Bellator

We talk about a lot of fighters as MMA OG's, the men and women who helped create this sport we know and love. Normally that's just hyperbole—many so-called pioneers came along well after the road had been both cleared and paved.

Melvin Manhoef is different.

When the striking legend made his debut, Toy Story had just completed its first week in theaters and Bill Clinton was the U.S. president. The man has been in the game for almost 25 years and has plenty to show for it. The 44-year-old has more than 100 bouts between MMA and kickboxing, including wins over men like Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Hunt and Remy Bojansky.

None of that mattered for a single second, however, once he stepped into the cage with former UFC light heavyweight Corey Anderson (14-5) on Thursday. In his first fight for Bellator, Anderson wasted little time establishing his presence on the CBS Sports Network as one of the promotion's top 205-pound fighters.

Those elbows 😱

A definitive TKO debut for @CoreyA_MMA at #Bellator251. pic.twitter.com/vm5xB7n9XN

— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) November 6, 2020

Anderson, who left UFC after winning four of his last five fights, took down Manhoef easily, finishing the bout with a series of slicing elbows that left the kickboxer covered in his own blood.

As debuts go, it doesn't get much better than that.  

Promotional talking head Chael Sonnen immediately started positioning Anderson as a potential title contender, and the announce crew played him up as someone to watch in the light heavyweight division.

"I thought he fought a wonderful, strategic fight," announcer Josh Thomson said after the fight. "He didn't take chances that he didn't need to take and he came out with a dominant performance."

Anderson, of course, wasn't the only winner on the night, and Manhoef doesn't get the only red mark on his ledger. The night, filled with plodding action, mostly disappointed. What follows are the moments that stood out and made everyone watching take notice—for better or worse.

                        

Winner: Husbands

For most of his short MMA career, Austin Vanderford has been best known for his good-humored, goofy social media videos. His co-star and wife, the much more famous Paige VanZant, might have had a little something to do with all those clicks.

But with a few more fights like the one with Vinicius de Jesus, Vanderford will soon establish his own distinct identity.

Taking advantage of an apparent size advantage over the former welterweight, Vanderford imposed his will on the fight and displayed the kind of well-rounded skills that will take him far in the Bellator cage.

               

Winner: Legal Technicalities

The LEGAL @DerekBarbaric finish as explained by @JohnMcCarthyMMA. #Bellator251

Live on @SkySports Mix. pic.twitter.com/J9u7OY79bb

— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) November 6, 2020

Everyone, including Derek Anderson, thought he had thrown away the fight after struggling through two rounds with Brazilian Killys Mota. His right shin collided with Mota's chin while it appeared the Brazilian fighter was still on the ground. That would have been an illegal strike and a disqualification in Mota's favor.

But slow-motion replay put a halt to that line of thought. It turns out that Mota's knee had lifted off the ground milliseconds prior to the fight-ending blow. That tiny, seemingly inconsequential difference in his position turned Anderson from a loser into a winner.

His blow, illegal when thrown, was legal by the time it landed. It was a dangerous gamble—but one that paid off for the welterweight contender.

                     

Winner: International Swimming League

Did you know there was an International Swimming League? I sure didn't. But thanks to an ad read by Bellator announcer Mike Goldberg, I do now. 

A team-based professional sport with competitors all over the globe, the league, according to its website, has a robust mission: "We aim to create new groundbreaking projects, new in both form and content, which would explore the full potential of competitive swimming and secure sustainable commercial growth in the sport."

What, exactly, does that mean? Who can say? That's the beauty of marketing-style writing. It can mean whatever you want it to. But I'm intrigued enough to find out!

                

Winner: Old Dogs

Bellator mainstay Georgi Karakhanyan seemed to be on his way out of the promotion's main mix. He had lost three of his past four fights and was relegated to the streaming preliminaries on a card without much in the way of name recognition.

His win over a tough Bryce Logan was the best, most competitive bout of a long evening. Hopefully next time we see the lightweight standout he will be back on the main card—where he showed he still belongs.

                      

Complete Results

• Corey Anderson beat Melvin Manhoef (TKO, Round 2).
• Tyrell Fortune beat  Said Sowma (unanimous decision).
• Austin Vanderford beat Vinicius de Jesus (unanimous decision).
• Derek Anderson beat Killys Mota (TKO, Round 2).
• Georgi Karakhanyan beat Bryce Logan (split decision).
• Julius Anglickas beat Alex Polizzi (unanimous decision).
• Janay Harding beat Jessy Miele (unanimous decision).
• Ali Zebian beat Piankhi Zimmerman (unanimous decision).
• Jaylon Bates beat Joe Supino (unanimous decision).
• Sumiko Inaba beat Jessica Ruiz (TKO, Round 1).

