IRL: Bellator 130 Does Not Disappoint

What is good guys. I know we cover a lot of things you are into, and I know I’m also into stuff what I can’t do behind a computer screen. So that’s where IRL or In Real Life comes in. This is where we’ll talk about sports and things that you like to get out there and do. This time we’ll be covering the latest Bellator MMA Live event 130. This was a great event and each fight was something to talk about. I’ll be only covering the Main Card, if you want to catch the action from the prelim check out Spike’s Website . So let’s get it on!

All of the fights were evenly matched out on the card but some of the outcomes may surprise you a bit. The card started off with Dave Jansen vs Rick Hawn. Hawn was actually the favorite in my eyes, even though Jansen had the better record Hawn was a bit better on the mat and he had the striking power to end it with one punch. But Jansen kept his wits about him, this fight was a little slow. He and Hawn exchanged a few good blows but it was mostly Dave Jansen getting in straight kick jabs to Hawn’s lead leg. Rick, with more of an Olympic training had that tell of leading off with his right leg, and Jansen took advantage of that.  This one grinded out all three rounds, and it came down to a decision. The cards read 30-29 (judge #1), 30-27 (Judge #2) 30-27 (Judge #3) for a unanimous decision in the favor of Dave Jansen. It was his steady attack that one him the points. There was no real rounds that either of them were in clear control but he connected with the most strikes and consistent attacks. Hawn dropped the ball on this one to me, instead of pushing the pace and getting in solid strikes he kept looking for an opening to get that one hitter quitter, and that was his downfall in my opinion.

The next match up was the women’s Featherweight division. It put Marloes Coenen vs Annalisa Bucci. Coenen had a clear and precise goal to end it and end it quick. And Bucci being a newcomer to the Bellator stage wanted to make a statement. Bucci is a great striker but she has been brushing up on her ground work, but it would not help her in this one. From the starting bell Coenen was all over her. It felt like Bucci couldn’t get her footing, and it would be off for the whole fight. This one went two rounds, but it was mostly on the mat and a few striking bouts between them, but in the end the experience and shear aggression of  Coenen that took it in a Submission (rear naked choke) win. Bucci, will need to look into some more ground work and getting a little more comfortable on the mat and how to get out of sticky situations.

The Third fight was one I really was looking forward to, it was “The Destroyer” Bobby Lashley vs Karl Etherington in a heavyweight bout set for three rounds, but it never made it that far. People still give Bobby Lashley flak because he is still a Pro Wrestler, but he set out on this MMA journey after parting ways with WWE/ECW. He made a name for himself quickly and earned some gold on the way, but now he is on with TNA, Bellator  was an obvious choice on his return to the octagon. He has been on top of his game and I don’t see him being stopped. But this was one of his biggest challenges to date. Etherington was a monster and undefeated to bot. He wanted to put this pro wrestler in his place and send him back home with the L. But Bobby wasn’t phased by any of his talk, and it was a great exchange in the opening bell. Bobby turned him to the fence and giving solid knees and kick jabs to loosen him up for a take down, but Etherington had an ill placed knee that struck Lashley’s groan, so they separated. After the reset the action picked up where they left off but the places switched, Lashley was against the cage this time, he managed to get it turned. Then Etherinton went for a take down, and that is where it all went downhill. He slipped and Lashely took his back and started raining down blows. With nowhere to go and no way to defend himself the ref had to call it. So in 1:30 in the first round by TKO Bobby Lashley defeated the undefeated Karl Etherington.

And finally, the main event. This one was for the Light Heavyweight Championship. In his second defense of the title Emanuel Newton took on the challenge of Linton Vassell. This was a big test for the Champ, Vassell was on a 9 fight winning streak, and he was bigger and had a considerable reach advantage. This was set for 5 rounds, and boy was it a war. This match started off with the challenger controlling the pace and taking it to the champ. There were times that I thought Newton was either gonna tap or pass out but somehow he found a way to slip out. He did give up his back a lot to Vassell but that was just to not get into a half guard battle and waste a lot of energy. The second round was mostly the same, the champ was getting it handed to him but he still hung in there and kept slipping out of those holds. There was a kimera that I swore was gonna take his arm off, but it goes to show you that if you don’t panic and train hard you can get out of anything. The third and fourth rounds is really where Newton got his breath and found that rhythm, because he came back with a vengeance. Those two rounds he showed why he was the champ and you felt that he wasn’t gonna let that title go without a fight indeed. They always say the fourth and fifth rounds separate the champions from the rest of the roster, and it shows. By the fifth round Vassell was so worn down and couldn’t get that explosive energy he had in the first two rounds, by the fifth round Newton had tied up the scorecards and it really came down to this round. But it took really one more take down and Newton was finally able to take his back and lock in a rear naked choke and Vassell tapped giving the match by Submission to Champ Emanuel Newton.

All of these matches were hard-fought and this shows the amazingness Bellator brings to the table. With all of the results out, and belt remaining with the champ, nothing left to do but hit back into the gym and get ready for the next matchup. So until next time guys, we’ll be on the look out for the stuff you like to do IRL!