by a guy who had a worse wrestling pedigree than him. He will get better in the gym and has a bright future, regardless. 

 

What’s Next for Brooks?

This one is obvious. Alvarez is next. The winner is the undisputed Bellator champ and a guy that the UFC is taking a close look at. 

 

What’s Next for Chandler?

Now that his shot at Alvarez is gone, he should enter the next lightweight tournament. He has many options, but a fight with Paul Sass, who should be in a tournament, would be an interesting scrap. 

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Alexander Shlemenko vs. Tito Ortiz: Winner, Recap and Analysis

In a bit of a Saturday night shocker, Tito Ortiz proved he has a little left in the tank.The 39-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world upset Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 120 at the Landers Center i…

In a bit of a Saturday night shocker, Tito Ortiz proved he has a little left in the tank.

The 39-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world upset Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 120 at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi.

The end came via submission by arm triangle in the very first round. Shlemenko was unconscious before he could tap out.

Ortiz looked like a giant compared to Shlemenko in the cage. The Russian did well when the fight was standing. But once Ortiz took him to the ground, it was all over.

Ortiz quickly took the advantageous position and stopped his opponent.

Per the Bellator pay-per-view telecast, when Bellator‘s Jimmy Smith asked Ortiz how he felt after the fight, Ortiz said, “Guess who’s back.”

Gamma Labs gave credit where it was due.

Shlemenko’s title wasn’t on the line, as the fight was fought at light heavyweight. But the 29-year-old Russian’s reputation took a hit.

Ortiz was not expected to win this bout, and he had been the target of several jokes on social media leading up to the fight.

Here’s one example from MMA Roasted:

By the time the night was over, the Huntington Beach Bad Boy had the last laugh.

The win breathes new life into Ortiz’s career. Shlemenko was a respectable opponent. Beating him gives some credence to the thought that Ortiz may be prepared to be a major player in MMA again.

Shlemenko is still the middleweight champion, but he looks a lot less elite after losing to Ortiz.

From a public perception standpoint, Shlemenko will have a lot to prove as he attempts to continue his reign at 185 pounds.

We’ll see if Shlemenko‘s future opponents will attempt to take him to the ground and impose their will as well.

 

Follow me. I dig combat sports.

@BMaziqueFPBR

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