                    

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller Shamrock: The World's Most Dangerous Man.

New Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi is only 35 years old. But I'd forgive longtime fans for believing he was no less than 103—his professional career, after all, spans generations, continents and contrasting ethoses.

As a fighter in his prime, he competed in the wacky and wild world of Japanese mixed martial arts, stepping into the ring with heavyweights such as Mark Hunt in bouts with very different rules and standards of judging.

He also won titles around the world in more conventional promotions—everywhere except the UFC where he managed to run up a 9-3 record before departing to Bellator on a winning streak, creating a murkiness that rarely exists about who is truly the best fighter in the middleweight class.  

All that experience means it takes a lot to ruffle Mousasi or make him deviate from his game plan. Welterweight champion Douglas Lima, looking to add a second belt to his collection, couldn't manage it. Mousasi controlled four of five mostly uneventful rounds en route to regaining the title he lost in 2019.

While that makes Mousasi the unquestioned winner on the night, he wasn't the only one. Fighting, of course, is about more than just the final verdict and a green line on Wikipedia. That's why our real winners and losers are more than just the results, though you'll find those at the end of this column. It's about entertaining the crowd, making your mark and creating moments.

What follows are the moments that stood out to me. You can add yours in the comments.

            

Loser: The Knockout

In 2015, an amateur wrestler with promise named Brandon Girtz knocked Derek Campos in just 37 seconds. It was the best thing that ever happened to his career in some ways. Bellator pegged him as a future star, and he was fast tracked toward main card success. 

It was also the beginning of the end.

Before that fight, Girtz had one knockout in more than six years as a pro. Afterward, he fancied himself a slugger, swinging for the fences every time he wound up to launch a blow. He's lost six of his last eight in this fashion, focusing on the potential dramatic finish rather than doing what it takes to actually get his hand raised.

You saw it here against Henry Corrales, with Girtz winging punches that often missed by a foot or more. Though one judge somehow saw the fight go Girtz's way, to most people with functional vision, it was a one-sided loss.

At this point, now 35 years old, it's likely too late for Girtz to ever develop into a championship-level fighter. He fell in love with the knockout—and it cost him everything.

             

Loser: The Sounds of Silence

Bellator commentary is just bad

— Worktheclinch (@worktheclinch) October 30, 2020

Bellator's three-man broadcast booth of former UFC mainstay Mike Goldberg, legendary referee John McCarthy and former fighter Josh Thomson love the sound of their own voices.

Now, I don't know that for a fact, of course, but it's a reasonable belief after spending several hours listening to the three men call MMA bouts.

Nothing is given even a moment to breathe. They talk, endlessly, often about everything but the action taking place in front of them. Worse, a lot of time is spent in meandering asides and petty squabbles that add nothing at all to the proceedings.

Frankly, it makes these shows less enjoyable to watch. 

          

Winner: AEW Announcer Jim Ross

Congratulations to the Inner Circle's @RealJakeHager on remaining undefeated with a win over #BrandonCalton at @BellatorMMA 250 pic.twitter.com/FYpls7LbUL

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 29, 2020

When you watch All Elite Wrestling (Wednesdays on TNT), you'll already know how much Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross loves talking about the competitor's prowess in traditional sports. Lance Archer, for example, isn't just a big, strapping wrestler—he's a former college football quarterback.

Ross' favorite legitimate athlete in AEW appears to be Jake Hager, the wrestler formerly known as Jack Swagger. He never fails to mention that Hager is a former NCAA All American at Ross' beloved University of Oklahoma and an undefeated professional MMA fighter.

Thanks to a questionable judges' decision, he'll be able to continue making that claim.

Anyone who watched the fight between Hager and the unknown Brandon Calton will know The Inner Circle member was left bloodied, heaving for breath and the beneficiary of a very questionable decision. Hager's face was a bloody mess at the end as he sat looking to regain his composure while waiting for the verdict.

But, as bad as he looked, technically Hager remains undefeated—and I'm sure you'll hear all about it on future episodes of Dynamite.

