Bellator 218 Results: Emmanuel Sanchez & Georgi Karakhanyan Headlines, Plus Linton Vassell Makes His Heavyweight Debut
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Main Card (9pm EST., Paramount Network)
Emmanuel Sanchez def. Georgi Karakhanyan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Valentin Moldavsky def. Linton Vassell by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Norbert Novenyi Jr def. William Lavine by submission via rear naked choke (4:05, R2)
Anatoly Tokov def. Gerald Harris by submission via guillotine choke choke (0:37, R2)
Preliminary Card (6:45pm EST., DAZN)
Johnny Eblen def. Chauncey Foxworth by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
John Macapa def. Kevin Croom by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 30-26)
Vladimir Tokov def. Ryan Walker by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Victoria Leonardo def. Malin Hermansson by submission via arm bar (4:49, R1)
Deborah Kouzmin def. Ky Bennett by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jordan Newman def. Joseph Holmes by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Malin Hermansson vs. Victoria Leonardo
Round One: The round begins with Leonardo attacking Hermansson with some leg kicks, Leonardo grabs Hermansson and gets her against the cage wall. The fighters exchange a few strikes while in the clinch, the fighters separate and Leonardo gets Hermansson back against the cage wall. The fighters exchange knee strikes while in the clinch, Leonardo scores a takedown on Hermansson and she gets the open guard. Hermansson gets back up with Leonardo swinging away at her, Leonardo again gets Hermansson against the cage wall. Leonardo scores another takedown on Hermansson and she gets the half guard, Leonardo advances to side control against Hermansson. Leonardo then gets the full mount against Hermansson, Hermansson scrambles and gets top control on Leonardo. Leonardo rolls for an arm bar and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Victoria Leonardo def. Malin Hermansson by submission via arm bar (4:49, R1)
Vladimir Tokov vs. Ryan Walker
Round One: The round begins with Walker coming forward as the fighters swing away at each other, the fighters clinch and battle for position along the cage wall. Walker scores a takedown on Tokov and he gets top position, Walker postures up and Tokov gets back up as well. Walker attacks Tokov with a few kicks before scoring another takedown on him, Tokov scrambles to his feet and Walker takes a few swings at him. Walker comes forward and he nails Tokov with a few punches, Tokov nails Walker with a flying knee strike to the upper body. Walker eats a right while attacking Tokov with more kicks, Tokov comes forward and he nails Walker with a combination. Walker goes for a takedown after eating a knee strike from Tokov, Tokov drops Walker and he pounces on him with more strikes until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Walker
Round Two: The round begins with Walker hitting Tokov with a side kick to the midsection, Walker scores a takedown on Tokov and Tokov immediately gets back up. Walker scores another takedown on Tokov and he gets him in the seated position, Tokov scrambles to his feet and Walker attacks him with a knee strike. Tokov attacks Walker with a high kick and Walker blocks it, Walker scores another takedown on Tokov and he gets the open guard. Tokov scrambles to his feet again to hit Walker with a right, Walker scores another takedown on Tokov and he gets the half guard. Tokov creates space and scrambles to his feet again, Tokov scores a takedown on Walker and Walker scrambles to get back control on him. Walker attacks Tokov with some ground and pound until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Walker (Overall Score: 20-18 for Walker)
Round Three: The round begins with Tokov scoring a takedown on Walker and he gets the full guard, Walker and Tokov exchange strikes while on the ground. Tokov starts attacking Walker with some ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. Walker nails Tokov with a knee strike to avoid a takedown, Tokov scores a takedown on Walker again and he gets the full guard. Tokov attacks Walker with some ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters again for inactivity. The action resumes with Tokov scoring a takedown and Walker scrambles back to his feet as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Tokov (Final Score: 29-28 for Walker)
Official Result: Vladimir Tokov def. Ryan Walker by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jordan Newman vs. Joseph Holmes
Round One: The round begins with Newman scoring a takedown on Holmes and he gets the full guard, Newman attacks Holmes with some ground and pound. Holmes scrambles to his feet as Newman swings away at him, Holmes grabs Newman and he gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Newman gets Holmes against the cage wall, Newman nails Holmes with a knee strike to the head as they separate. Holmes then nails Newman with a kick to the midsection, Newman scores another takedown on Holmes and he gets the half guard. Newman rolls for a choke as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Newman
