Bellator 159 took place in Mulvane, Kansas at the Kansas Star Arena. The co-main event featured Melvin Guillard versus David Rickels with the main event pitting undefeated Darrion Caldwell against Joe Taimanglo. Below are the results for the preliminary fights followed by round by round analysis for the main card.
Fernando Martinez def. Marcio Navarro via Split Decision
Johnny Marigo def. Andy Riley via Submission (Inverted Triangle Key Lock) Rd 1
Gaston Reyno def. L.J. Hermreck Jr. via TKO (Punches) Rd 3
Jessica Middleton def. Bruna Ellen Unanimous Decision
Luis Philipe Lins def. Guilherme Viana via TKO (Punches) Rd 3
Daniel Weichel vs Emmanuel Sanchez:
Round 1 – Both fighters feeling each other out with a few good punches each. Daniel Weichel makes the difference with 3 good takedowns but dealing no damage. Each fighter had a few good combos but nothing really connecting with effectiveness. Not too exciting but Weichel and Sanchez are trying. Sanchez throwing wild roundhouse kicks with none connecting. My Card: 10-9 Weichel
Round 2 – Weichel is the counter striker in this round trying to pick his spots. Sanchez doing slight damage with leg kicks showing some strength behind it. Slow round nothing too entertaining with the difference in my book being a takedown by Daniel Weichel with the stand-up about even. My Card: 10-9 Weichel
Round 3 – This round Weichel takedown Sanchez and actually keeps him there for a little over a minute. Furthering his position to taking his back but again, you guessed it NO DAMAGE! They exchange good combos each and Sanchez has a lot more energy than Weichel standing up connected with better combos with a little more power than the earlier rounds but Weichel still looking for takedowns. The round ends with Sanchez pumping up the crowd? Which is very confusing to me…….. I personally gave the round to Sanchez just based on aggressiveness and a minor power advantage in the striking. My Card 10-9 Sanchez
Final Result- My Card: 29-28 Weichel
Bellator Judges- Daniel Weichel wins by split decision over Emmanuel Sanchez
Bruna Vargas vs Emily Ducote
Round 1 – Bruna leads with a great combo to begin with. Both women exchange good strikes with it leading to Emily connecting with 2 great overhand rights wobbling Vargas. Emily follows the cage battle with a takedown struggling with Bruna Vargas ending up on top. Bruno stays there for about 2 minutes trying to pass but failing ending the round laying on top with no punches really landing. My Card 10-9 Vargas
Round 2 – Emily Ducote comes out with a mean overhand right again, this time rocking Bruna to the floor! Following it up by taking her back with some ground and pound. Right after a few punches to the head on her backside she slips Bruna into a rear naked choke. Getting the tap immediately making this her first submission victory in her career.
Winner: Emily Ducote 2nd Round Rear Naked Choke Submission
Melvin Guillard vs Dan Rickles
Round 1 – Rickles is the crowd favorite being from Kansas. Guillard and Rickles both come out aggressive trying to land bombs and missile leg kicks. The fight is stopped abruptly when Rickles lands a left kick in the *family jewels*. Almost in the blink of an eye when fight resumes Guillard and Rickles hug against the cage, while separating Melvin lands a mean right forearm to Dan Rickles’ forehead putting him on danger street on his back. Melvin Guillard violently lands elbow after elbow with the referee stepping in to stop the fight! Melvin announces he is moving up to 170lbs after missing weight in the post fight interview.
Winner: Melvin Guillard Round 1 TKO Elbows Ground and Pound
Darrion Caldwell vs Joe Taimanglo
Round 1 – Caldwell and Joe missing big with right hooks. Joe tries a takedown terribly and missing more front kicks. Finally a successful takedown by Darrion. Passes aggressively to mount for a split second doing absolutely nothing with it. Taimanglo scrambling but held down by Caldwell. Joe does a good job to eventually stand up but they hug and go right back down with a chimera attempt by Darrion. Joe escapes and takes Caldwell’s back, both fighters fight for position to end the round. Considering both fighters are explosive it was a very boring round. My Card 10-9 Caldwell
Round 2 – Touch gloves and a missed roundhouse kick by Darrion Caldwell. Joe connects with a body kick but slips and eats a flying knee from Darrion doing moderate damage looking for a guillotine choke. Joe and Caldwell struggle to their feet with both fighters still not fighting like themselves. Joe misses a right giving Darrion another takedown into half guard. I zoned out for about a minute and they are still on the ground doing nothing. Rib shots which I consider love taps from Caldwell. John McCarthy stands them up. Thank You! Joe spears Darrion against the cage to end the round. My Card 10-9 Caldwell
Round 3 – Takedown attempt missed by Caldwell, quickly into a guillotine by Joe Taimanglo and a very quick tap! If you blinked you missed it! 10 Seconds into the Third Round a comeback victory by guillotine choke via Joe Taimanglo! What Just Happened?!?
Winner Joe Taimanglo via Guillotine Choke Round 3
Final Thoughts: Bellator 159 did have some moments of brilliance but overall it did kind of perform sub-par tonight. I do believe Bellator as a company is going to get better as a whole. Unfortunately a lot of the fights they seem to bring together don’t bring the fireworks as expected. We did see some surprise finishes but I feel it was overshadowed by the unaggressive rounds prior. Joe Taimanglo and Melvin Guillard both missed weight which made me feel like I was watching Season One of UFC’s Ultimate Fighter. I know it is absolutely insanely hard to do what these fighters do on a daily basis but as they say…. you had one job to make-weight! The only fight I wish went differently was Dan Rickles versus Melvin Guillard. Dan was the home state guy and he does do a lot of charity work which I always respect. Bellator I know you will get better but again we raise the question of is a takedown worth more than a significant strike? We didn’t find out tonight but as I said before, Bellator I Believe In You!
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