        

Winner: Maxims like 'Age Matters'

Doesn't get much cleaner than this flying knee by @SabahHomasi 😯

(via @BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/fgai8irPmA

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 30, 2020

Sabah Homasi and Bobby Voelker are both veterans of the sport: skilled martial artists with years in the gym competing with elite athletes. Both men, likewise, crashed out of UFC once they finally made it, losing three and four in a row, respectively, on the biggest stage. 

The difference here? Nine years.

Homasi, a spry 32, demolished an aged, diminished 41-year-old Voelker. The years aren't kind to any of us, but they are crueler to fighters than almost anyone else. 

            

Main Card

Gegard Mousasi defeated Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)    

Henry Corrales defeated Brandon Girtz via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)

Dalton Rosta defeated Ty Gwerder via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)    

            

Preliminary card 

Jake Hager defeated Brandon Calton via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)            

Sabah Homasi defeated Bobby Voelker via KO (flying knee and punches) Round 2           

Johnny Eblen defeated Taylor Johnson via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)            

Adam Borics defeated Erick Sanchez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)              

Cody Law defeated Orlando Ortega via submission (D’Arce choke) Round 1

AEW star Jake Hager remained undefeated as a professional MMA fighter Thursday night by virtue of his win over Brandon Calton at Bellator 250, which was held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Congratulations to the Inner Circle's @RealJakeHager on remaining undefeated with a win over #BrandonCalton at @BellatorMMA 250 pic.twitter.com/FYpls7LbUL

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 29, 2020

Hager defeated Calton via split decision to improve his record in Bellator to 3-0 with one no-contest. 

A back-and-forth brawl featured both fighters trading big shots. Hager pinned Calton to the cage for portions of the fight, although Calton ended the second round on a high note after landing a right hand followed by a back fist:

🦴 The Bone Crusher was coming in strong to close out round 2️⃣.

The 3️⃣rd and final round of our #Bellator250 Monster Energy Prelims is LIVE NOW on YouTube!
▶️ https://t.co/z4dwej4LBD pic.twitter.com/hswAFjDYfg

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 29, 2020

That was good enough to give Calton the second-round advantage after Hager appeared to win the first round.

The third round could have gone either way. Ultimately, two judges scored the three-round fight 29-28 in Hager's favor, with one giving Calton a 29-28 edge.

.@RealJakeHager (3-0, 1 NC) defeated Brandon Calton (2-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) - #Bellator250 pic.twitter.com/VTILp6jj1t

— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) October 29, 2020

Thursday's fight was Hager's first since his bout against Anthony Garrett at Bellator 231 in October 2019. That fight was ruled a no-contest after Hager struck Garrett in the groin.

Hager made his MMA debut last year at Bellator 214 with a submission victory over J.W. Kiser and followed that up with another submission win over T.J. Jones at Bellator 221. Entering Thursday's contest, none of Hager's fights had lasted beyond the first round.

The 38-year-old Hager is best known for his accomplishments in pro wrestling, as he is currently part of the AEW roster.

In AEW, Hager is a member of Chris Jericho's Inner Circle along with Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz. Hager has been a dominant force with only two singles losses on his record, and he has recently been enjoying success in a tag team with Jericho.

Before joining AEW, Hager had a nine-year run on WWE's main roster under the name Jack Swagger. As Swagger, he held the World Heavyweight, ECW and United States Championships and also won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXVI.

Prior to becoming a pro wrestler and MMA fighter, Hager starred at the University of Oklahoma in wrestling and football. During his college days, Hager was an All-American wrestler in the heavyweight division.

On Thursday, Hager faced a fellow former football star in Calton, who played defensive line at East Tennessee State University in the early 2000s.

Calton, 40, went 5-0 as an amateur MMA fighter before turning pro this year. He owned a 2-0 professional record entering Thursday's fight, which marked his Bellator debut.

Cris "Cyborg" is one of those rare fighters who exists as a mythical figure in her own time, a legend who opponents and peers speak about in whispers—and only after looking carefully around to see who is listening. In her prime, there was no fighter more fearsome than Cyborg, a rippling anthropomorphic muscle who rampaged through the sport like no woman had before or likely ever will again. 

She won 20 in a row against anyone brave enough to step into a cage with her, helping pave a road for women in the sport that Ronda Rousey and many others would later tread. 

But make no mistake—without Cyborg's fights with current WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler on CBS and her headlining tussle with Gina Carano on Showtime, there may have been no major league MMA for women like Rousey to use as a springboard to fame and fortune.

