Adam Borics and Mads Burnell fought like two men with a coveted prize on the line at Bellator 276 — which there essentially was.
Though the winds of MMA can change on a dime and take a promotion’s best laid plans with them, the winner of Borics vs. Burnell had been promised a title shot, at least in terms of the fight’s marketing. Would it come to pass? Injury, timing, and circumstance might play a factor, but coming out of the fight, the victorious Borics certainly looked like a title challenger.
Through five rounds against a game Burnell, Hungary’s Borics fired knees, elbows, and a tidal wave of leg kicks, using his Muay Thai to get the job done. Burnell’s boxing was slick, but Borics was that much slicker with his overall skill set, even adding a takedown or two for emphasis.
With A.J. McKee and Patricio Pitbull running it back for the featherweight title next month, Borics was primed for a big fight next: almost certainly one with gold on the line.
Full results from Bellator 276, which also saw ex-light heavyweight champion Phil Davis getting his hand raised, are below, along with a gallery of highlights.
Bellator 276: Borics vs. Burnell Results
Main card
Adam Borics def. Mads Burnell by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 49-46)
Phil Davis def. Julius Anglickas by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Johnny Eblen def. John Salter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Jay Jay Wilson by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary card
Alex Polizzi def. Jose Augusto by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 0:49
Romero Cotton def. Freddy Sandoval by TKO, Round 1, 1:39
Diana Avsaragova def. Kyra Batara by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Cody Law def. James Adcock by knockout, Round 1, 1:17
Roman Faraldo def. Kelvin Rayford by TKO, Round 1, 0:44
Jordan Howard def. Trevor Ward by TKO, Round 2, 3:24
Nico Alcaraz def. Stanton Ketcherside by Submission (americana), Round 2 2:00 — Amateur bout
