Cris Cyborg scores to start with occupation submission in Bellator 249 main function

The Bellator MMA cage was at the Mohegan Sunshine Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on Thursday for Bellator 249: Cyborg vs. Blencowe. Women’s featherweight winner Cris Cyborg put her title on the line against Arlene Blencowe in the battle card’s principal party.

Cyborg captured the title by defeating former winner Julia Budd in January. On Thursday, she defended the belt for the initially time in dominating fashion.

The embellished Brazilian winner specific the legs of Blencowe with kicks and exhibited her ground sport. She took Blencowe down halfway via the spherical and mounted the Australian. Cyborg sent punches and elbows forcing Blencowe to roll over and give up her back again. Cyborg linked with right palms as Blencowe battled to stand.

In the 2nd frame, Cyborg went back again to making use of leg kicks, but also combined in head kicks. Blencowe blocked the kicks but was taken down again. On the ground, Cyborg innovative to the mount posture, postured up and shipped major elbows. Blencowe gave up her back again and Cyborg utilized a rear-bare choke forcing Blencowe to tap out. It was Cyborg’s to start with career submission complete.

“This is awesome. I could hear my corner astounding. It was like a video video game. I felt all set,” said Cyborg subsequent the get.

Previous light-weight title challenger Patricky “Pitbull” Freire was scheduled to deal with Jeleel Willis in the co-most important function but was pulled from the battle card just after staying deemed unable to contend by the Mohegen Tribal Athletic Fee owing to an undisclosed healthcare issue.

A catchweight bout amongst Ricky Bandejas and Loandro Higo was elevated to the co-key function. The struggle was scheduled to get location in the bantamweight division but Higo skipped pounds.

Bandejas labored his jab and kicks to attempt and maintain Higo on the exterior. It labored briefly but Higo was equipped to shut the distance and choose Bandejas down. From there, he dominated the action with quick punches and advancing his place to the mount.

Higo secured a takedown early in the 2nd frame and built the most of it. Right after having Bandejas’ back, Higo sunk in a rear-naked choke that compelled Bandejas to faucet out.

In heavyweight action, Steve Mowry remained unbeaten and added an additional end to his document by using bout Shawn Teed late in the opening round.

Mowry controled the pace of the battle utilizing his jab and setting up combinations. In near quarters, Mowry would clinch and fired off knees up the middle. He caught Teed going foward and timed a knee that staggered he 28-12 months outdated. Mowry related with a right hand that despatched Teed crashing to the canvas. The referee intervened just after Mowry landed a couple of comply with up pictures.

“I’ve been telling my teammates for weeks, essentially considering the fact that my very last struggle in Oct, 1 of these knees is heading to touch somebody’s chin. I did not know if it would be a system factor or a knockout or what, but I knew if I place these knees on any individual they’re heading down,” Mowry mentioned subsequent the acquire.

Lightweights Saad Awad and Mandel Nallo kicked off the most important card and the bout ended in a No Contest thanks to an accidental knee to the groin. Though the two labored for placement along the cage, Nallo landed a tricky knee to the groin that rendered Awad not able to keep on.

Bellator 249: Cyborg vs. Blencowe Final results:

Cris Cyborg def. Arlene Blencowe by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:36, R2
Leandro Higo def. Ricky Bandejas by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:32, R2
Steve Mowry def. Shawn Teed by TKO (knee and punches) at 4:22, R1
Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo is dominated a no-contest (accidental ground strike) at 1:44, R1
Andrew Kapel def. Joseph Creer (doctor stoppage, slice) at 5:00, R2
Kemran Lachinov def. Kyle Crutchmer by unanimous selection (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Christian Edwards def. Hamza Salim by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:28, R2
Da’Mon Blackshear def. Mike Kimbel by submission (rear-bare choke) at 4:14, R2
Aviv Gozali def. Logan Neal by sumbission (kimura) at 3:22, R1
Albert Gonzales def. Kastriot Xhema by means of TKO (retirement) at 5:00, R2