Bellator 281 Results: MVP vs Storley -Take a look at the results
Bellator returned to action this Friday with their new card which will take place on May 13, 2024 at SSE Arena in London, England. The main event featured a welterweight fight between hometown lad, Michael Page and Logan Storley for the interim Bellator welterweight championship.
Bellator’s welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov is currently in Ukraine defending his country from the Russian invasion, and this resulted in the match-up for the interim title between MVP and Storley. But much to the disappointment of the local English crowd, Storley wrestled his way to victory in a rather underwhelming display.
MVP started the bout in comfortable range, peppering Storley with kicks and few jabs. He circled the octagon away from Storley’s wrestling range, and the latter was dictating patience and making the right reads before exercising his game plan. One thing that has been missing from MVP’s arsenal is strong grappling skills, an area that Storley decided to target. And he did that efficiently by finally getting a hold of MVP, although the Brit showed great resilience in being held up on the mats. Although he could not menace or inflict damage from the bottom, he ensured that his opponent does not land any significant strikes either.
This sequence continued for the initial three rounds, while the crowd booed and jeered at Storley for his lacklustre display. In the limited exchanges on the feet, Paige managed to land some decent combinations, that caused some bruises under the eye of Storley. In the fourth round, which was Page’s best, he was finally able to avoid grappling exchanges for the larger period of the round , but he still gave up a takedown late in the fourth. When the fifth started, Storley quickly went back to work with the wrestling, and this time, he was able to get Page down and hold half-guard for some time. In the end, although Storley had controlled most of the fight, it was Page who had clearly did more damage. The judges did not choose to reward him for that, however, and Storley won a split decision with scores of 48-47, 47-48, and 49-46, to win his first world title.
In the co-main event, Fabian raised the stock value of the Edwards name with a vicious knockout of MMA legend Lyoto Machida, proving that he cannot hand currently with the young lions of the game. Machida began the fight with his signature karate stance and lateral movements, but it took no time for Fabian to initiate a clinch, and landed a cracking elbow that wobbled the ‘Dragon’. He allowed no breathing space, as he followed up with a barrage of punches, eventually shutting out the lights of Machida.
The card also featured another mixed martial arts legend and home town fighter Paul Daley, who enthralled fans with his display. The signature Daley hook, and fearless fighting style was on full display, as he closed the curtains on an exceptionally illustrious career.
Giacomo spent the entire first round and much of the second round taking Daley down and controlling him on the floor. Later in the second round, though, ‘Semtex’ was able to reverse position on the ground and as both men got up, Daley landed some vicious combinations on the fence that had his opponent in all sorts of trouble. He planted his signature right hook finishing the job and face-planting Giacomo.
It was a fitting end to Daley’s career, who walks away from the sport with a record of 44-18-2.
Check out the full Bellator 281 results below.
Main card
Logan Storley def. Michael Page via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Fabian Edwards def. Lyoto Machida via KO (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
Kana Watanabe def. Denise Kielholtz via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:03
Paul Daley def. Wendell Giacomo via KO (punch) – Round 2, 4:09
Simon Biyong def. Luke Trainer via unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 29-28)
Preliminary card
Daniel Weichel def. Robert Whiteford via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:12
Elina Kallionidou vs. Kate Jackson via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:53
Oliver Enkamp def. Mark Lemminger via submission (buggy choke) – Round 3, 0:25
Alfie Davis vs. Tim Wilde is declared a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Andrew Fisher def. Attila Korkmaz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Charlie Ward def. Alan Carlos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
Maciej Rozanski def. Lee Chadwick via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Chiara Penco def. Lanchana Green via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
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