Kiefer Crosbie had plenty of reason to celebrate at Bellator 240, as he entered the card just days after the birth of his son — and celebrated with a split decision win over Iamik Furtado.
No trip to Dublin by Bellator MMA would be complete without the usual suspects from SBG Ireland, home to names like Conor McGregor and Gunnar Nelson. On the Bellator side of things, the gym boasted fighters like Charlie Ward (who won earlier Saturday) and Kiefer Crosbie. It was Crosbie holding down co-main event duties on the tape-delayed Bellator 240 card, opposite the lesser-known Iamik Furtado, who was making his promotional debut Saturday.
Crosbie had a little extra motivation behind him at Bellator 240, as just days earlier his wife had given birth to their son.
The co-main event pair at Bellator 240 wasted no time getting to work, with Furtado pressing the Irish fighter against the cage. He’d work in some knees, but Crosbie worked to get his back off the fence. Furtado would put him right back in the same spot, until Crosbie reversed. When they found some space Furtado attacked with a number of body kicks before getting his hands going. But a slip worked out in Crosbie’s favor, as he was able to get on top, in half-guard. Crosbie would eventually take the back, clamping on with a body triangle. Furtado would do just enough in terms of defense to force Crosbie to re-establish the body triangle — which took away from his chances at securing a choke. Eventually, Furtado was able to break free, but there were mere seconds left in the round.
The second round saw Furtado holding center, with Crosbie working from the outside. Crosbie went to the leg with a kick, while Furtado continued to flash kicks to the body and higher. Furtado would connect with a left that put Kiefer Crosbie off balance, but if there was any lingering effect, he didn’t show it. Furtado was finding success with a number of attacks, including a straight left. Crosbie seemed to be throwing less than he had earlier in the fight, although he was mobile enough on his feet that it didn’t seem to be a gas tank issue.
Round three opened up with the feeling that things could very well go either way. A lot might come down to how the first was scored. Yet while Furtado dazzled with a jumping kick and other attacks, Crosbie found what was necessary to dig deep. He ate a body shot, and kept going. He began letting his hands go as well, punctuating combinations with kicks. The two traded back-and-forth with just a couple of minutes left in the fight. A slip would leave Crosbie on his back, but Furtado had little interest in going to the ground, and instead just hacked at his opponent’s legs until the ref stood Crosbie up. With forty seconds remaining, Crosbie scored a high takedown after catching a kick. That may very well have locked it up for Kiefer Crosbie! In the end, the proud pop took home a split decision win at Bellator 240.
Official Result: Kiefer Crosbie def. Iamik Furtado by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