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Holmes backs up Newman by landing a straight right. Newman goes for a takedown and Holmes nails him with a few strikes, Newman scores a takedown on Holmes and he gets him in the seated position. Newman advances to the half guard against Holmes, Holmes scrambles to his feet and he gets Newman against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Holmes swings away at Newman, Newman scores another takedown on Holmes and he gets the full guard. Newman lands a few strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Newman (Overall Score: 20-18 for Newman)
Round Three: The round begins with Holmes peppering Newman with some jabs, Newman grabs Holmes and gets him against the cage wall. Newman drags Holmes to the ground and he gets back control, Holmes scrambles to his feet and Newman gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and swing away at each other, Holmes nails Newman with a few combinations. Holmes stuns Newman with a series of knee strikes, Holmes gets Newman against the cage wall while swinging away at him. The fighters separate and Newman gets Holmes back against the cage wall, Newman scores a takedown on Holmes again and he gets side control. Newman lands a few strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Newman (Final Score: 30-27 for Newman)
Official Result: Jordan Newman def. Joseph Holmes by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
John Macapa vs. Kevin Croom
Round One: The round begins with Macapa attacking Croom with a multiple strike combination, Macapa also attacks Croom with leg kicks. Croom drops Macapa after landing a series of knee strikes and a right, Macapa gets back up and Croom gets him against the cage wall. Macapa then nails Croom with a few knee strikes to the midsection, Croom fires back and attacks Macapa with more knee strikes. Macapa nails a swinging Croom with a counter right, Croom starts hunting for some takedowns against Macapa. Macapa rocks a kicking Croom with a counter strike combination, Macapa follows up by nailing Croom with an uppercut. Croom starts attacking Macapa with some leg kicks of his own, Croom gets Macapa against the cage wall after a striking exchange. Croom looks for a takedown as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Macapa
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters swinging away at each other, Macapa cracks a swinging Croom with a counter right. Croom gets Macapa against the cage wall while eating a few knee strikes, the fighters separate and Macapa stuns Croom with a multiple punch combination. Croom swings at Macapa before getting him back against the cage wall, Macapa catches Croom in a standing d’arce choke and Croom eventually escapes before separating. Croom again grabs Macapa and gets him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Macapa lands some leg kicks. Macapa nails an incoming Croom with some counter strikes, Macapa gets Croom against the cage wall as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Macapa (Overall Score: 20-18 for Macapa)
Round Three: The round begins with Macapa stunning a swinging Croom with multiple counter strikes, Macapa drags Croom to the ground and he gets back control. Croom shakes Macapa off of him to get the fight standing again, Macapa scores another takedown on Croom and he gets back control a short time later. Macapa looks for a rear naked choke and Croom escapes to get the fight standing again, Macapa drags Croom back to the ground while regaining back control. Croom scrambles and Macaparegains back control a short time later, Macapa attacks Croom with ground and pound. Macapa lands a few strikes on Croom as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Macapa (Final Score: 30-27 for Macapa)
Official Result: John Macapa def. Kevin Croom by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 30-26)
Johnny Eblen vs. Chauncey Foxworth
Round One: The round begins with Eblen attacking Foxworth with some leg kicks, Foxworth nails Eblen with a kick to the midsection. Eblen grabs Foxworth and he gets him against the cage wall, Eblen scores a takedown on Foxworth and he gets side control. Foxworth scrambles to his feet and Eblen gets him against the cage wall, Eblen nails Foxworth with an elbow strike before separating. Foxworth keeps Eblen at a distance while swinging away at him, Eblen briefly drops Foxworth with a combination. Foxworth charges at Eblen while swinging away at him, Eblen scores another takedown on Foxworth and he gets the half guard. Eblen gets full mount and Foxworth shakes him off as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Eblen