UFC champion Amanda Nunes was the first to make Cyborg human, knocking her out in the first round and usurping her position at the top of the sport. Cyborg's reputation, however, lingered. Even after 13 years without a loss, the promotion refused her a rematch and pushed her to the side. Reemerging in Bellator, she quickly resumed her winning ways, taking the promotion's featherweight title in front of more than 15,000 fans at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

Rumors of the Queen's demise, it appears, were slightly premature. Arlene Blencowe, the latest pretender to timidly step to the end boss of the featherweight division, was hopelessly overmatched Thursday night at Bellator 249. Cyborg scored the first submission of her career after more than a decade of merely bludgeoning other women in the cage. 

Is it too frightening to consider the possibility that she may be improving with time? 

Of course, Cyborg wasn't the only victor on the night. A fight night is filled with winners and losers up and down the card—and it isn't always as simple as the result written down in someone's Wikipedia entry. Let's look at the entire night of bouts and determine the real winner and losers at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Loser: Bellator Featherweights

Total. Domination.

The featherweight title has been defended and @criscyborg gets her first win by submission. pic.twitter.com/qaA6PsJEe2

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 16, 2020

At 35, Cyborg isn't quite what she was at the top of her game. She's a little less vascular, a little bit slower to strike, the aggression that once carried her to great heights sometimes disappearing for minutes and even rounds at a time. 

That, at least, was the story going into her fight with Blancowe, a boxing standout with heavy hands. 

Instead, Cyborg demolished the Australian fighter, both beating her to the punch and dominating on the ground. She looked as unbeatable as ever—good enough that it's difficult to imagine any of the other women in the division challenging her reign any time soon.

Loser: Leandro Higo

Sure, Higo got an impressive, dominant win over the tough Ricky Bandejas. But it was a small step forward after a setback earlier in the week when Higo missed weight for the second time in his Bellator tenure.

There are mitigating factors here and it's hard not to feel for Higo after flight delays wreaked havoc on his plan to trim down to the bantamweight limit. 

The Brazilian has 20 career victories and a ton of talent. It would be hard to deny that. Unfortunately, the guy seems snakebit at times, like he's suffering a permanent jinx. Now 31-years-old, it's time for him to finally thrive if he's going to become the star we all expected when he made his Bellator debut. 

Winner: Unanimity and Consensus

If you missed it, Goldberg with the ”its all over” before referee Kerry Hatley called the fight pic.twitter.com/wX0I76mmx5

— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) October 16, 2020

The internet can't agree on anything. And I do mean anything—early this week I saw someone disparaging water. Yes, the elixir of life.

But one thing it seems almost everyone agrees on? Bellator's announce team needs a little work.

Mike Goldberg, John McCarthy and Josh Thomson no doubt try hard—but they don't gel well and don't explain or enhance the action the way the best sports announcers do. 

I've been hoping they would develop with time. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening at anything better than a glacial pace.

Loser: COVID-19

Heavyweight stud Steve Mowry, a strapping 6'8" scrapper out of Sanford, Florida, has won eight fights, all decisively.

But he's actually 9-0 if you include a recent victory over COVID-19. Mowry was originally scheduled for Bellator 242 before bowing out with a positive coronavirus test. 

A global pandemic, however, wasn't nearly enough to stop the big fella. Neither was the "Norwegian Nightmare" Shawn Teed, a veteran of the independent scene in the Northeast.

Teed, who stands 77 inches tall, likely isn't used to being the smaller man in any kind of confrontation. But Mowry towered over him, reaching up with a series of knees and connecting easily with the big man's chin.

And, to borrow a phrase from announcer Mike Goldberg, just like that, it was all over. With COVID and Teed behind him, it's time for Mowry to move quickly into the heavyweight title picture where his size and skill should make him a handful for anyone in the promotion.

Loser: Groins

These things happen in MMA #Bellator249 pic.twitter.com/7Gp4cqEoZ5

— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 16, 2020

Saad Awaad is a Bellator classic, a 37-year-old mauler with a penchant for bruising, physical violence. But no amount of veteran presence can help overcome a hard shot directly to the nethers. 

Nothing brings out universal empathy more than a blow to the groin. Every man watching can relate—so, while we can't bring ourselves to look away, there's also a part of us that vicariously suffers alongside the victim.

Unfortunately, Awaad wasn't able to continue after less than two minutes of fighting. While it's understandable, it's disappointing to lose out on an opportunity to see one of the promotion's action fight staples as his career winds down to its inevitable end.

Loser: People who Bother With Striking Fundamentals

"He's goin' Kimbo Slice!"-@JohnMcCarthyMMA

Things are heating up here in round three between @Killa_Kem_ & @KyleCrutchmer.

