Bellator 300 arrived on Saturday at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA, celebrating a significant milestone for a promotion that has been the #2 name in mixed martial arts for the better part of a decade.
Established in 2008, from its roots as a tournament-based company where title shots were earned under founder Bjorn Rebney, to its modern-day incarnation as a hybrid model with standalone fights mixed with the occasional grand prix under current CEO Scott Coker, Bellator has managed to put on some massive fights over the years.
Among them, the classics between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler (the biggest shame is the trilogy was never completed), and another pair of huge fights featuring A.J. McKee and Patricio Pitbull throwing down for the promotion’s featherweight title. Cris Cyborg’s featherweight reign, the late-career resurgence of Fedor Emelianenko (who certainly had his struggles in the promotion), Ilima-Lei Macfarlane helping to make trips to Hawaii an annual occurrence — there are numerous highlights from Bellator’s run to date, and while the promotion’s future remains uncertain, it had plenty to offer at Bellator 300.
In the main event of Saturday’s megacard, Usman Nurmagomedov put his lightweight title on the line against Brent Primus, in the first lightweight grand prix semifinal (the next arrives in November, with Patricky Pitbull facing Alexander Shabliy). Two more title fights round out the Bellator 300 main card, as Cris Cyborg faces Cat Zingano in a long-awaited match-up, and Liz Carmouche faces friend Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. The latter, however, will not be eligible to win gold after missing weight on Friday.
Bellator 300 airs live on Showtime in the U.S. following online prelims; the card is available via streaming PPV in Canada. Prelims kick off at 6:30PM ET, with the main card getting underway at 10PM. Full results from the event can be found below.
Bellator 300: Nurmagomedov vs. Primus Results
Main card
Lightweight: Usman Nurmagomedov (c) def. Brent Primus by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) — for the Bellator MMA lightweight championship / lightweight grand prix semifinal
Women’s Featherweight: Cris Cyborg (c) def. Cat Zingano by TKO (punches), Round 1, 4:01 — for the Bellator MMA women’s featherweight championship
Women’s Flyweight: Liz Carmouche (c) def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane by TKO (leg kick), Round 5, 0:17 — for the Bellator MMA women’s flyweight championship / only Carmouche eligible to win/retain title
Preliminary card
Bantamweight: Bobby Seronio III def. Alberto Garcia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Women’s Featherweight: Leah McCourt def. Sara McMann by TKO, Round 1, 4:30
Lightweight: Sergio Cossio def. Jesse Roberts by submission (triangle choke), Round 3, 4:05
Featherweight: Kai Kamaka III def. Henry Corrales by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi def. Davion Franklin by technical submission (verbal tap – injury), Round 1, 3:09
Light Heavyweight: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Maciej Różański by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Catchweight (180lb): Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Herman Terrado by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight: Grant Neal def. Romero Cotton by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Women’s Flyweight: Jena Bishop def. Ilara Joanne by verbal submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:45
Heavyweight: Josh Hokit def. Spencer Smith by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 3, 3:48
Post-Liminary Card:
Catchweight (160lb): Dmytrii Hrytsenko def. Justin Montalvo via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
Bantamweight: Bryce Meredith def. Miguel Peimbert via Unanimous Decision (30-26,30-27×2)
Women’s Featherweight: Jackie Cataline def. Lorrany Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27×2, 30-26)
