Michael McDonald thrashed and trashed a decorated two-time champion in Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 202 on Friday night, scoring one of the biggest wins of his career.
If ever there was a “proving ground” fight for a UFC star jumping to Bellator, it was Michael McDonald taking on former bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 202. Dantas had twice held gold at 135lbs in Bellator MMA. McDonald, while in just his second Bellator fight, had tangoed with some of the best in the UFC.
McDonald opened the action with a kick, and seemed to settle in. ‘Mayday’ then landed a teep kick that set up a huge shot on Dantas moments later, dropping him! That right hand had Dantas floored, and McDonald swarmed like a bat out of hell. Blow after blow followed to the downed Eduardo Dantas, and finally, the ref had seen enough. The ex-champ would protest the stoppage, but didn’t really have a leg to stand on. Literally.
Michael McDonald, meanwhile, had put the Bellator MMA bantamweight division on notice with one of the biggest finishes of his career.
Replays showed Dantas rolling over on and quite possibly breaking his leg when being dropped. McDonald, meanwhile, said he felt his hand break during the fight, and wasn’t sure how much longer he could continue with his body failing him.
“I don’t even know what’s going to happen right now. I just want to get healthy,” McDonald said, adding that he wanted to get home to his wife, family, and church.
Michael McDonald def. Eduardo Dantas by TKO, Round 1, 0:58
