It is officially the Scott Coker Era of Bellator and Bellator 131 from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, did not disappoint. Like a phoenix emerging from the ashes of Strikeforce, Coker and Viacom have officially made an impression and given a second option to the UFC. Coker is in the same position that Eric Bischoff and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was in the late 1990s, only the goal isn’t to put Zuffa out of business, it is to give the fans a great product.
The results are in and here they are:
King Mo (13-4, 10 KO’s, 1 NC) vs Joe Vedepo (17-8, 7 Sub’s, 7 KO’s) Light Heavyweight Divison
Fists flight in round one leading to King Mo using a double leg on Vedepo, grinding him against the cage. Vedepo stands up briefly only to be slammed down again to the canvas.
Round 2 is underway and Vedepo comes flying at King Mo, only to slip have King Mo press him against the cage. Vedepo’s face is badly cut from the first round as King Mo keeps the pressure on him against the cage. Vedepo was swooped in the center of the cage as King Mo ends up in his guard.
Third and final round, after being grinded upon in the corner for the remainder of the second round, Vedepo has a huge hematoma under his left eye and swelling over his right, Vedepo shoots in for a low single but King Mo sprawls and finishes him with punches.
Your winner by TKO at 39 seconds of the third round, King Mo.
“The fight was alright, it was cool, it was good to be fighting in such a big crowd and having a big walk out again was awesome. I wanted to get that knockout in the first but he’s tough. Whatever Coker has next for me, I’m ready, I just want to keep fighting, keep getting paid, and get a title around my waist this year,” said King Mo about his victory.
Mike Richman (17-5, 7 Sub’s, 8 KO’s) vs. Nam Phan (20-13, 6 Sub’s, 8 KO’s) Catchweight bout 143 lbs.
Round one is a pure striking match but Richman rocks Phan , leading to stoppage by strikes quickly in the first round.
Your winner by knockout at 46 seconds of the very first round, Mike Richman.
“The win over Phan felt awesome. I matched up well against him and I felt great going in. I am going to take down everyone in the division and I am going to knock Joe Warren’s ass out,” challenged Richman.
Melvin Manhoef (32-12, 27 KO’s, 1 NC) vs. Joe Schilling (1-3, 1 Sub) Middleweight Division
Schilling is definitely the underdog in this fight as he’s more known for his kickboxing than his MMA. During the early stages of this one, they two combatants feel each other out as Manhoef checks two of Schilling’s thunderous kicks only to answer with a big right hook. Schilling rocks Manhoef to get cage control, but ends up kneeing Manhoef in the crotch.
Manhoef rocks Schilling with a right hand, chasing him to the cage, ending up in his half guard, forcing Schilling to grapple. Schilling throws a few up kicks before pulling guard and forcing a stand up.
Round 2 is set to go as both men come out swinging, but Schilling lads a right hook and with one shot, knocks out Manhoef.
Your winner by knockout at 32 seconds in the second round, Joe Schilling.
“I felt great in my Bellator debut and the end result was exactly what I wanted. The first round kind of sucked and I was put in a bad position, but I went back to how I felt during training camp and tough positions I was in through that process. I felt comfortable in the fight and I know I will continue to feel more comfortable every time I get in the cage. You can expect to see my game continue to evolve and I am getting better in every aspect,” explained Schilling.
Will Brooks – Champion (14-1, 4 Sub’s, 4 KO’s) vs. Michael Chandler – Challenger (12-2, 5 Sub’s, 5 KO’s) Lightweight Championship
Their ring entrances alone brought down the house and fight lived up to the hype as we are set to go five, 5-minute rounds for the Bellator Lightweight Championship!
Chandler and Brooks are feeling each other out in the first round as Chandler uses a single leg pick up to drive Brooks into the cage as he tries to switch for a high crotch only to get behind Brooks as he tries to get his hooks in, but Brooks shakes him off and they stand up in the center of the cage.
Round 2 begins and Brooks comes out with a left low kick to Chandler’s inner thigh. Brooks throws a knee only to get caught in a single leg again and driven to the cage. Chandler has controlled the cage for both rounds and is working hard for a double leg.