Watch the #Bellator249 Monster Energy Prelims LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel.

▶️ https://t.co/CofxNVnYth pic.twitter.com/cZ1KQSRJCZ

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 16, 2020

The first rule of almost any striking art is fairly simple and intuitive—try not to get hit in the face. It's bad enough in a schoolyard scuffle. Against a trained professional it can end with your rump on the canvas and a dazed look in your eyes as you turn towards the referee wondering what happened.

Unless, of course, your name is Kemran Lachinov, in which case you can drop your hands like a pro wrestler hopped up on a dozen Red Bulls and simply walk through whatever your opponent has for you.

In this case, the opponent was Kyle Crutchmer, twice an All-American on the mat for Oklahoma State. Crutchmer hit a defenseless Lachinov square on the chin twice—but it wasn't enough to stop him. In fact, his opponent's sheer craziness seemed to stop the wrestler in his tracks for a moment.

Who wouldn't be slightly intimidated by a foe who appears impervious to pain?

Lachinov did more than merely survive. He walked away with a unanimous decision after 15-hard-fought minutes.

Winner: The Youth

https://twitter.com/ScottCoker/status/1316902859477291009

Aviv Gozali is just 19 years old—but he's managed to fit a lot of fighting into those 108 months. Now 5-0 (all five by submission) inside the Bellator cage, the teenage prodigy from Israel doesn't lack for confidence. 

"I'm the best grappler in Bellator," Gozali told announcer John McCarthy. "This was my gameplan."

So far no one has been able to touch him—he's never even left the first round. While it makes sense for Bellator to tread cautiously with the young fighter, especially considering the bad luck they've had rushing other prospects too quickly to the top, now is the time for a move up in competition.

Complete Results

• Cris Cyborg def. Arlene Blencowe via submission (rear-naked choke)— Round 2 
• Leandro Higo def. Ricky Bandejas via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2
• Steve Mowry def. Shawn Teed via TKO (knee and punches) — Round 1
• Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo is ruled a no-contest (accidental groin strike) — Round 1
• Andrew Kapel def. Joseph Creer via TKO (doctor stoppage) — Round 2
• Kemran Lachinov def. Kyle Crutchmer via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Christian Edwards def. Hamza Salim via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2
• Da’Mon Blackshear def. Mike Kimbel via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2
• Aviv Gozali def. Logan Neal via submission (Kimura) — Round 1
• Albert Gonzales def. Kastriot Xhema via TKO (retirement) — Round 2

Fifteen years into her professional MMA career, Cris Cyborg is still reaching new heights. 

On Thursday, in her second-ever Bellator bout, the featherweight champion retained her title and earned a victory by submission in a dominant display against Arlene Blencowe.

Cris Cyborg gets her 1st career submission and the win!

She DEFENDS her title!@criscyborg | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/jpoBMsjvqW

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 16, 2020

The main event at Bellator 249 was less of a show and more of a statement. Cyborg (23-2, 18 KOs) needed less than two rounds to take care of Blencowe (13-8, 7 KOs) and walked away virtually untouched in her first title defense since leaving UFC. 

Everything seemed to go according to plan. Cyborg began the bout by creating separation from Blencowe with a few leg kicks before rushing her against the fence and taking her down to the mat. Once the two began grappling, Cyborg's strength and stamina won out as a flurry of headshots sent her opponent reeling at the bell. 

.@CrisCyborg sweeps the leg and gets the takedown midway through round 1️⃣.

We are live NOW on @CBSSportsNet.#Bellator249 pic.twitter.com/Ts9tjQTDa5

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 16, 2020

Round 2 started with a much faster pace as Cyborg unleashed multiple combinations of body kicks and headshots, allowing her to sweep the leg once again.

.@CrisCyborg is making every shot count!#Bellator249 #MMA #Bellator pic.twitter.com/xh6AxVQpmI

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 16, 2020

With Blencowe bloodied and too tired to defend any longer, Cyborg took the opportunity for a rear-naked choke that lasted ten seconds before Blencowe tapped out. 

Bellator 249 Main Card Results

Cris Cyborg def. Arlene Blencowe via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:36 of Round 2

Leandro Higo def. Ricky Bandejas via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:32 of Round 2

Steve Mowry def. Shawn Teed via TKO (knees and punches) at 4:22 of Round 1

Saad Awad No Contest vs. Mandel Nallo at 1:44 of Round 1

At 35 years old, Cyborg entered Thursday's match as one of Bellator's biggest draws and looking to stay that way. 

