Bellator 224 Results: Julia Budd Defends The Women’s Featherweight Title, Plus Rafael Carvalho In Action!

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Main Card (9pm EST., Paramount Network)

Bellator MMA Women’s Featherweight Championship
Julia Budd def. Olga Rubin by TKO via strikes (2:14, R1) to retain the title

Rafael Carvalho def. Chidi Njokuani by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Juliana Velasquez def. Kristina Williams by TKO via strikes (4:03, R2)

Ed Ruth def. Kiichi Kunimoto by TKO via strikes (3:49, R1)

Preliminary Card (6:45pm EST., DAZN)

Gabriel Varga def. Jamese Taylor by TKO via strikes (3:23, R2)

Arlene Blencowe def. Amanda Bell by KO via strikes (0:22, R1)

Will Fleury def. Antonio Jones by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Christian Edwards def. Justin Vargas by TKO via strikes (0:54, R1)

Nainoa Dung def. Brad Robison by unanimous decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)

Leslie Smith def. Sinead Kavanagh by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Mike Jackson def. Kiefer Crosbie by DQ via illegal knee strike (R1)

AJ Agazarm def. Jacob Landin by submission via rear naked choke (4:21, R1)

Jordan Young def. Joel Bauman by submission via triangle choke (3:20, R1)

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Christian Edwards vs. Justin Vargas

Round One: The round begins with Edwards attacking Vargas with some front kicks to the legs, Vargas grabs Edwards and gets him against the cage wall. Edwards drops Vargas with a left hook as they separate and he pounces on Vargas with strikes until the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Christian Edwards def. Justin Vargas by TKO via strikes (0:54, R1)

AJ Agazarm vs. Jacob Landin

Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging a few kicks, Agazarm backs up Landin after attacking him with a few lefts. Landin starts attacking Agazarm with some leg kicks, Landin moves around Agazarm while swinging away at him. Landin accidentally nails Agazarm low and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Landin attacking Agazarm with more leg kicks. Landin trips on a flying knee strike attempt and Agazarm gets top position on the ground, Agazarm gains the full mount against Landin. Agazarm attacks Landin with ground and pound before gaining back control, Agazarm attacks Landin with more ground and pound. Agazarm locks in the rear naked choke and a tap out follows.

Official Result: AJ Agazarm def. Jacob Landin by submission via rear naked choke (4:21, R1)

Will Fleury vs. Antonio Jones

Round One: The round begins with Fleury attacking Jones with some leg kicks, Jones responds by landing kicks of his own. Fleury backs Jones into the cage wall after landing a combination, Fleury scores a takedown on Jones and he gets side control. Fleury transitions to the full mount against Jones, Fleury attacks Jones with ground and pound before gaining back control. Fleury attacks Jones with more ground and pound, Fleury looks for the rear naked choke and Jones eventually escapes before scrambling to his feet. Fleury holds Jones against the cage wall as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Fleury

Round Two: The round begins with Fleury attempting a high kick against Jones, Jones cracks a kicking Fleury with a counter right. Jones charges at Fleury and Fleury puts him against the cage wall, Fleury scores a takedown on Jones and he gets side control. Fleury gains the half guard position against Jones, Fleury attacks Jones with some ground and pound. Fleury regains side control against a scrambling Jones, Fleury gains the full mount against Jones. Fleury attacks Jones with some ground and pound while gaining back control, Fleury looks for the rear naked choke as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Fleury (Overall Score: 20-18 for Fleury)

Round Three: The round begins with the fighters having a striking exchange, Fleury grabs a swinging Jones and gets him against the cage wall. Fleury scores a takedown on Jones and he gets side control, Fleury gains the half guard position against Jones. Fleury attacks Jones with some ground and pound, Fleury eventually gains the full mount against Jones. Fleury attacks Jones with more strikes as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Fleury (Final Score: 30-27 for Fleury)

Official Result: Will Fleury def. Antonio Jones by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Arlene Blencowe vs. Amanda Bell

Round One: The round begins with Blencowe dropping Bell with a multiple punch combination, Bell scrambles to her feet and Blencowe destroys her with another combination that forces the referee to jump in.

