The sky is blue, water is wet and wrestlers will make your life miserable if you let them. Logan Storley did just that to Ion Pascu in the co-main event of Bellator 215.
When does one shift from prospect to contender? That may very well have been the question heading into Bellator 215 when it comes to Logan Storley. ‘Storm,’ who has trained with some of the best MMA has to offer, was a decorated wrestler with a chance to go 10-0 as a pro on Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Opposite him, Ion Pascu, a man with twice the experience yet very much the underdog.
Were the welterweight division not so deep, Storley would likely have been a lock for the grand prix currently unfolding in the weight class (depth, and the fact his contract would have run out halfway through, played a part in keeping him out). Yet Friday he had a chance to truly arrive in Bellator, as the double-digit mark is always something special.
Pascu fired off a heavy leg kick early in the welterweight co-main event. And not surprisingly, Storley shot in for his first takedown attempt within a minute. Pascu would attempt to fend it off, but Storley was on him like glue, grinding away, and adding some knees for good measure. As they got back up, Storley would simply slam them back down, landing in half guard. And for the rest of the round, the story was simple: Storley on top, dropping ground n’ pound when he could find an opening. Pascu unable to escape.
In the second, Storley had the fight to the ground in the first thirty seconds, right in the center of the cage. Bad news for Pascu, who was unable to scoot back to the fence, or scramble to escape. Instead he’d try to tie up Storley, with little success. Storley, for his part, worked to pass guard, and stayed just active enough to prevent a stand-up, peppering Pascu with a handful of short punches.
Round three was more of the same. Storley with the takedown early. This time, it was along the fence and Ion Pascu made it back up — only to be dragged down again. Any inch of space Pascu created was immediately taken away. The term “wrestling clinic” would be the simplest way to describe the fight, and there was no question that Storley would have his hand raised in the end.
Moving to 10-0, he’s going to need to face a serious step up in competition, if one could be found outside the welterweight grand prix.
Logan Storley def. Ion Pasu by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