The former UFC star signed an undisclosed, multiyear deal Bellator President Scott Coker described as the largest in women's MMA history. That deal only begins to payoff if Cyborg remains at the top of her game. Her first fight post-UFC proved that was still the case as she defeated Julia Budd via technical knockout to win the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship. 

For that contract to pay off, Bellator needs Cyborg to continue running through her opponents. That doesn't mean she isn't enjoying the change of pace under Coker.

“Scott Coker appreciates every fighter," Cyborg told Katie Taylor of the Associated Press. "You never see him blame fighters in the media, you just don’t. He does not try to damage the brand of the fighters, because this is a partnership. Here is the thing, if the fighters don’t fight, the event doesn’t happen."

After setting up a debut bout with Budd, Coker made a title defense against Blencowe happen nine months later. 

Blencowe had won three straight Bellator matches heading into Thursday's title fight and provided a solid opponent at 145 pounds. 

The loss may knock Blencowe out of any title shots for some time, but it helped Bellator's marquee women's fighter continue proving she's one of the best in the world. That's a win for the company overall. 

Early on in the history of mixed martial arts, almost every country and jurisdiction fought fiercely to keep the new sport at a distance. But, over time, they fell like dominoes. In 2020, the sport once called "human cockfighting" is legal all over the world—even in the spiritual home of Western culture.

On Saturday afternoon, Paris, home of the Mona Lisa, the Louvre and the statues of Rodin, hosted its first legal major MMA event. Bellator promoter Scott Coker, who once broke ground with the first regulated MMA event in California with his Strikeforce promotion back in 2006, gave Parisians quite a show, displaying in one night all the techniques and the visceral violence that has made this the fastest growing sport in the world.

From the hyper-stylized striking of Michael "Venom" Page (18-1) to the grueling grind-you-down brutality of Cheick Kongo, new French fans at the Accor Arena got a taste of the sport at its best and worst. There were good bouts and slogs, moments of transcendent brilliance and profound courage mixed with plenty of plodding, circling and cage-clinching.

In short, the French got an MMA show. As always in such things, there were winners and losers in the literal sense, one corner returning to the locker room with a relieved smile, the other with heads held low. But fighting is about more than just marks in either the "W" or "L" column. Careers have been made in valiant defeat, and a boring victory can be costly.

Let's take a deeper look at the Bellator experience and pinpoint the true winners and losers from the sport's debut in the City of Lights.

     

Loser: Michael Page

'Wherever you go, i'll find you!"

Welterweight or middleweight, @Michaelpage247 is targetting a fight against Douglas Lima in his next Bellator MMA contest.

Watch #Bellator248 LIVE on BBC iPlayer ⤵️https://t.co/6oaeDZwdls pic.twitter.com/CakqxSPmvI

— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) October 10, 2020

"MVP" Michael "Venom" Page doesn't have multiple nicknames for nothing. He earned them in the cage, mostly by styling on overmatched, overwhelmed foes.

When Page is on a card, fans have come to expect fast-twitch excitement. We want him to drop his hands, bait his victim into attacking and then unleash karate hell with devastating counters.

Instead, in Paris, we got a regular old MMA fight. And fans weren't pleased at all, with boos actually greeting both Page and his opponent Ross Houston as the fight went to an uneventful decision.

Sure, Page was the winner on paper. But his reputation for delivering exciting fights took a big "L" in the process. The audience wants MVP. Plain old Michael Page, it turns out, isn't nearly so interesting.

     

Loser: The Idea of Kismet

Bellator's debut in France was built around Cheick Kongo's triumphant return home. Sometimes, however, fairy tales don't always have happy endings. Timothy Johnson canceled all the victory parties scheduled around Paris with a surprise split-decision win in the main event.

The last time the two men met, Johnson wasn't able to survive the first five minutes. But, his confidence renewed after training extensively with UFC contender Francis Ngannou, Johnson looked like a different man. He smothered and outfought Kongo both standing and on the ground and eked out a tough decision in front of a partisan crowd.

     

Winner: The Lost Art of the Spinaroonie

Is this the craziest celebration in Bellator MMA history? 😳
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some serious moves from Yves Landu following his highlight-reel KO. #BellatorParis pic.twitter.com/8e9Z6MJysP

— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) October 10, 2020

Yves Landu hit Terry Brazier so hard with a flying switch knee on the temple that the poor Brit woke up completely unaware of what had happened. While the French kickboxer celebrated with an impromptu breakdancing show, Brazier argued with officials about the outcome.

