A tale of two fight cards scheduled for this weekend went something like this: in one corner, you had UFC 282, decimated by injuries and lacking 205lb champ Jiri Prochazka, forced to vacate his title after wrecking his shoulder in training.
In the other, there was Bellator 289, topped by interim bantamweight champ Raufeon Stots in a grand prix semifinal against Danny Sabatello. While also lacking an undisputed champ atop the card, the stakes at Bellator 289 were much higher — and the card brought with it a second title fight, the rematch between Liz Carmouche and Juliana Velasquez, in the co-main event slot.
Not to mention the second Bantamweight Grand Prix semifinal, between Patchy Mix and Magomed Magomedov.
Luckily, as the events were scheduled on different days, fight fans got to watch both. And Friday’s Bellator 289 card, at least on paper, was well worth the watch, and the better card overall.
For Stots, the big question heading into Friday’s showdown in Connecticut was whether the motormouth that was Sabatello had gotten under his skin. Sabatello certainly believed that he had, telling Cageside Press as much earlier this week.
The co-feature, meanwhile, saw Juliana Velasquez with a chance to redeem herself. After losing via fourth-round TKO in a fight she had been winning earlier this year, and unsuccessfully appealing the outcome, Velasquez had the chance for revenge against the only fighter to ever beat her in Carmouche.
Bellator 289 takes place Friday, December 9, 2022 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Unvasville, CT. Full results from the event can be found below; a live stream of the preliminary action is above. Where available, the main card can also be viewed below.
Bellator 289: Stots vs. Sabatello Results
Main Card
Raufeon Stots (ic) def. Danny Sabatello by split decision (45-50, 48-47, 48-47) – for the Bellator interim bantamweight world championship / grand prix semifinal
Liz Carmouche def. Juliana Velasquez by submission (arm-bar), Round 2, 4:24 – for the Bellator women’s flyweight world championship
Patchy Mix def. Magomed Magomedov by techical submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 2:39 – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
Dalton Rosta def. Anthony Adams by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary Card
Ilara Joanne def. Denise Kielholtz by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
Jaleel Willis def. Kyle Crutchmer by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Cris Lencioni def. Cody Law by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Christian Echols def. Pat Downey by knockout (strikes) Round 1, 2:27
Kai Kamaka III def. Kevin Boehm by TKO (strikes), Round 3, 2:23
Michael Lombardo def. Mark Lemminger by knockout (left hook), Round 1, 4:23
Cass Bell def. Jared Scoggins by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
