...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By Rich Hansen, MMA Torch Columnist
The UFC aren't the only ones bringing fights to TV tonight, as Bellator's final event on MTV2 comes live from the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. The event will feature the season seven tournament finals in the heavyweight and lightweight divisions, with the Rich Hale-Alexander Volkov fight also crowning a new Champion in Bellator's heavyweight division. We'll have live round by round coverage of tonight's fights as they air on MTV2, so stick with us right here!
BELLATOR 84
DECEMBER 14, 2012
LIVE FROM HAMMOND, INDIANA
FIGHT ONE: LOUIS TAYLOR VS. JOE VEDEPOMiddleweights
ROUND ONE: Gary Copeland is the referee for this fight. Taylor and Vedepo clinch up, and Taylor hits a nice outside leg trip to get Vedepo down. Vedepo eventually gets back to his feet, but Taylor has his back and trips him down again. Vedepo powers back up, but Taylor still has his back. And back down. And back up. And back down. Taylor loses position and now he's on his butt against the cage with Vedepo in his lap. Taylor powers up, and Copeland stops the fight to repair loose tape on Taylor's glove. Fight restarts in the middle. Well done by the ref, who waited for a neutral position before pausing the fight. Taylor hits another outside trip, but this time Taylor's in the middle of the cage in half-guard. Vedepo is trying to inchworm towards the cage, and Taylor uses those opportunities to land left hands. Taylor lands a stiff right hand and sits up with his hands in the air. Vedepo is unconscious, and this fight is over! Holy crap!
WINNER: Louis Taylor by knockout in round one
FINAL THOUGHTS AND STAR RATING: (***-) Unusual KOs spike the star rating, or in this case, they MTV2 the rating. Then again, MTV2 ratings suck, so never mind. Regardless of my silliness, VERY classy by Taylor. He could have thrown bunches of punches, but Vedepo was legit unconscious, not merely Goldy on the Mic unconscious.
FIGHT TWO: FELICE HERRIG VS. PATRICIA VIDONIC118 lb. Catchweight
- This fight was contracted for 115 lbs., but Vidonic missed weight.
- Herrig defeated Vidonic in April 2012. Vidonic has a 59" reach. I know they're 115 lb. women, but that's the shortest reach I've ever seen. I doubt she could punch her own nose.
- Their nicknames are 'Little' and 'Little Bulldog.' Barf.
ROUND ONE: Vidonic presses Herrig into the cage, but Herrig reverses position and lands a knee before separating. Vidonic rushes Vidonic into the wall again. Misses the outside trip, and Herrig spins out. Vidonic eating punches but comes forward regardless, and Herrig continues to punch while on her bike. Herrig lands a straight left snap kick. Herrig with the takedown against the cage. Vidonic pulled guard, actually. TV froze for a minute. Herrig is standing over Vidonic. Vidonic snaps back up and eats a right hook. Vidonic comes straight forward in an attempt to close distance. Herrig retreats into the cage and is strong enough to avoid getting taken down to this point. Herrig lands multiple knees to the chest and then spins Vidonic around. Herrig lands a knee and tries for a hip toss. The round ends with Herrig jumping on the back of Vidonic. 10-9 Herrig That kinda sucked. Considering I thought this would really, really suck, that's a good thing.
ROUND TWO: Vidonic grabs Herrig and tries to push her into the fence, but Herrig spins before hitting the fence. Herrig lands a takedown against the fence. Herrig passes into half-guard. As itty-bitty as Herrig's trunks are, and as often as she's been on top, she's missing out on some serious sponsorship money. Well, she would be if anyone were watching. Vidonic throws her legs up and hits a triangle, but Herrig stands up and that's all it took to get out of it. Herrig backs up and we're back to the middle. Vidonic comes forwards like the workd's poorest version of Chael, and eats about six uppercuts. Vidonic presses Herrig into the fence, but, wait for it, Herrig physically dominates her and gets the dominant position. Someone needs to explain to Vidonic that there's this thing called right, and this thing called left. One need not move only forward. The ref separates them. Vidonic walks straight forward, presses Herrig into the cafe, Herrig spins and gets the dominant position again. Herrig gets a lateral drop takedown and lands in half-guard. This is dreadful. Herrig trying hard ot pass to side mount, and has Vidonic's arms locked up. She doesn't get the position as Vidonic turns in to her. 20-18 Herrig Take back my faint praise I offered at the end of round one. Through no fault of Felice Herrig, this is one of the worst fights I've ever seen.