Joy and pain live together in the same cage—the twin spirts of the sport.

Landu looked remarkable in the bout. But his real future may be in the world of dance, as his post-fight moves truly stole the show. He challenged gravity with his fight winning knee—but it was his physics-defying spinaroonie that will become meme material. Booker T himself couldn't have done it any better.

     

Winner: French MMA

Fabacary Diatta puts the❗️on a historic win in Paris!

The Bellator European Series continues on YouTube 👇 in the 🇺🇸 and @BBCiPlayer & @Channel5_TV in 🇬🇧.

▶️ https://t.co/C1oL9uYVGa#BellatorParis #MMA #Paris pic.twitter.com/MPLyoZVN1u

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 10, 2020

Despite getting a late start on the world stage, French mixed martial artists established themselves immediately here as competitive on the regional level. Most impressive was 23-year-old welterweight Fabacary Diatta, who bested Dominique Wooding, a talented British fighter many expected to walk away with the win.

Wanting it more is a cliche throughout sports—but it's entered the lexicon for a reason. Diatta's continuous effort and refusal to be denied was the story of this fight. While Wooding faded as the bout went on, Diatta's spirits never sagged. His joyous energy was infectious, and his home-country fans were ecstatic to see a Frenchman with his hand raised at the end of 15 tough minutes.

     

Winner: Killer Instinct

.@OliverEnkamp gets the takedown!

Tune into the #Bellator248 main card NOW with @CBSSportsNet in the 🇺🇸 and with @BBCiPlayer in the 🇬🇧.#MMA #Bellator #Paris pic.twitter.com/QbvWPx8yog

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 10, 2020

The first three fights of the night didn't feature any fooling around. The favorites came out and demolished the competition, showing French fans how exciting the martial arts can be in the hands (and feet) of a master.

Following Mads Burnell's Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminar, Alan Omer demonstrated the power of a good old fashioned whupping. Punching someone in the face, it turns out, doesn't require much in the way of a learning curve for the audience.

But most impressive was Oliver Enkamp's Japanese necktie submission. The babyfaced 29-year-old never seemed to break a sweat en route to his third straight first-round finish. His nickname is "The Future," but the time is now for a fighter who seems on the precipice of title contention.

     

Loser: Bellator and History

For all the hype about history being made, Bellator missed out on being first to the market by two days. On Thursday, a smaller promotion hosted the first regulated event in French MMA history in Vitry-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris.

The UFC, famously, launched with announcer Bill "Superfoot" Wallace's burp heard around the world. In France, a groin strike was the inaugural blow. When the potential for ridiculous shenanigans exists, you can always count on MMA to deliver.

     

Winner: The Gracie Family and the Art of Jiu-Jitsu

This is the nicest takedown I’ve ever seen in #MMA - @JohnMcCarthyMMA@BurnellMMA gets the W in our first fight in Paris!

The #Bellator248 main card is LIVE NOW on @CBSSportsNet and @BBCiPlayer! pic.twitter.com/7KhjZGSyjS

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 10, 2020

Royce Gracie revolutionized the martial arts back in 1993, showing the world that you couldn't be an elite fighter without the ability to compete on the mat. It's only fitting, then, that Paris was introduced to a similar concept 27 years later in the first fight at Bellator 248.

UFC veteran Mads Burnell took his opponent Darko Banovic gently to the mat, secured the rear mount and proceeded to pound him out. It was Brazilian jiu-jitsu 101—and the perfect way to showcase the sport in its major league debut.

     

Complete Results

Timothy Johnson defeated Cheick Kongo via split decision

Saul Rogers defeated Arbi Mezhidov via submission (rear-naked choke), 4:38 of Round 1

Yves Landu defeated Terry Brazier via KO (flying knee), 2:18 of Round 1

Fabacary Diatta defeated Dominique Wooding via unanimous decision

Lucie Bertaud defeated Maguy Berchel via unanimous decision

Ciaran Clarke defeated Jean N'Doye via unanimous decision

Michael Page defeated Ross Houston via unanimous decision

Oliver Enkamp defeated Emmanuel Dawa via submission (Japanese necktie), 4:10 of Round 1

Alan Omer defeated Ryan Scope via TKO (strikes), 1:46 of Round 1

Mads Burnell defeated Darko Banovic via TKO (strikes), 3:13 of Round 1

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov announced Friday that his cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, has signed a multiyear contract with Bellator MMA.

