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By Alvin Benjamin Carter III, MMA Torch Specialist
Bellator 126 comes to you live this evening from Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Spike TV. Tonight's headliner is a Middleweight Title bout between current champion Alexander Shlemenko and the winner of the Season 10 Middleweight Tournament Brandon Halsey. The card also features Patricky Freire taking on Marcin Held in the finals of the Season 10 Lightweight tournament.
Fight 1: Bantamweight - Mike Richman vs. Ed West
Round 1:
The touch gloves and Richman lands a leg kcik. West is back against the fist attempting to counter strike. Not much is landing from eithr. West rushes in with two left hands but Richman defends. West lands an overhand right. Richman does not move. Richman lands a right hook while stalking West. There is a kick to the cup and the action stop momentarily. Richman lands a head kick and and West catches it. Richman gets his leg back and then lands a right left combo that knocks West or cold.
Mike Richman defs. Ed West via Knockout - 2:44
Fight 2: Featherweight - Thiago Meller vs. Bubba Jenkins
Round 1:
Jenkins is throwing hard punches and ten a spinning back kick to the head. Meller is throwing leg kicks. Meller misses with a knee. They are bth exchanging quick combos, but nothing is really landing. Jenkins with head movement. Meller tries to clinch and the break. Meller is letting his hands go more and then lands a kick to the body. Jenkins taunts and Meller comes in with punches. Jenkins shoots and takes him down, but Meller grabs a guillotine and they roll and roll and roll. Meller still has the choke. Jenkins gets out of guard and tries to get his head free. Meller holds on to it and eventual Jenkins gets free and starts landing ground and pound. Meller tries for an armbar, but Jenkins gets out and ground and pounds until the bell.
Round 2:
Jenkins with a leg kick. Then a head kick that lands. Meller lands a body kick and Jenkins get poked in the eye and action stops. The start up and Jenkins is landing right hands and combos. He shoots and Meller stuffs. Jenkins with a jab and then a right straight. Jenkins is landing jabs, and ten Meller backs him against the fence. Jenkins shoot hard and gets the takedown. Meller tries to work his way up, but Jenkins maintains control. He is landing strikes from the top and then dives back in in a ferocious manner and the bell rings.
Round 3:
Meller is throwing heavy strikes and Jenkins shoots. Meller rolls for a choke and gets up. Then Jenkins shoots again and Meller goes for the guillotine again. The Jenkis gets his head out, but his pants came down and the ref stops the fight and has him pull up his pants. Jenkins smothers on the top and Meller tries to roll for a kneebar. Jenkins maintains top control and lands ground and pound that is all but rearranging Meller's face. The rounds ends with Jenkins dominating Meller.
Bubba Jenkins defs. Thiago Meller via Unanimous Decision
Fight 3: Lightweight Tournament Final - Patricky Freire vs. Marcin Held
Round 1:
Held tries a flying kick that misses. Held rolls for a leg lock and Pitbull rolls and defends, but Held stays on top. Pitbull gets up and takes the center of the ring. He lands a heavy knee when Helds looks to shoot. Held shoots and they tie up on the cage. Pitbull takes him down and lands on top. Held goes for the ankle and Pitbull escapes. They are working on the ground, but the ref stands them up. Pitbull pushes forward and the bell rings.
Round 2:
Pitbull throws a leg kick and Held throws a counter punch. Held shoots and Pitbull defends, and Held completes the takedown. Held is working elbows from the top. Held goes for an a kimura and a straight armbar but Pitbull pulls his arm out. Held is landing big strikes while in half guard. Held is landing right hand after right hand. Pitbull is now against the cage and Held is smothering him. Held with big elbows and now Pitbull is bleeding from his right eye. Another storm of elbows rains down on Pitbull until the round ends.
Round 3:
Held takes Pitbull down and works a smothering top control. Pitbull is trying wall walk, and Held is keeps him down and progresses to full mount. Pitbull explodes up and rols to his feet. Held tries take him down and Held rolls for the heel hook and then takes Pitbull back down. Pitbull gets back up and then taken back down. Held is driving in deep from half guard and landing right hands and elbows. The bell rings.
Marcin Held defs. Patricky Pitbull via Unanimous Decision
Middleweight Championship: Alexander Shlemenko(c) vs. Brandon Halsey
Round 1:
Halsey shoots and takes down Shlemenko while he is trying to defend, and he takes Shlemenko's back. Halsey slaps on a rear naked choke and Shlemenko passes out.
Brandon Halsey defs. Alexander Shlemenk via Rear Naked Choke - Rd. 1 - 0:35
Well that is it for tonight. We saw two Bellator mainstays get dominated tonight, and we saw Bubba Jenkins show what he can do. Make sure to check back next for Bellator 127.
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