The most stacked lightweight tournament in years (if not ever) kicked off Friday night in San Jose, CA as Bellator 292 saw the launch of the promotion’s Lightweight Grand Prix.
Looking to defend his 155lb title throughout the tournament was Usman Nurmagomedov, who topped the card looking to make his first title defense against former UFC and WEC champ Benson Henderson.
For Henderson, the fight marked another — and quite likely final — chance to capture a third major championship, a rarely accomplished feat in mixed martial arts.
Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson marked one grand prix quarterfinal on the night; Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy was the other (the second two quarterfinal bouts, Brent Primus vs. Mansour Barnaoui and A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull would come later this spring). Azerbaijan’s Musayev, a former RIZIN champ, and Shabliy, a Russian standout, were considered among the toughest tests in the grand prix.
Outside of the lightweight double bill, the card also featured the top-two ranked heavyweights in the company facing off in a rematch, as former interim champ Valentin Moldavsky ran it back with Linton Vassell. The returning Michael “Venom” Page, meanwhile took on the surging Goiti Yamauchi, who looked to continue climbing up the welterweight division.
Bellator 292 goes down at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA on Friday, March 10, 2023, airing on Showtime in the U.S. A live stream of the preliminary card is available above; where available, the main card streams below. Prelims kick off at 7:25PM ET.
Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson Results
Main Card
Usman Nurmagomedov (c) def. Benson Henderson by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:37 — for the Bellator MMA lightweight championship / lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
Alexandr Shabliy def. Tofiq Musayev by TKO, Round 3, 0:29 — Bellator lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
Linton Vassell def. Valentin Moldavsky by knockout (right hand to ground n’ pound), Round 1, 3:03
Michael Page def. Goiti Yamauchi by knockout (leg kick), Round 1, 0:26
Preliminary Card
Enrique Barzola def. Érik Pérez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Josh Hill def. Cass Bell by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Khalid Murtazaliev def. Tony Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Julius Anglickas by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Laird Anderson def. Rogelio Luna by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:41
Theo Haig def. Adam Wamsley by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 3:01
