There was never really any question, and in the end, Chris Honeycutt pulled far ahead of Leo Leite in middleweight action at Bellator 202.
In middleweight action at Bellator 202 on Friday night in Thackerville, Oklahoma, Brazil’s Leo Leita made the cut to 185lb after debuting at light heavyweight. A former 205lb champion outside the promotion, he’d come up short against Phil Davis in his Bellator debut last November. Chris Honeycutt, meanwhile, had a four fight winning streak snapped by Rafael Lovato Jr. in his last outing.
At 40, Leite had come to the sport late, boasting a 10-1 record to 29-year old Honeycutt’s 10-2 (1NC). It was Honeycutt pressing the action early in their match-up, the second fight in on the Bellator 202 main card. He’d lead with his jab, and try to slip in an uppercut. Leite, however, was able to clinch, land a trip, and take the back of Honeycutt, who stood up and carried Leite like a backpack. Leite would slide down the body, and use a trip to try to take Honeycutt down again. In the final minute things would devolve into a brawl, with both swinging for the fences.
Round two saw Honeycutt attack the lead leg of Leite, who was holding his own on the feet. Honeycutt ripped a knee, but Leite continued to fire back. More knees led to another trip; Honeycutt would quickly pop back up. They grappled against the cage with Leite winding up on his back, eating some heavy shots from the American. He’d try to tie up Honeycutt, who looked to create space. Leite would finally make it to his feet only to eat a standing high knee once he did.
After an exchange on the feet early in the third, a scramble led to Leite being on bottom looking for a leg. Instead he wound up giving up his back, allowing Honeycutt to land bombs from above. Leite would eventually manage to tie his opponent up, eliciting a warning for action from the ref. A few moments later the fight would be stood up, allowing Honeycutt to walk Leite down. With a minute remaining he was able to pin Leite against the cage and do a little damage, but the Brazilian would escape back up, bloodied but unbowed. They’d go to the final bell, with Leite sporting some noticeable swelling.
With steady pressure throughout, Honeycutt was far and away the winner, taking 30-25 scores on all three scorecards.
Chris Honeycutt def. Leo Leite by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