Per ESPN's Ariel Helwani, Bellator officials confirmed the deal and noted that it is for multiple fights.

Usman is a perfect 11-0 professionally with seven wins by way of knockout and three by submission. Helwani noted that Usman is considered a "major prospect" in the sport.

Usman is following in the footsteps of his cousin, who is among the most successful fighters in the history of the UFC.

The 32-year-old Khabib is the reigning UFC lightweight champion and owns a perfect professional record of 28-0 with 10 submissions and eight knockouts. Among the fighters he has beaten are Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Rafael dos Anjos.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented Khabib from competing since UFC 242 in September 2019, but he is lined up for a fight against interim UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje in October.

There are some clear similarities between Khabib and Usman, but one major difference is that Khabib has a decorated background in judo and sambo, while Usman specializes in Muay Thai.

According to Helwani, Bellator officials said the current plan is for Usman to compete in the lightweight division and make his debut for the promotion in December or January.

Bellator MMA light heavyweight fighter Corey Anderson said he feared for his life after suffering a medical emergency Feb. 21, one week after his knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in his final UFC fight.

Anderson told TMZ Sports in an interview released Saturday he "blacked out and collapsed" while scouting land and was rushed to the hospital to deal with heart complications.

"It was a scary process," he said. "You don't know if one, is your heart gonna be OK, two, every night you go to sleep, is my heart gonna stop in the middle of the night?"

Anderson, who requested his UFC release following the incident, told TMZ he's now fully recovered and prepared to make his Bellator debut.

The 30-year-old Illinois native owns a 13-5 career MMA record with five knockouts. He was riding a four-fight winning streak before the loss to Blachowicz.

He previously said the move to Bellator was motivated by a desire for better compensation after a conversation with former UFC two-division champion Daniel Cormier, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

"I used to say I don't care about the money, that I'm fighting to be the best and I don't need the money," Anderson said. "After hanging out with [Cormier], he broke something to me. He said, 'You know how you say you don't fight for money? When was the last time you got in a street fight? You don't fight for free. You fight to pay for your family.'"

Anderson burst onto the scene in 2014 when he won The Ultimate Fighter 19 light heavyweight tournament, and he proceeded to spend six years in the UFC.

ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported he signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator.

Anderson's first opponent in the promotion hasn't been announced, though.

Bellator is reportedly coming back July 24, according to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, and the main event will be Ricky Bandejas taking on Sergio Pettis at bantamweight.

Bandejas (13-3) is coming off two straight knockout victories, defeating Frans Mlambo and Ahmet Kayretli. He made a name for himself in 2018 when he knocked out the touted James Gallagher in the first round.

Pettis (19-5), meanwhile, beat Alfred Khashakyan by first-round guillotine at Bellator 238 in his first fight with the organization. He had previously fought under the UFC umbrella, going 9-5.

Other fights will include Aaron Pico vs. Solo Hatley Jr. and Jordan Mein vs. Jason Jackson. A bantamweight title fight between Juan Archuleta and Patrick Mix had originally been on the card but had to be canceled after Archuleta withdrew.

Pico is 5-3 in his career, losing by knockout in the second round at Bellator 238 versus Daniel Carey. Hatley (8-2) defeated Gaston Bolanos at Bellator 239.

Mein last fought in 2018, defeating Alex Moreno in a UFC on Fox card. He is 31-12 in his career. He'll take on Jackson, who is 11-4 and fresh off a unanimous-decision win over Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236.

Bellator, which has been shut down since its Feb. 22 event in Dublin because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is also planning events for Aug. 7, Aug. 21 and Sept. 11 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, per Helwani. The last three dates are not finalized, however.

Bellator has postponed another event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The promotion announced Tuesday that Bellator 244, originally scheduled for June 6, will be rescheduled at a date to be determined:

Official statement on Bellator 244. pic.twitter.com/CAOnNvVkB0

— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) April 21, 2020

This marks the fifth Bellator event to be postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. The promotion's last show took place February 22 from 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. 

The June 6 show from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago was going to feature a lightweight main event match between Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson. The first semifinal in the featherweight grand prix tournament between A.J. McKee and Darrion Caldwell was also scheduled to take place. 

With this latest postponement, Bellator doesn't have any events on its schedule for the next five months. The next events are currently set to take place on Oct. 3 in Dublin and Oct. 10 in Milan, Italy.