Official Result: Arlene Blencowe def. Amanda Bell by KO via strikes (0:22, R1)

Jordan Young vs. Joel Bauman

Round One: The round begins with Young attacking Bauman with some leg kicks, Bauman charges at Young while landing leg kicks of his own. Bauman also pops Young with a few lefts to the midsection, Bauman backs Young into the cage wall while landing a kick to the midsection. Young grabs Bauman and gets him against the cage wall, Young looks for the takedown and Bauman winds up getting top position. Young catches Bauman in a triangle choke and a tap out follows.

Official Result: Jordan Young def. Joel Bauman by submission via triangle choke (3:20, R1)

Leslie Smith vs. Sinead Kavanagh

Round One: The round begins with Kavanagh peppering Smith with some jabs, Smith comes forward and she attacks Kavanagh with some kicks. Kavanagh cracks a kicking Smith with a counter right, Smith comes forward and the fighters have a striking exchange near the cage wall. Kavanagh continues attacking Smith with some combinations, Smith nails a swinging Kavanagh with a counter right. Smith starts attacking Kavanagh with kicks to the midsection, Kavanagh and Smith continue getting into striking exchanges. Smith starts attacking Kavanagh with some leg kicks, Kavanagh responds by nailing Smith with a straight right. Smith rocks Kavanagh with a head kick followed by an elbow strike, the fighters have a wild striking exchange as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Smith

Round Two: The round begins with Kavanagh attacking Smith by landing jabs, Smith backs up Kavanagh as they swing away at each other. Smith starts nailing Kavanagh with some punching combinations, Smith also nails Kavanagh with kicks to the midsection. Kavanagh and Smith also exchange some leg kicks, Smith cracks a swinging Kavanagh with another head kick. Kavanagh continues swinging away at Smith while continually backing up, Kavanagh nails a swinging Smith with a counter left. Smith nails a swinging Kavanagh with a superman punch, Smith comes forward and attacks Kavanagh with a variety of kicks. Kavanagh cracks Smith with an elbow strike as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Smith (Overall Score: 20-18 for Smith)

Round Three: The round begins with Smith attacking a swinging Kavanagh with kicks, Kavanagh and Smith have a wild striking exchange near the cage wall. Smith gets Kavanagh against the cage wall after another striking exchange, the fighters separate and Kavanagh nails Smith with a left to the midsection. Kavanagh then pops a swinging Smith with a counter right uppercut, the fighters clinch and exchange strikes. Smith keeps Kavanagh near the cage wall as they swing away at each other, the fighters have another massive striking exchange as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Smith (Final Score: 30-27 for Smith)

Official Result: Leslie Smith def. Sinead Kavanagh by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Kiefer Crosbie vs. Mike Jackson

Round One: The round begins with Crosbie attacking Jackson with some leg kicks, Jackson gets Crosbie against the cage wall after eating a knee strike. Crosbie defends against the takedown by nailing Jackson with elbow strikes, Jackson scores a takedown and Crosbie gets right back up. Jackson gets another takedown and Crosbie gets back up again, Crosbie attacks Jackson with a ton of elbow strikes. Crosbie nails a downed Jackson with an illegal knee strike and the fight is halted, the referee waves off the bout because Jackson is unable to continue.

