Bellator NYC, which went down Saturday night live from Madison Square Garden after Bellator 180 aired on Spike TV, wound up being a topsy-turvy and at times downright bizarre event, though one that was ultimately a fun night. The shock upset of a blue chip prospect, and lightweight champion Michael Chandler suffering a TKO due to a fluke injury didn’t lessen the impact of the night.
Then there was the double knockdown in the co-main event heavyweight battle between Fedor Emelianenko and Matt Mitrione.
Could the main event between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, a grudge match years in the making, possibly live up to the hype? Could it live up to the craziness of the rest of the evening? How would Wanderlei look after four years away? Could Chael Sonnen score a take down?
To start things off, after both men made their way to the cage, the Brazilian national anthem was played, followed by Dave Navarro playing the American anthem. As the fighters were announced, Silva looked about as happy as a kid on Christmas — in a very creepy way.
No touch of the gloves to start. Sonnen opened with a kick, then shot in and immediately landed the takedown. He postured up and began landing punches. Sonnen definitely looked motivated early, and those shots were forcing Silva to cover up in discomfort. Sonnen worked every trick in the book from guard, smothering Silva with his hands, dropping elbows, working in a can opener, and landing some big bombs.
With two minutes to go, Silva got back up, and dropped Sonnen! Sonnen grabbed on for dear life, but Silva was now in his guard. Sonnen escaped right into a shot in, but Silva tried to lock in a guillotine, which Sonnen powered through to complete the takedown. Sonnen then worked for an arm from the top while elbowing the side of Silva’s head.
Between rounds, Tito Ortiz was seen taunting Sonnen from cage side.
Sonnen launched a flying knee to open the second, and after trading and getting hit with a left hand again, shot right into a guillotine once more. Wanderlei was squeezing hard, but didn’t seem to have the strength to finish. Sonnen worked on breaking free, but Big John actually opted to stand them up, seeing Wanderlei was doing nothing to improve position or tighten the choke. A power double leg followed and Sonnen put Silva on his back. He immediately went back to work from the top with ground n’ pound.
Against the cage, Sonnen was less effective in the second round in trying to soften Silva up, but he was still staying busy, and heading to the third, Sonnen was likely up two rounds.
The third opened with a brief exchange then Sonnen slipping under a Silva punch for the take down. Sonnen flirted with full mount, then tried to pass into side control. Sonnen then attempted a kimura, but Silva threatened to explode out, and Chael was forced to release the hold. Slicing elbows and body shots continued from the top, and it was all Sonnen in the third, with Silva unable to get off his back. Sonnen then passed to full mount following another kimura attempt, then looked for an arm triangle choke. When that didn’t work, Sonnen opted for shoulder strikes til the bell sounded. No question in this one, it was Sonnen’s fight.
Chael went full heel after the fight, trashing the city of New York, Tito Ortiz, and calling out Fedor Emelianenko. At the end of a shocking night in New York City, perhaps the biggest shock of all was that the main event exceeded expectations.
Chael Sonnen def. Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
