Bellator London review and results: Michael ‘Venom’ Page wins in emphatic fashion with highlight reel KO.
Bellator MMA returned to London tonight at the SSE Arena, Wembley. This was an event that saw 18 professional bouts take place. Take a look below at our overview of the event.
PRELIMS:
Charlotte McIntyre vs Josie Blaber – McIntyre by TKO (punches) – 2:00 of Round 2
McIntyre got off to a perfect start in her pro-debut as she blasted through Josie Blaber in the first match-up of the night. After a multiple strike combination, the referee was forced to stop the bout.
Raphael Uchegbu vs Shane Campbell – Uchegbu by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – 2:17 of Round 2
Uchegbu maintained his undefeated record tonight against the debuting Campbell. Uchegbu dominated the fight and forced Campbell into submission mid-way through the second round.
Akonne Wanliss vs Tim Barnett – Wanliss by Submission (D’arce Choke) – 0:56 of Round 1
Wanliss continued to show he is a star in the making by submitting Liverpool’s Barnett in impressive fashion. Wanliss locked in a D’arce Choke to improve his record to 4W-1L.
Nathan Rose vs Harry Hardwick – Hardwick by Majority Decision (29×28, 29×28, 28×28)
Hardwick lived up to his nickname ‘Houdini’ tonight as he pulled off a magical performance to defeat London’s Rose.
Jeremy Petley vs Tom Mearns – Petley by Unanimous Decision (30X27)
In front of his hometown, Petley defeated the ex-Cage Warriors star Tom Mearns. Improving his record to 13W-8L-1D.
Aiden Lee vs Damian Frankiewicz – Lee by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – 1:24 of Round 1
Lee had the crowd cheering tonight as he defeated Poland’s Frankiewicz late in the first round. Lee locked in a well-executed Rear Naked Choke that forced Frankiewicz to tap.
George Tokkos vs Kevin Fryer – Fryer by Unanimous decision (30×27)
Fleetwood’s Fryer caused an upset tonight as he handed Tokkos his first career defeat. Fryer’s record improves to an impressive 8W-3L.
Alfie Davis vs Alessandro Botti – Davis by Unanimous Decision (30×27, 30×27, 29×28)
Alfie Davis has never lost in front of his hometown of London and continued that impressive record tonight as he defeated Italy’s Alessandro Botti.
Kent Kauppinen vs Andy Manzolo – Kauppinen by Submission (Forearm Choke) – 3:53 of Round 1
Kauppinen put his experience to good use tonight as he defeated Southampton’s Manzolo. Kaupinnen piled on the pressure early in the match which Manzolo failed to respond to.
Chris Bungard vs Benjamin Brander – Bungard by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – 1:26 of Round 1
Scotland’s Bungard dominated Switzerland’s Brander tonight, taking him down early on and submitting him. The team up at Scottish Hit Squad are really proving themselves to be submission specialists.
Walter Gahadza vs Lewis Long – Long by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – 1:44 of Round 1
Welshman Lewis Long made quick work of his opponent tonight as he defeated seasoned fighter Walter Gahadza. After an early takedown, Long locked in the Rear Naked Choke that forced Gahadza to tap.
Robert Whiteford vs Sam Sicilia – Whiteford by KO (Punches) – 4:54 of Round 3
Scotland’s Whiteford put in an exceptional performance against UFC veteran Sam Sicilia. The match was a back and forth brawl. However, Whiteford was able to finish Sicilia with a fantastic combination of punches.
Charlie Ward vs Pietro Penini – Penini by Unanimous Decision (30×27, 30×27, 29×28)
Tonight was a blood soaked battle between two hard hitting middleweights. Penini came off with the win after a back and forth battle. His record improves to 9W-1L-1D.
Tim Wilde vs Charlie Leary – Wilde by Unanimous Decision (29×28)
England’s own Wilde and Leary faced off tonight in front of the London crowd. Both men were dropped multiple times in the fight but Wilde came off with the Unanimous Decision win.
Denise Kielholtz vs Sabriye Sengul – Kielholtz by Submission (Americana) – 0:32 of Round 1.
These two fighters closed the Bellator London prelims and what a fight it was to do so. Kielholtz introduced Sengul to the world of MMA with a quick first round finish, dropping her early, then finishing the fight with an Americana.
MAIN CARD:
Terry Brazier vs Soren Bak – Bak by Unanimous Decision (30×27, 30×27, 29×28)
Kicking off the main card was a match-up between two of Bellator’s lightweight contenders and both these men’s entrances was something to behold. Bak entered the cage solo in a viking costume, whilst Brazier came in with an entourage of dancers surrounding him.
Coming into this fight both fighters held a combined record of 24W-3L. Bak came off with the win after an impressive performance, he was rocked in the first. However, his wrestling proved too much for Brazier.
Fabian Edwards vs Mike Shipman – Edwards by Split Decision (29×28, 30×27, 28×29)
In the co-main event of the night we saw two of England’s best middleweight fighters compete. This was arguably a bout that would decide the next number one contender for the belt.
Sparks had flown at yesterdays weigh-ins and this fight was always going to end in dramatic fashion.
In a testing match for both fighters, Edwards won the bout via a controversial Split Decision and emotions ran high for both teams.
Michael Page vs Giovanni Melillo – Page by KO (Punch) – 1:47 of Round 1,
Melillo stepped in at the last minute to ensure that the fan’s at Bellator London got to see Michael ‘Venom’ Page fight. MVP always brings a highlight reel finish to a match, and tonight he continued this trend.
Page won the bout, knocking his opponent out with one punch, this closed off another action packed, successful night for Bellator MMA in London.