Official Result: Mike Jackson def. Kiefer Crosbie by DQ via illegal knee strike (R1)

Gabriel Varga vs. Jamese Taylor

Round One: The round begins with Varga and Taylor exchanging some leg kicks, Taylor pops Varga with a straight right. Taylor then cracks Varga with a two punch combination, Taylor scores a takedown on Varga after eating a four punch combination. Taylor quickly gains the half guard against Varga, Varga scrambles to his feet and Taylor drags him back to the ground while gaining the full mount. Varga scrambles to his feet again and he gets Taylor against the cage wall, the fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch. Varga looks for a takedown as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Taylor

Round Two: The round begins with Varga attacking Taylor with some leg kicks, Varga cracks Taylor with a side kick to the midsection. Taylor responds by attempting some kicks of his own, Varga backs up Taylor with a straight right to the face. Varga backs Taylor into the cage wall while landing a combination, Varga starts attacking the body of Taylor with combinations. Taylor starts attacking Varga with leg kicks of his own, Varga rocks Taylor with a right hook to the midsection. Taylor looks for a takedown while Varga swings away at him, Varga drops Taylor with a combination and the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Gabriel Varga def. Jamese Taylor by TKO via strikes (3:23, R2)

Nainoa Dung vs. Brad Robison

Round One: The round begins with Robison attacking Dung with a few lefts, Robison starts nailing Dung with some leg kicks. Robison goes for a takedown and Dung winds up scoring one on him instead, Dung attacks Robison with some ground and pound. Dung advances to the half guard position against Robison, Dung scrambles and he catches Robison in a guillotine choke and Robison escapes to get top position on the ground. Robison starts attacking Dung with some ground and pound of his own, Dung sweeps Robison to regain top position. Dung transitions to back control against Robison, Robison scrambles and he gets top position on Dung again. Dung sweeps Robison again to regain top position as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Dung

Round Two: The round begins with Dung attacking Robison with some leg kicks, Robison and Dung exchange some kicks. Dung grabs Robison and gets him up against the cage wall, Robison scores a takedown on Dung and he gets the open guard. Robison attacks Dung with some ground and pound, Dung scrambles to his feet and he controls Robison’s head on the ground. Dung transitions to back control and Robison scrambles to get both fighters standing again, Dung scores a takedown on Robison and Robison sweeps him to get top control. Dung scrambles and he gets full mount on Robison while landing a plethora of strikes, Dung transitions to back control on Robison as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Robison (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with Robison attacking Dung with some leg kicks, Dung starts attacking Robison with some leg kicks of his own. Dung nails an incoming Robison with a knee strike to the midsection, the fighters clinch and Dung lands a left as they separate. Robison scores a takedown on Dung and he gets the half guard, Robison attacks Dung with some ground and pound. Dung scrambles at the right time to get top control on Robison, Dung transitions to back control on Robison. Robison scrambles and Dung keeps top control while landing some strikes, Dung nails Robison with an illegal kick to the face and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with the referee taking 2 points from Dung, the action resumes with Robison nailing Dung with a few kicks. Dung backs up Robison after landing a striking combination, Dung charges forward while swinging away at Robison. The fighters clinch and exchange some strikes, Dung scores a takedown on Robison as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 8-9 for Dung (Final Score: 28-27 for Robison)

Official Result: Nainoa Dung def. Brad Robison by unanimous decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)

Ed Ruth vs. Kiichi Kunimoto

Round One: The round begins with Ruth attacking Kunimoto with some leg kicks, Kunimoto responds by landing leg kicks of his own. Ruth pops a kicking Kunimoto with a counter left, Kunimoto comes forward and he nails Ruth with a right to the midsection. Ruth gets Kunimoto against the cage wall after landing a knee strike, Ruth scores a takedown on Kunimoto and he gets the half guard. Kunimoto gets back to his feet while Ruth nails him with rights, Ruth attacks Kunimoto with some rights before separating. Ruth scores another takedown on Kunimoto after landing an overhand right, Ruth briefly postures up before attacking Kunimoto with ground and pound until the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ruth

Round Two: The round begins with Ruth attacking Kunimoto with some combinations, Ruth charges at Kunimoto while swinging away at him. Kunimoto cracks a kicking Ruth with a counter right, Kunimoto grabs Ruth and gets him up against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Kunimoto nails Ruth with a two punch combination, Ruth recovers and he nails Kunimoto with a few rights. Kunimoto responds by cracking Ruth with a left hook to the midsection, Ruth crushes Kunimoto with a kick to the midsection. Ruth also hits Kunimoto with a push kick to the midsection, Kunimoto gets dropped with a knee strike during a takedown attempt and Ruth attacks him with a plethora of strikes afterwards until the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Ed Ruth def. Kiichi Kunimoto by TKO via strikes (3:49, R1)

