Cheick Kongo (proper) has gained 31 of his 44 MMA fights
France’s Cheick Kongo dramatically beat Russian Sergei Kharitonov to win the battle of the heavyweight veterans in the principle occasion of Bellator 265.
Kongo, 46, defeated Kharitonov, 41, by way of submission within the remaining second of spherical two on the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Within the co-main occasion, residence favorite Logan Storley scored a split-decision win towards welterweight Dante Schiro.
There have been additionally wins for Marcelo Golm and Jornel Lugo.
Kongo rallies late
When the bout began, Kharitonov instantly pressured a tentative Kongo to retreat in the direction of the fence as he stalked the Frenchman across the cage all through the opening spherical.
‘The Paratrooper’ briefly dropped Kongo with a straight shot and had him in hassle within the closing seconds of the spherical because the 46-year-old confirmed indicators of misery early on.
Kongo began to fireside again with photographs of his personal in spherical two, however Kharitonov saved the strain on as he stuffed Kongo’s takedown makes an attempt and punished him with heavy photographs to the pinnacle and physique.
However, after discovering himself on the receiving finish for a spherical and a half, Kongo immediately exploded into life mid-way via the second spherical as he dramatically turned the bout in his favour.
Kongo hammered Kharitonov with heavy strikes, then took him powerfully to the canvas.
Then, with Kharitonov trapped and unable to flee, the Frenchman poured on the strain with floor strikes earlier than taking the Russian’s again and locking up a rear-naked choke which pressured the Russian to faucet with one second left within the spherical.
The victory – the thirty first of Kongo’s 44-fight MMA profession – noticed him return to the win column after he was defeated by Tim Johnson in the principle occasion in his native Paris final October.
Storley grinds out win
Storley improved his profession report to 12-1
Within the co-main occasion of the night, South Dakota’s Storley bounced again from his first profession defeat to attain a split-decision victory in his residence state.
Quantity-five-ranked welterweight contender Storley misplaced a break up choice to Yaroslav Amosov final November earlier than the Ukrainian moved on to seize the Bellator welterweight title.
However the 28-year-old American returned to profitable methods as he outwrestled debutant Schiro via the primary two rounds to assist safe scores of 29-28 on two of the three judges’ scorecards. The opposite scorecard scored the struggle 29-28 to Schiro.
Regardless of enhancing his profession report to 12-1, Storley admitted he was “embarrassed” along with his efficiency, however made no secret of his want to face world champion Amosov once more.
“I need Amosov, however I do not [think I’ve] bought a lot of an argument after a efficiency like that. However I do know I can take him into deep waters,” he stated.
“I believe I am higher than him, I respect him. I did not present it in there tonight. However that is what I need. I need to be world champ.”
Golm scores buzzer-beater TKO
Brazilian heavyweight Golm made a victorious begin to life contained in the Bellator cage as he completed short-notice debutant Billy Swanson within the closing seconds of the opening spherical.
Golm, a former UFC heavyweight who earned a Bellator contract after claiming back-to-back wins after his UFC launch, regarded the larger, stronger, higher conditioned fighter of their foremost card bout.
The 28-year-old American High Workforce-trained fighter spent a lot of the spherical forcing his man towards the cage. Then, because the 10-second clapper sounded within the closing seconds of the spherical, he unloaded a barrage of punches that dropped Swanson and compelled the TKO stoppage on the 4:57 mark.
The victory improved Golm’s profession report to 9-3, and prolonged his post-UFC win streak to 3 fights.
He additionally issued a problem after his win as he referred to as out unbeaten 6ft 8in contender Steve Mowry.
Lugo targets bantamweight Grand Prix
Within the opening bout of the night time, undefeated prospect Lugo turned the primary fighter to complete Keith Lee as he scored a first-round technical submission victory of their 140lb contract weight match-up.
Lugo got here near locking up a D’Arce choke earlier the spherical as he chased a submission end towards Lee, the youthful brother of UFC welterweight Kevin Lee.
However the unbeaten 25-year-old wouldn’t be denied as he saved on the strain and locked up a decent rear-naked choke within the remaining seconds of the spherical. Lee refused to faucet and was rendered unconscious because the bell sounded.
Lugo’s spectacular end improved his report to 7-0, with 4 of these wins coming contained in the Bellator cage.
After his victory, Lugo stated he hoped his efficiency was ok to earn him a spot in a possible Bellator bantamweight Grand Prix event.
He even revealed his ideally suited first-round opponent – reigning Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis.
“Sergio, come on. Let’s get the belt. Think about me, 7-0, profitable a belt,” he stated, earlier than explaining that he needs to emulate the success of newly topped featherweight champion AJ McKee, who just lately gained the Bellator featherweight Grand Prix by defeating champion Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire.
Nevertheless, Lugo stated he would favor his route via the event to look barely completely different.
“I am gonna do the alternative of AJ McKee,” he defined.
“AJ McKee gained the event [and] bought the belt on the finish.
“I will get the belt at first and defend it via the event.”
