In the end, Friday’s Bellator 275 card in Dublin, Ireland was a short night at the office for middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi.
The PRIDE, Strikeforce, and UFC veteran finished challenger Austin Vanderford in just under 90 seconds to secure the second title defense of his second reign in the promotion.
For Mousasi, talk will now turn to the idea of a super fight, up a weight class, perhaps with Yoel Romero should he defeat Melvin Manhoef in May. Should he remain at middleweight at least for the time being, the winner of #4 ranked Fabian Edwards vs. Lyoto Machida is an option. Mousasi and Machida’s career series is currently tied 1-1.
In the co-main event Friday, an unlikely title challenger emerged. Despite losing her fight against Cris Cyborg last year, Sinead Kavanagh has been promised a rematch after winning a three-round decision against the surging Leah McCourt. The move is a puzzling one, given Kavanagh lost definitively to Cyborg, and given that the champ has not fought since their first meeting. But with Cat Zingano paired up against Pam Sorenson, Kavanagh was apparently the next best option.
Full results from Friday’s Bellator 275 and a gallery of highlights can be found below.
Bellator 275: Mousasi vs. Vanderford Results
Main Card
Gegard Mousasi (c) def. Austin Vanderford by TKO, Round 1, 1:25 – for the Bellator middleweight championship
Sinead Kavanagh def. Leah McCourt by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Ciaran Clarke def. Abou Tounkara by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 1, 5:00
Khasan Magomedsharipov def. Jose Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Jornel Lugo def. Brian Moore by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Brett Johns def. Khurshed Kakhorov by TKO, Round 3, 3:00
Davy Gallon def. Charlie Leary by TKO, Round 2, 3:01
Stephanie Page def. Danni McCormack by TKO, Round 1, 1:46
Darragh Kelly def. Junior Morgan by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 1:47
Vladimir Tokov def. Daniele Scatizzi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gokhan Saricam def. Kirill Sidelnikov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nathan Kelly def. Scott Pedersen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lee Hammond def. Jamie Hay by TKO (punches), Round 1, 3:32
