Featherweight, Bibert Tumenov (8-1)
Bibert Tumenov made his ACA debut and impressed big time beating a veteran in Kyle Reyes. Bibert pressed the action and was doing a good job counter striking. Tmenov is a solid boxer and showed that. He dropped Reyes with a beautiful uppercut. That didn’t finish Reyes but he did start throwing wild and Bibert landed a right-left for the knockdown as the ref stepped in.
Grade: A
Lightweight, Cleverson Silva (14-3)
Cleverson Silva was in kill mode for his whole fight last month. He dropped his opponent early with a right hook. Silva was taken down after that but won the round holding a triangle for quite a while. He then switched to an armbar at the bell. Round two, Silva dropped his opponent again with a right hook. He took the back landed some ground and pound and got the RNC finish.
Grade: B
Welterweight: Kyle Crutchmer (6-0)
In the first 20 seconds, Kyle Crutchmer got an inside trip takedown. He was using the can opener position landing big elbows in the guard. His opponent worked back to his knees and to his feet but Crutchmer locked in an anaconda choke. He pulled his opponent to the mat, did the gator roll and got the tap.
Grade: A
Welterweight, Yaroslav Amosov (23-0)
Yaroslav Amosov had a big opportunity main eventing a Bellator card and fighting a good prospect in Ed Ruth. Amosov won all three rounds by just really outworking Ruth. He was leaning forward with punches and throwing a lot of volume. He showed good takedown defense and on the other side out-wrestled the NCAA Division 1 Ed Ruth. Amosov did get tired in round three but still stayed to be the busier fighter.
Grade: B-
Heavyweight, Valentin Moldavsky (9-1)
It wasn’t a flashy performance or even a good fight but it was a dominant performance from Valentin Moldavsky. He fought a veteran in Javy Ayala but treated him like a young professional. Moldavsky stuck on him like glue giving Ayala no space getting I believe ten takedowns. Just showing brute strength pulling the big boy down over and over. He seemed to almost win with an arm-triangle in round one. The short heavy punches on top was his best weapon outside his wrestling.
Grade: B-
Light-heavyweight, Grant Neal (3-0)
Grant Neal dominated with his wrestling getting five takedowns throughout three rounds. All takedowns being big double-legs as Neal would clasp his hands together dumping his opponent down. Neal stayed busy with heavy ground and pound. He picked up the pace in round three eventually sending the ref in for the TKO.
Grade: B
Flyweight, Denise Kielholtz (5-2)
Denise Kielholtz fought Kristina Williams who was 3-2 but despite her record is a very talented up-and-comer. Both girls took center cage and started throwing leather. Williams was holding her own but Kielholtz soon began beating her to the punch, catching Williams coming in. Kielholtz took the back on a takedown and finished with an RNC. The kickboxer yet again gets a submission win.
Grade: A
Bantamweight, Keith Lee (6-3)
Making your Bellator debut against a Bellator veteran like Shawn Bunch seemed like too much too soon for Keith Lee. However, most saw Lee as having won all three rounds looking very good in this fight. Bunch is an excellent, accomplished wrestler but Lee won the wrestling exchanges. He fought on the outside well throwing the jab and using a lot of kicks. I look forward to the Bellator career of Lee.
Grade: B
Light-heavyweight, Christian Edwards (3-0)
Going the distance for the first time in his career Christian Edwards looked darn good. Edwards was able to show more of his skill-set in a three-round affair. He was taken down early in round one but got up after he had a tight triangle locked in. The fight was all Edwards showcasing some sick thai clinch work with nice knees and elbows. He landed often stepping in with strikes and finished in the clinch with excellent work. Also mixing in a few takedowns while showing solid cardio.
Grade: A
Lightweight, Mikuru Asakura (13-1)
I really enjoyed this performance from Mikuru Asakura, who was just beating on Daniel Salas. Salas was landing some good strikes but nothing fazed Asakura at all. Asakura showed a compact dynamite striking display unloading two to three-piece combinations. He would rip the body with the right and come over with the left hook. He landed that left head kick a few times. In the second round, he dropped Salas with a head kick and the extra strikes put him out cold.
Grade: A+
