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By Alvin Benjamin Carter III, MMA Torch Specialist
Hello Everyone! I am live at Bellator 15 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. Traffic from Boston was something else, but I am here in time for the televised action.
This is my first time doing a live blog.So here we go.
Fight 1: Will Romero (5-0) vs. Patricio Pittbull (12-0)
Round 1:
Will Romero and Patricio Pittbull touch gloves. They dance for a bit and then there is a quick exchange of hands. Pitbull goes for a takedown against the cage. He gets it. Guard never materializes for Romero. Romero upkicks to defend. Pitbull grabs an ankle and applies a heel hook. He switches ankles and gets the tap. It's over.
Pitbull def. Romero by Submission (Heel Hook)
Post Fight: Pitbull says he wanted an early knockout, but he got the submission early submission instead.
Fight Rating: **+ - Slow start, quick finish. Strong win for Pittbull. Not much happened in this one, but what did go down was texbook.
Fight 2: Jacob McClintock (8-0) vs. Ryan Thomas (10-4)
Round 1:
The move in quickly. McClintock lands one right on McClintock's chin.
The fight hits the ground, and quickly McClintock takes the back and goes for the rear naked choke. He struggles with it for a bit and then Thomas gets out and posts up in McClintock's guard. Ground and pound by Thomas. Thomas spins to pass guard and is pounding away while in Thomas' half guard. He keeps him near the cage. McClintock almost lands and triangle, but Thomas gets out and continues to pound while in McClintock's guard. McClintock is not defending himself and the ref stops it. Another first round finish.
After a controversial loss, Thomas gets his second change in the cage and shows well. He looked to be in trouble early one, but he turned it around.
Thomas def. McClintock by TKO (Strikes) Round 1 - 2:01
Post Fight: He thanks Bjorn Rebney for the second chance, and Jacob McClintock for fighting on such short notice. He says wants to fight Ben Askren again in the tournament to avenge his technical submission loss that initially put him out of the tournament.
Fight Rating: *** This was an enjoyable fight, and a great comeback for Thomas. The action was at a good pace, and the spinning gaurd pass by Thomas was smooth. (4:11)
Fight 3: Tyler Stinson (16-5) vs. Dan Hornbuckle (19-3)
Round 1:
Hornbuckle goes for a body shot. Stinson comes back with a knee. They exchange crosses that both land. Hornbuckle jabs goes for a takedown, and and they wrestle is a round literally sprawling in circles. Stinson is in Hornbuckle's guard. Hornbuckle applies a triangle. It's tight. Stinsons moves around and tries to get out... and he taps. Another round one finish. So far this event has been the exact opposite of Strikeforce: Nashville. We are getting finishes.
Post Fight: Hornbuckle says he is looking for Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good.
Fight Rating: **+ Valiant attempt by Stinson. He won an open tryout to get into the tournament. Even with all the heart Stinson showed, Hornbuckle showed he is dangerous from his back.
Fight 4: Brett Cooper (12-5) vs. Steve Carl (12-1)
Round 1:
Carl fakes a jab and shoots. He has Cooper against the cage, and Cooper knees Carl in the stomach. He puts Carl to the cage and picks him up for a takedown. Slam. Cooper is working in Carl's guard. Carl has decent control of Coopers head. Cooper works him to the cage and posts up. Carl works his way up and then takes down Cooper. He is standing in Coopers guard. He rains down punchers and then passes cooper's guard. He is on top with a north-south position sprawling out. Carl throws a head shot and Cooper stands, but does not advance his position much. Carl works for a guillotine, but Cooper gets up. They are back on the Carl is up against the cage, but in control of the clinch. Cooper pushes Carl to the ground, but they are back up and Carl takes Cooper down again. Car takes his back, but Cooper spins. Carl gets back on top of Cooper and gets in one shot before the bell rings.
Round2:
A mini slug fest ensues. Kick from Cooper. They clinch on the cage and dirty box. Carl with a spinning back kick. Doesn't land. Cooper with a leg kick. It goes unchecked. Carl with a round house to coopers back. Leg kick by cooper, again, and then a stiff cross. they clinch to the cage. They enter the middle of the middle of the ring and throw hands. Even exchanges. Carl with a big right to Cooper. Cooper throws a write. They both looked gassed. Carl takes Cooper down on the cage. He tries o take his Cooper's back. Cooper sweeps and gets side control. Carl fights his way up. They clinch with 10 seconds left.
Round 3:
Carl shoots and clinches against the cage. They beak. Carl with a right kick to the head, and then a left. Both blocked, but they had heat. Cooper attempts take down. They bounce up. They exchange hands. Carl appears to have jumped/tripped-into guard. Cooper gets side mount, works to full mount. Carl gets up! Chases cooper and lands a kick to the body. Carl goes for a single leg takedown. It is ultimately stuffed by cooper. Carl has his hands low. Cooper lands a jab. Carl shoots, and Cooper stuffs. Carl looks gassed, so does Cooper. Cooper shoots and gets the takedown. Looks like Carl was going for a guillotine, but doesn't. Cooper is in Carl's guard. Carl goes for an armbar. Cooper posts up and hands him a fist to the mouth. Carl ground and pounds. Carl works, but Cooper pounds from side control until the bell rings.
Carl def. Cooper via Split Decision (29-28 Cooper, 29-28 Carl, 29-28 Carl)
Post Fight: Cooper says he thinks he might have done better than the judges scored him. The crowed boos loudly as Carl talks. I honestly can't hear him the crowd is booing so loud.
Fight Rating: *** A bit sloppy, but entertaining. The fight took was dynamic, but no one could get the finish. The crowed was in it all the way, and seem to believe it was controversial. Cooper is fan favorite. The fact he looks like Jesus adds to that.
That's it for the televised portion of the Bellator 15 fight card. It was a good one. The three first round stoppages and one split decision made for an interesting evening. This was my first time covering an event live from the press box, and I have to say this was an action packed christening.
Outcomes of the fights that were not televised:
Ryan Quinn def. Matt Lee by Decision
Rich De Los Reyes def. Brylan Van Artdalen by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2 2:03
Dan Cramer def. Denis Olson by Unanimous Decision
David Branch def. Derrick Mehman by Rear Naked Choke - Round 2 :26
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