Bellator MMA debuted on CBS Sports, its new broadcast home, Thursday afternoon with Bellator 247. Kicking off the month of October as well as a new partnership, the event was to feature a welterweight main event between Paul Daley and Derek Anderson. However, things appeared to go sideways with Daley’s weight cut, resulting in that fight being scratched.
As a result, former women’s flyweight title challenger Kate Jackson, who fell to Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in her last outing back in December, and Bellator kickboxing champ Denise Kielholtz, had their bout promoted to the headlining spot. For Kielholtz, who has proven effective on the ground as well as on the feet, the bout represented her toughest test yet — and a chance to prove that she was ready for bigger things in the division.
Promoted to the main card as a result of the change-up was the undefeated Christopher Duncan. The 6-0 fighter from Scotland was making his third appearance for the promotion, taking on Iamik Furtado, who was coming off a loss to Kiefer Crosbie in Furtado’s own Bellator MMA debut.
Check back come fight time (4PM ET) for highlights and results from Thursday’s card, going down live in Milan, Italy.
Opening up the card, Chris Duncan maintained his perfect record in a dominant performance against Iamik Furtado. Duncan would control the fight, frequently putting Furtado’s back on the cage. That’s exactly what transpired in round two, with Duncan unleashing a barrage of strikes in the finishing sequence to improve to 7-0 — with a 100% finishing rate.
.@TheProblem155 moves to 7️⃣-0️⃣ with a 💪 finish to open us up on @CBSSportsNet!
The #Bellator247 main card is live NOW on @SkySports Mix in the 🇬🇧 and with @CBSSportsNet in the 🇺🇸. pic.twitter.com/8Rfdt0NF9G
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 1, 2020
Brian Moore pulled off a second round knockout of his own on Thursday. It did not come easy. Moore was rocked himself earlier in the round, going wobbly on his legs. “The Pikeman” shook it off, however, soldiered on, and finished Simone D’Anna with just over a minute remaining in the frame.
Simone D’Anna came out swingin' in round 2️⃣.
Watch the #Bellator247 main card LIVE on 🇺🇸 @CBSSportsNet & with 🇬🇧 @SkySports Mix. pic.twitter.com/94nFkeHLON
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 1, 2020
Norbert Novenyi Jr. had to contend with a nasty left hook from Laid Zerhouni, but his submission game was on point in the co-main event on Thursday. He’d come back from that adversity and put his ground game to work, submitting Zerhouni off his back with a triangle choke. The win marked the fourth inside the Bellator cage for Novenyi Jr., who improves to 5-0 overall.
Bellator kickboxing champ Denise Kielholtz, meanwhile, made short work of Kate Jackson in the evening’s impromptu main event. A flurry of strikes put Jackson away in just 43 seconds.
Bellator 247: Jackson vs. Kielholtz Results
Denise Kielholtz def. Kate Jackson by KO, Round 1, 0:43
Norbert Novenyi Jr. def. Laid Zerhouni by submission (triangle choke), Round 1, 4:36
Brian Moore def. Simone D’Anna by KO, Round 2, 3:55
Chris Duncan def. Iamik Furtado by KO, Round 2, 3:58