Chandler chases after Brooks and splits the uprights forcing the champion to his knees and taking a timeout. Brooks takes a few minutes to shake the jewels back down is ready to fight. he misses a spinning heel kick to get caught in a dirty boxing exchange with the challenger against the cage. Chandler’s nose is bloodied as he’s taken down with a double leg. Brooks is caught in a standing guillotine but escapes. Neither man will give an inch.
We are headed to Round 3 and the room has been blown off the building. It looks like one round a piece as Brooks took the first and Chandler had the second. Both men are feeling each other out as Chandler attacks with a set of kicks and then presses Brooks against the cage.
Brooks knees Chandler in face, but the challenger shakes it off even though his nose might possibly be broken. Chandler retains cage control continuing to work for the double leg, but slips. Brooks takes his back but Chandler slips out the backdoor.
The fourth round is underway and this fight is just as close as their last. Brooks wants to prove that the previous victory was not a fluke. The touch gloves and Chandler is dancing around looking as fresh as he did in the second. Chandler lands a flying knee against the cage and has Brooks in a waist lock, but Brooks slips out avoiding a possible suplex.
Brooks spins to Chandler’s back but doesn’t it. Chandler stands up and lands a spinning back fist. Chandler waves his hands, gets punched in the face twice, turns his back to Brooks and referee Jason Herzog calls the fight! This one ends in controversy.
Your winner by referee stoppage in the fourth round the undisputed Bellator Lightweight Champion Will Brooks!
“I feel amazing. I did exactly what I thought I was going to do and I knew I could finish him. Im a steam train and I am going to run over everyone. I said it this morning I could feel it in my bones that I was going to finish him, and that is exactly what happened,” exclaimed the champion.
Tito Ortiz (17-11-1, 4 Sub’s, 8 KO’s) vs. Stephan Bonnar (15-8, 7 Sub’s, 3 KO’s) Light Heavyweight Grudge Match
Bonnar made this one personal by attacking Ortiz’s ex-wife and what people called a pro-wrestling angle is nothing less than pure bad blood boiling over. It was obvious that these two were not going to touch gloves.
This one is underway and Ortiz drives Bonnar to the ground with a single leg. Bonnar stands up pressing Ortiz to the cage and eats two knees to the chest. The crowd begins to chant, “Tito-Tito” for the Huntington Beach Bad Boy as they spin each other around the cage.
Standing center cage, the slow down the pace a bit only to exchange punches. Ortiz shoots again, driving Bonnar to the cage as referee Mike Beltran calls time for a groin shot. The two exchange punches in the center of the cage yet again and we are still only in the first round.
Bonnar is leading with the jab but Ortiz answers back quickly and takes Bonnar down with a double leg just before the round comes to an end.
Ortiz shoves Bonnar as he heads back to his corner, as it is obvious there will not make peace tonight.
Round 2 is underway and Bonnar’s right eye is swollen. That doesn’t stop the American Psycho from exchanging with his bitter rival. Lucky for Bonnar the cut is under his right eye. Unfortunately for Bonnar, Ortiz is far more ferocious and bloodied his nose, taking him to the canvas with a front face lock followed by feeding him a knee on the way up.
The crowd again chants for the People’s Champion and Ortiz shoots in on Bonnar trying to finish the single leg, but Bonnar escapes. Now Bonnar’s forehead is cut open as the Las Vegas native has gone from Anglo-Saxon to Crimson.
Bonnar is dropping his hands as Ortiz smirks at him and they exchange jabs. Ortiz lands a single and takes Bonnar’s back, but doesn’t have the hooks in. Ortiz controls the end of the round as Bonnar is left bloodied.
Going into the third round and final round, both men are on their feet. Ortiz still smirking as it looks 2-rounds in favor of the the Huntington Beach Bad Boy. Bonnar is attempting a single but is driven back by Ortiz who takes Bonnar’s back yet again, ending up in side mount that a half-nelson.
It looks like the only way Bonnar can win is by finishing Ortiz, but he looks gassed in this round. Ortiz is picking his shots at this point and even goes for a rare head kick that lands flush on Bonnar’s face. With a 1:30 left in the fight this one still isn’t over.
Their are swinging for the fences and both men have their arms raised. In classic Ortiz fashion, he flips off Bonnar before walking back to his corner.
Your winner by split decision Tito Ortiz.