ROUND THREE: Herrig lands a nice combination and front kick to open the round. Apparently Vidonic's corner doesn't understand the concept of lateral movement, either, as she came straight forward again. Vidonic worked back to her feet and pressed Herrig into the fence, and Herrig got yet another takedown. Full mount. Vidonic cage walked and would have gotten back to her feet, but Herrig put her lips together and blew lightly, which forced Vidonic back down. Full mount again. Vidonic grabs Herrig's ankle, but Herrig gets out. In the effort, Herrig wound up on her back and Vidonic is on top in full0-guard with 2:30 left. Vidonic can't get her head free as Herrig is controlling posture. 30 seconds in the ref is ready to stand them up. Herrig has a full body triangle from the bottom. Vidonic trying to stack her up, but she isn't throwing any strikes. Even I think this hot mess should be stood up. And there we go with one minute left. Vidonic walks into two separate snap kicks to the face. Clinch, outside trip for Herrig, into half-guard. This is the worst TV fight of 2012. 30-27 Herrig
WINNER: Felice Herrig by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
FINAL THOUGHTS AND STAR RATING: (0) It's not like Felice Herrig is the most skilled fighter in the world herself, but she made Vidonic look like a first day walk in to the gym. Vidonic needs to not do this ever again.
FIGHT THREE: JACK HERMANSSON VS. DANIEL VIZCAYAMiddleweight
- Nice staredown. Hermansson's not all there...
ROUND ONE: Vizcaya clunches and goes for an outside trip. Hermansson evades and after a nice greco clinch he gets his own takedown. Hermansson takes Vizcaya's back, and throws a couple knees to the thigh. Hermansson slides around and lands a knee to the head while disengaging. Vizcaya lands a leg kick and follows behind that kick with a solid takedown. Half-guard, with Hermansson turning into Vizcaya, trying to sit up. Vizcaya is trying to pass to mount, but Hermansson succeeds in bringing Vizcaya chest to chest. Hermsnsson trying hard to sweep. Vizcaya unable to unload more than soft elbows so far. This just... ugh. 10-9 Vizcaya I guess
ROUND TWO: Quick takedown for Vizcaya, but Hermansson gets back up. Vizcaya with a body lock from behind, and throws Hermansson back down on his butt. Half-guard for Vizcaya.Vizcaya is working for a D'Arce choke, but lets it go. He's looking again, but the moment is past... and forgoooooooooooooten about (someone's going to laugh at that reference). Anyhow, Vizcaya's been in half0guard for like two minutes now. Hermansson jumps back to his feet, and Vizcaya uses an ankle pick from a single leg to get him back down until Hermansson gets back up and gets thrown back down after a few more seconds. Ugh. This is dreadfully dull. Mike Pierce just changed the channel. Hermansson is going hard for a kimura from the bottom, but Vizcaya got out. Hermansson used the kimura to sweep into top position, though. Nicely done. Vizcaya worked back up to his feet, but ate big right hands to the ribs. Hermansson stuffs a takedown and ends the round landing elbows. <10-9 Hermansson Who knows? Who cares.
ROUND THREE: Hermansson starts the round working the jab. Hermansosn backs Vizcaya into the cage. Vizcaya surprises Hermansson by charging forward and clinching. Hermansson throws Vizcaya and lands in side-control. Vizcaya gets to all fours, and Hermansson lands a huge knee to the ribs. Hermansson is unloading with irghts and lefts, and then gets a belly to back suplex from his knees and lands in side control. Make than an open half-guard. Vizcaya eventually works to a closed guard. Hermansson stands, dodges an upkick, and dives back into half-guard this time. Short left elbows from Hermansson. Vizcaya grabs a body lock, just trying to ride out the round (honestly, he probably won the second). Hermansson looking for a guillotine from the top, but gave it up right away. Hermansson lands two big elbows, and Vizcaya reacts by scrambling to his feet. Hermansson with a standing knee to the gut. Vizcaya shoots and gets stuffed, and eats a series of elbows. Vizcaya is clinging to Hermansson's leg as he eats a ton of short elbows. This fight won't be stopped, but the round was controlled by Hermansson 10-9 Hermansson. 29-28 Hermansson
WINNER: Daniel Vizcaya by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
FINAL THOUGHTS AND STAR RATING: (*+)
FIGHT FOUR: ALEXANDER VOLKOV VS. RICHARD HALEFor Vacant Bellator Heavyweight Championship
ROUND ONE: Volkov takes the cneter of the cage, but very little action in the first 45 seconds. Nice left hook by Hale. Lazy leg kick by Volkov, and Hale charged in with a series of punches. Hale grabbed Volkov, but Volkov trips Hale down. Volkov gets to his feet looking to clear the legs of Hale. OH MY GOD ANOTHER AXE KICK TO THE GROIN! BELLATOR!!! No, that didn't happen. Would have been funny, though. What did happen is literally a full minute of nothing. Volkov stood over Hale, no action for a full minute. I'm rooting for the axe kick. Nope, ref forces Volkov to back off, and we're back to the middle. Hale charges in punching, but Volkov evades and lands a hook. Hale is keeping his left hand way too low.Voilkov trying hard to work the jab, but Hale's staying away from it. Both fighters are having problems adjusting to not having a reach advantage here. Hale got through with a straight right. Hale dropped Volkov with a big right, but Volkov got back up before Hale could charge in. Hale presses Volkov into the cage, and the round ends there. 10-9 Hale Would have been Volkov's round, barely, before the flash knockdown.