Round Two: The round begins with Eblen attacking Foxworth with some leg kicks, Eblen grabs Foxworth and gets him against the cage wall. Foxworth lands a combination on Eblen as they separate, Eblen scores a takedown on Foxworth and he gets the full guard. Eblen advances to the half guard against Foxworth while landing a few strikes, Foxworth scrambles to his feet and Eblen drags him back to the ground. Foxworth gets up again and Eblen gets him against the cage wall, Eblen gets Foxworth back to the ground while gaining back control. Foxworth scrambles to his feet and Eblen gets him back against the cage wall, Eblen scores yet another takedown on Foxworth and he gets side control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Eblen (Overall Score: 20-18 for Eblen)
Round Three: The round begins with Foxworth missing a roundhouse kick against Eblen, Eblen briefly gets Foxworth against the cage wall. Foxworth separates from Eblen before landing a flying knee strike, Eblen scores a takedown on Foxworth and he gets the half guard. Eblen attacks Foxworth with some ground and pound, Eblen eventually gains side control against Foxworth. Foxworth scrambles to his feet and Eblen gets him against the cage wall, Foxworth gets free and Eblen scores another takedown on him a few moments later. Foxworth scrambles to his feet and he attacks Eblen with a right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Eblen (Final Score: 30-27 for Eblen)
Official Result: Johnny Eblen def. Chauncey Foxworth by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ky Bennett vs. Deborah Kouzmin
Round One: The round begins with Kouzmin getting Bennett against the cage wall after a brief striking exchange, the fighters exchange knee strikes while in the clinch. The fighters separate and quickly clinch back up while exchanging more strikes, the fighters separate and swing wildly at each other. Bennett hits Kouzmin with a knee strike before getting her against the cage wall, the fighters continue exchanging strikes while in the clinch. The fighters briefly separate and swinging away at each other as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Kouzmin
Round Two: The round begins with Kouzmin instantly getting Bennett against the cage wall, the fighters separate and swinging away at each other until Kouzmin gets Bennett back against the cage wall. Kouzmin nails Bennett with a right as they separate, Bennett responds by nailing Kouzmin with a kick to the midsection. Kouzmin grabs Bennett again and gets her back against the cage wall, the referee separates the fighters for inactivity. Kouzmin grabs Bennett and gets her against the cage wall again as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Kouzmin (Overall Score: 20-18 for Kouzmin)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other until Kouzmin gets Bennett against the cage wall, Bennett lands a left on Kouzmin as they separate. Kouzmin then attacks Bennett with a combo while getting her against the cage wall, Kouzmin lands a plethora of strikes while in the clinch. The referee separates the fighters for inactivity, the action resumes with the fighters swinging away at each other. Kouzmin grabs Bennett and gets her back against the cage wall until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Kouzmin (Final Score: 30-27 for Kouzmin)
Official Result: Deborah Kouzmin def. Ky Bennett by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. William Lavine
Round One: The round begins with Novenyi Jr popping Lavine with a right, Novenyi Jr scores a takedown on Lavine and he gets back control. Novenyi Jr transitions to the half guard against Lavine while landing strikes, Lavine eventually gets Novenyi Jr in his full guard. Novenyi Jr attacks Lavine with ground and pound, Lavine scrambles to his feet and Novenyi Jr gets him against the cage wall. Novenyi Jr goes for a standing guillotine choke and Lavine escapes, Novenyi Jr drags Lavine back to the ground and he gets back control. Lavine gets back up and Novenyi Jr drags him right back down, Lavine gets up again and Novenyi Jr scores another takedown on him. Lavine scrambles and he attacks Novenyi Jr with a few strikes, Novenyi Jr scores another takedown on Lavine and he goes for a Von Flue choke as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Novenyi Jr
Round Two: The round begins with Novenyi Jr attacking Lavine with a kick to the midsection, Lavine comes forward and he swings away at Novenyi Jr. Novenyi Jr attacks Lavine with a spinning elbow strike, Lavine charges forward and he hits Novenyi Jr with a four strike combination. Novenyi Jr scores a takedown on Lavine and he gets the open guard, Novenyi Jr attacks Lavine with ground and pound. Novenyi Jr transitions to the back control position against Lavine, Novenyi Jr attacks Lavine with more ground and pound. Novenyi Jr scrambles to catch Lavine in an arm triangle choke to force a tap out.
