In a beatdown that would make Brock Lesnar proud, Logan Storley leaned on his wrestling, and battered A.J. Matthews on the ground for the better part of two rounds before finally getting the finish at Bellator 204 on Friday night.
In the co-main event at Bellator 204 in Sioux Falls, SD on Friday, Logan Storley looked to keep his perfect record intact as he took on A.J. Matthews. The welterweight bout saw ‘Storm’ enter the night at 8-0. And while he’d been passed over for the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, the standout wrestler and protege of Brock Lesnar could certainly make a statement.
Matthews, meanwhile, was the fighter who had send Kendall Grove packing from the promotion, snapping a three-fight losing streak in the process.
Once the pair got underway, Matthews leaned in with his strikes, no doubt aware of the takedown. It didn’t matter. Storley changed levels early, taking his opponent down briefly. He then tied up Matthews along the fence, kneeing the thigh several times, then dragging Matthews down. Matthews gave up his back, left with little alternative really. Storley was on him like a seatbelt, and every time A.J. Matthews came close to making it to his feet, Storley adjusted and took him down once more. By the midway point Matthews was eating blow after blow, covering up, with the ref taking a close look. Yet Matthews kept moving just enought to survive, and Storley’s punches didn’t have enough behind them. However, with Storley in full control, the ref stood him up, as a knee to the shoulder slipped and connected with Matthew’s head. The doctor was brought in, and Matthews given up to five minutes to recover, but the fight would continue. Storley would finish the round with another takedown and submission attempt, but they’d go to the second.
Round two once again saw Logan Storley get the action to the ground early. This time, he went to work from side control, then sunk in an arm triangle choke. Unable to finish that, he worked the body, though Matthews managed to maneuver him back to half guard. As in the first round, Storley was in full control, and peppered A.J. Matthews with strikes whenever possible. Eventually he would trap Matthews by the cage and mix in some elbows, which forced Matthews to cover up and try to roll free. He could not, and the ref had finally seen enough, putting a stop to the beating.
Now 9-0, Storley would be a lock as an alternate for the welterweight grand prix — only, alternates (at least one pair) have already been announced. Which makes the promotion’s plans for him something of a puzzle moving forward, but he deserves a solid step up.
Logan Storley def. A.J. Matthews by TKO, Round 2, 3:56