Juliana Velasquez vs. Kristina Williams

Round One: The round begins with Velasquez and Williams exchanging some kicks, Williams stats looking for high kicks against Velasquez. Williams cracks Velasquez with a counter right during an exchange, Williams comes forward and swings away at Velasquez. Velasquez backs up Williams after cracking her with a left, Williams responds by throwing a few rights. Velasquez rocks Williams with a trio of left hooks to the face, Velasquez grabs Williams and holds her against the cage wall before separating. Velasquez comes forward and exchanges some more kicks with Williams, Velasquez continues cracking Williams with lefts. Williams goes back to attacking Velasquez with a variety of kicks, Velasquez pops Williams with a two punch combo as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Velasquez

Round Two: The round begins with Williams attacking Velasquez with a multiple strike combination, Williams nails Velasquez with some kicks to the midsection. Velasquez backs up Williams after landing a left on her, Velasquez and Williams exchange some leg kicks. Velasquez comes forward and she nails Williams with a two punch combination, Velasquez backs Williams into the cage wall before rocking her with a multiple strike combination. Velasquez and Williams exchange some kicks to the midsection, Velasquez drops Williams with a huge combination and the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Juliana Velasquez def. Kristina Williams by TKO via strikes (4:03, R2)

Rafael Carvalho vs. Chidi Njokuani

Round One: The round begins with Njokuani attacking Carvalho with a push kick to the midsection, Njokuani and Carvalho clinch while exchanging knee strikes. Carvalho grabs Njokuani and gets hm against the cage wall, the fighters exchange knee strikes while in the clinch. Carvalho attacks Njokuani with knee strikes and elbow strikes, Carvalho scores a takedown and Njokuani gets right back up to have a brief striking exchange. Carvalho comes forward and he attacks Njokuani with a variety of kicks, the fighters clinch again and exchange knee strikes. Carvalho scores another takedown on Njokuani as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Carvalho

Round Two: The round begins with Njokuani cracking Carvalho with a kick to the midsection, Njokuani comes forward and he attacks Carvalho with a variety of kicks. Njokuani grabs a swinging Carvalho and he gets him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Carvalho nails Njokuani with a combination. Carvalho then grabs Njokuani and gets him against the cage wall, Carvalho scores a takedown on Njokuani and he gets the full guard, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with the fighters swinging away at each other, Njokuani attempts a few high kicks on Carvalho as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Njokuani (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with the fighters engaging in a wild striking exchange, Njokuani cracks a swinging Carvalho with a counter right. Carvalho grabs Njokuani and he gets him against the cage wall, Carvalho scores a takedown on Njokuani and he gets the full guard. Carvalho attacks Njokuani with some ground and pound, Njokuani scrambles to his feet and Carvalho holds him against the cage wall. Njokuani drops for a kimura and he drags Carvalho to the ground before releasing it, Njokuani lands a few strikes as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Carvalho (Final Score: 29-28 for Carvalho)

Official Result: Rafael Carvalho def. Chidi Njokuani by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bellator MMA Women’s Featherweight Championship
Julia Budd (c) vs. Olga Rubin

Round One: The round begins with Budd going for a high kick against Rubin, Budd also attacks Rubin with some leg kicks. Budd continues attacking Rubin with a variety of kicks, Budd nails Rubin with some kicks to the midsection. Budd nails Rubin with a body kick followed by a right, Budd rocks Rubin with a kick to the midsection and then drops her with a massive striking combination to force the referee to jump in.

Official Result: Julia Budd def. Olga Rubin by TKO via strikes (2:14, R1) to retain the title