Official Result: Norbert Novenyi Jr def. William Lavine by submission via rear naked choke (4:05, R2)
Anatoly Tokov vs. Gerald Harris
Round One: The round begins with Tokov attempting a high kick against Harris, Tokov comes forward and he attacks Harris with a combination. Tokov cracks Harris with a kick to the midsection followed by a right, Tokov again kicks Harris in the midsection. Harris drops Tokov with an overhand left and he pounces on him with a plethora of strikes, Tokov scrambles to his feet and he attacks Harris with knee strikes. Tokov scores a takedown on Harris and Harris scrambles back to his feet, Tokov gets Harris back against the cage wall while landing strikes. The fighters separate and Tokov attacks Harris with a high kick, Tokov scores another takedown on Harris and he lands some strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Harris
Round Two: The round begins with Tokov attacking Harris with a high kick, Tokov rocks Harris with a multiple punch combination. Tokov catches Harris in a guillotine choke from out of nowhere and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Anatoly Tokov def. Gerald Harris by submission via guillotine choke choke (0:37, R2)
Linton Vassell vs. Valentin Moldavsky
Round One: The round begins with Vassell attacking Moldavsky with a high kick, Moldavsky attacks a kicking Vassell with a punching combination. Vassell and Moldavsky exchange rights before Vassell gets him against the cage wall, Vassell scores a takedown on Moldavsky and he gets the half guard. Moldavsky scrambles to get the fight standing again, Vassell gets Moldavsky back against the cage wall as they clinch. The fighters separate and take some swings at each other, Vassell again grabs Moldavsky and gets him against the cage wall before scoring another takedown. Vassell gains the half guard position against Moldavsky, Vassell attacks Moldavsky with ground and pound as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Vassell
Round Two: The round begins with Moldavsky getting a kicking Vassell to the ground while landing a few strikes, Vassell scrambles to get top control against Moldavsky. Vassell transitions to the half guard against Moldavsky, Moldavsky scrambles to his feet and he separates from Vassell. Vassell scores another takedown on Moldavsky and he gets the open guard, Moldavsky sweeps Vassell to regain top position. Moldavsky gains back control on Vassell while landing a few strikes, Moldavsky catches Vassell in an arm triangle choke from out of nowhere and Vassell escapes. Moldavsky regains back control on Vassell as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Moldavsky (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Moldavsky scoring a takedown on Vassell and he gets the half guard, Moldavsky attacks Vassell with ground and pound. Moldavsky gains back control on Vassell while landing more strikes, Moldavsky returns to the half guard on Vassell while landing more blows. Moldavsky attacks Vassell with a plethora of unanswered strikes while regaining back control and the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Moldavsky (Final Score: 29-28 for Moldavsky)
Official Result: Valentin Moldavsky def. Linton Vassell by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Georgi Karakhanyan
Round One: The round begins with Sanchez attacking Karakhanyan with some leg kicks, Karakhanyan hits a swinging Sanchez with a counter left hook. Karakhanyan scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets the open guard, Karakhanyan attacks Sanchez with some ground and pound. Karakhanyan advances to the half guard against Sanchez, Sanchez quickly gets Karakhanyan back in his full guard. Karakhanyan attacks Sanchez with some more strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Karakhanyan
Round Two: The round begins with Karakhanyan scoring a takedown on Sanchez and he gets him in the seated position, Sanchez gets free and he gets on top of Karakhanyan. The referee stands up the fighters for inactivity, the action resumes with Sanchez scoring a takedown on Karakhanyan and he gets side control. Sanchez gets back control on Karakhanyan while landing a few strikes, the fighters exchange a few strikes while on the ground and the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Sanchez (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Sanchez charging forward and swinging away at Karakhanyan, Karakhanyan grabs Sanchez and he gets him against the cage wall. Karakhanyan drags Sanchez to the ground and he gets him in the seated position, Karakhanyan attacks Sanchez with strikes while holding him down. Sanchez scrambles to his feet and he attacks Karakhanyan with an axe kick attempt, Karakhanyan scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets side control. Sanchez scrambles and he gains top position against Karakhanyan, Sanchez attacks Karakhanyan with some ground and pound. Karakhanyan scrambles and Sanchez gets back control on him as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Sanchez (Final Score: 29-28 for Sanchez)
Official Result: Emmanuel Sanchez def. Georgi Karakhanyan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
