Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, Ryan Bader Earn Championship Wins At Bellator 186

Bellator 186 came and went, and ended with one new champion, and another successfully defending their title.

Ryan Bader dominated the main event of Bellator 186 from Penn State, as he pounded out challenger Linton Vassell on his way to a second round stoppage. You can see an excerpt from our Fightful.com live coverage below.

Round One: The round begins with Bader grabbing Vassell and he holds him against the cage wall, Bader scores a takedown on Vassell and he gets side control. Bader quickly transitions to the half guard against Vassell, Vassell scrambles to his feet and he separates from Bader. Vassell nails Bader with a kick to the midsection, Vassell also starts attacking Bader with some leg kicks. Bader catches a kicking Vassell with a counter right, Bader scores another takedown on Vassell and he gets the half guard. Vassell gets Bader off of him and both fighters are standing up, Bader scores another takedown on Vassell and he gets the half guard. Bader attacks Vassell with some ground and pound as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Bader

Round Two: The round begins with Bader attempting a high kick before scoring a takedown on Vassell, Bader starts attacking Vassell with some ground and pound. Vassell wall walks to his feet and Bader drags him back to the ground, Bader attacks Vassell with a plethora of hammer fists. Bader turns up the heat with the ground and pound until the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Ryan Bader def. Linton Vassell by TKO via strikes (3:58, R2) to retain the Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Title

When speaking to Fightful.com during fight week, Bader correctly predicted a finish in the bout. It served as his first successful title defense. He's now won nine of his last ten fights, including wins over Phil Davis, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Rashad Evans and Ovince Saint Preux.

Ilima-Lei MacFarlane made history by defeating Emily Ducote to become the first ever Bellator Flyweight Champion, just one month before the UFC crowns their inagural champion. MacFarlane, who also defeated Ducote last year, dominated the duration of the bout outside of a couple of Ducote takedowns.

You can see an excerpt from our live coverage below. 

Round Four: The round begins with Ducote attacking Macfarlane with leg kicks, the fighters exchange some knee strikes while in the clinch. Macfarlane then cracks Ducote with a two punch combination, Macfarlane misses a spinning back fist attempt against Ducote. Macfarlane continues to just swing away against Ducote, Ducote cracks a swinging Macfarlane with a counter right hook. Macfarlane comes forward and she nails Ducote with a right, Macfarlane catches Ducote with a left hook to the midsection. Macfarlane barely connects with a superman punch against Ducote, Macfarlane scores a takedown and Ducote gets back up. Ducote scores a takedown on Macfarlane and she gets side control, Ducote gains the half guard as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Macfarlane (Overall Score: 40-36 for Macfarlane)

Round Five: The round begins with Macfarlane just swinging away against Ducote, Macfarlane cracks a swinging Ducote with a counter left hook. Ducote goes back to attacking Macfarlane with some leg kicks, Ducote scores a takedown on Macfarlane and she gets the open guard. Macfarlane catches Ducote in an arm bar to force a tap out.

Official Result: #1 Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. #4 Emily Ducote by submission via arm bar (3:42, R5) to win the Bellator MMA Women’s Flyweight Title

You can see our full Fightful.com coverage of Bellator 186 at this link.