ROUND TWO: Hale and Volkov throw a couple of wild hooks, Hale presses Volkov into the cage, but Volkov reverses and lands a nice knee to the rub. Voilkov lands a knee to the thigh, and is looking for an inside trip. Switches to a single leg. Hale hopping on his left trying to avoid, and he does. But Volkov still has Hale's back on the wall. Nice knee from Volkov. Voilkov lands another one, this time to the jaw. Voilkov gets an outside trio, and then stands over Hale while holding onto Hale's ankle. Voilkov backs off a foot, but isn't committing to anything. Voilkov throwing soft leg kicks like a real G. Ref stands Hale up. Weak sauce by Volkov there. He's very tentative. Voilkov working the jab. Big right from Volkov. This is a bad fight from both fighters here. Volkov lands a left head kick, which Hale didn't like. Hale finds Volkov's chin with a right hook. The opened up Volkov a little, from the eye. Hale comes forward and eats a snap kick to the ribs. Hale is again carrying his left hand at waist level. This isn't a good fight. 10-9 Volkov. 19-19
ROUND THREE: Hale and Volkov are over compensating for the championship rounds here. 90 seconds in, and Volkov lands a nasty head kick, but Hale to his credit walked right through it. The round is half through. I'm trying here, but they aren't giving me a damned thing to work with here. Rich Hale has what appears to be a tattoo of a spinal column down his back. Interesting. Hale with a nice counter right off of a missed kick by Hale. Hale bleeding from his nose. OK, so a few jabs are landing, fine, whatever. After this fight, I swear to God I will NEVER cover another Bellator fight on MTV2. AND I MEAN IT! Volkov presses Hale into the cage, and they're being very affectionate, hugging like long lost friends from the school yard. Hale apparently said something snotty as Volkov kneed Hale in the gut. 10-9 Volkov, 29-28 Volkov I can't tell you how bad this entire card has been, and believe me you, I'm trying to tell you how bad this entire card has been. See? I just tried to tell you.
ROUND FOUR: Cole Konrad would break all four of these guys' arms, in like 45 seconds. Flurry of missed short hooks from both fighters. Volkov's lands a couple jabs. Hale's trying to find angles, but his head movement means he eats a jab whenever he does pretty much anything. Hale's left hand is below his waist again. Volkov has found something, staying at distance and jabbing away. Which Hale can't allow since he isn't at a reach disadvantage. Hale presses forward from time to time with a left hook, but then he backs off. Hale tries to engage, and lands a left, but then backs off to reset. Which is weird, since he should be making this fight as ugly as possible. Well, they're both doing that, but not in a good way. Volkov lands a right high kick, mainly blocked though. Hale continues to circle, and eats a leg kick this time. The audience hates this fight. To be fair, they are watching this fight, so that's probably why. One fan starts a USA chant. I can make out individual conversations now. 10-9 Volkov. 39-37 Volkov
ROUND FIVE: Volkov trying to circle from the outside, but Hale cuts him off. He didn't, you know, punch. He just wanted to say, "See, I can do something to piss you off." Why he chose cutting him off instead of punching is beyond me, though. Hale is being more aggressive now, but his technique is so bad that his right and left hands seem to land at the exact same moment. Which looks, you know, bad. Volkov took an eye poke early in the round, but the ref missed it. So EVERYONE involved in this fight is full of fail now. I wish when Rich Hale threw a punch that his other hand didn't scrape the floor. A competent striker would land a counter and just unconscious the hell out of him. this is, just... 10-9 someone. 39+x - 27+x Volkov
WINNER: The Culinary Union. Oh, this was a Bellator fight not UFC. Not that I ever thought this was a UFC fight. I mean, oh sorry, I'm not supposed to editorialize. Alexander Volkov by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
FINAL THOUGHTS AND STAR RATING: (0) My apologies to Patricia Vidonic. I hope Volkov and Hale follow in Cole Konrad's footsteps and start trading commodities instead of punches and kicks.
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