Bellator Events
BELLATOR 124 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round by round report for "Newton vs. Beltran" event
Sep 12, 2014 - 10:05:46 PM BELLATOR 124 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round by round report for "Newton vs. Beltran" event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

BELLATOR 124
SEPTEMBER 12, 2014
LIVE FROM PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN

After a brief rundown of what's to come, we hit commercial break and come back with the first fight of the night.

FIGHT ONE: RYAN COUTURE VS. TOMMY BAGNASCO

ROUND ONE: Bagnasco came out to the center and threw a high kick. Couture clinched, and threw a knee. They traded groin shots simultaneously and Couture scored a takedown. They were halted to give them both time to recover from the groin shots. Bagnasco threw another head kick upon the restart. Couture landed a hard right hand, then clinched and scored a takedown into side control. In a scramble, Couture took his back. He transitioned over to mount, then the back again. Couture got the rear naked choke, but it was off a bit. He secured it while Bagnasco was on his side, but he cut off the blood with his arms and forced the tap.

WINNER: Couture via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:01 of the first round

STAR RATING: (*+) Short notice mismatch. Couture had the clear edge on the ground, and it was just a matter of setting up the correct position for the finish.


FIGHT TWO: L.C. DAVIS VS. ZEILTON RODRIGUES (BANTAMWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Davis worked around the outside as Rodrigues tried to close the distance. Davis landed a nice right hand. Rodrigues swung wildly, missed a few strikes, and got taken down. Rodrigues grabbed a headlock and tried to keep control of Davis' body. Rodrigues tried to sit up at the cage and Davis nearly passed to mount. Rodrigues tried for a leg lock, but Davis transitioned out. More transitions from both as Rodrigues attacked the legs while Davis effectively defended, throwing a little ground and pound in the process.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Davis. Rodrigues tried to attack off his back, but it wasn't enough to take the round.

ROUND TWO: After a brief exchange, Davis scored another takedown. He worked for a bit and tried to pass but got moved to guard. Rodrigues attacked for a kimura, but Davis moved out easy and nearly got his back. After another transition, Davis got a solid half guard with Rodrigues turned into him and landed several strikes. Rodrigues moved again and Davis was back to half guard, landing a few strikes before the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Davis. Rodrigues is just getting very much out-grappled right now.

ROUND THREE: Rodrigues laded a solid strike early, but got quickly taken down. Davis landed a couple of strikes and Rodrigues was cut open around the right eye. Davis continued to work well from the top. Rodrigues tried to transition out, but Davis kept position and landed strikes. Davis worked for a D'Arce choke. Rodrigues fought out and took Davis down, but got taken back down himself in another transition, with Davis ending the round on top.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Davis. He dominated action throughout. This was clearly his fight.

WINNER: Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

STAR RATING: (**-) Ok fight. Rodrigues had little to offer from his back, but he did remain active. Regardless, Davis won this fight.


FIGHT THREE: LIAM MCGEARY VS. KELLY ANUNDSON (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNEY)

ROUND ONE: Anundson quickly shot in, but ate a knee, and McGeary quickly transitioned to his back. He landed a few strikes, then backed out and made Anundson stand. Anundson came right back in and took him down. Anundson moved to half guard, then moved to side control. McGeary nearly pulled off an Americana from the bottom. He nearly had it again. Anundson went for the Americana himself, but lost it quick. He continued working from side control. McGeary tried to escape, but Anundson held position and landed several strikes from the top. McGeary threw up a triangle from the bottom and caught it! Anundson had to tap! Incredible finish.

WINNER: McGeary via submission (inverted triangle choke) at 4:47 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**+) Seek out that finish. Completely out of nowhere, absolutely fantastic, and it's just a must-see finish. Really nice submission for McGeary.


MAIN EVENT FIGHT FOUR: EMANUEL NEWTON VS. JOEY BELTRAN (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND ONE: Newton opened with some kicks. Beltran clinched and they traded some strikes there. Newton got a body lock and scored a brief slam. Beltran tried to get up, but Newton took him back down. Beltran got to his feet and they traded a few strikes in the clinch. They traded strikes and Beltran ducked down for a takedown attempt. They battled some more and Newton wound up with a cut on his forehead. They clinched again, and both traded strikes. Newton backed off briefly and landed a nice flurry of strikes. Beltran tried to score some strikes, closing the distance for a clinch. They traded strikes at the cage before the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Newton. Close enough round, but the Champ had the edge.

ROUND TWO: Beltran tried to engage quickly with an exchange. Newton responded with some strikes. Beltran closed the distance and clinched. They traded strikes again, with both landing in combination. This is getting a bit ugly. Beltran landed a short combo and clinched. Newton turned him around and they battled for position. Newton landed a few elbows to separate. Newton closed and clinched and Beltran got in a few knees. They separated again. Newton got off with a short combo. He landed another couple of punches in a row. Beltran landed a high body kick. Beltran moved forward and Newton tried to get out of the way. Newton shot in and scored a takedown. Beltran got to his feet and Newton took his back standing. They separated and Beltran tried to close the distance. Newton rushed in with a flurry late.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Newton. Beltran not doing quite enough to take a round here.

ROUND THREE: Few even exchanges early on. Beltran tried to press the pace, and landed a few strikes. He shot in, but got stuffed at the cage. Newton got free, and Beltran landed a body kick. Beltran got Newton backing up again. He landed several strikes on the cage. Beltran kept moving forward, and then Newton landed a brutal spinning back fist out of nowhere! Follow up punch on the ground and it was all over. Newton landed that spinning back fist perfectly.

WINNER: Newton via KO at 3:07 of the third round

STAR RATING: (**-) Took longer than maybe it should have, but nice finish from Newton against a guy he needed to beat.

-That's the show for tonight. We'll be back tomorrow night with live coverage of the UFC Fight Night 51 event from Brazil on UFC FIght Pass.