Bellator MMA returned to action Saturday night in its stronghold of San Jose, California. With a heavyweight title fight topping the Bellator 226 card, plus the opening four fights of the featherweight grand prix, the night promised plenty of action. And for the most part, it delivered — right up until the main event, which was stopped early due to an accidental eye poke.

Full results and a gallery of highlights can be found below. And don’t miss the video highlights above!

Bellator 226: Bader vs. Kongo Results

Main Card

Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) and Cheick Kongo (30-10-2, 1 NC) was ruled a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke
Derek Campos (20-9) defeated Daniel Straus (26-9) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
Adam Borics (14-0) defeated Pat Curran (23-9) via TKO (punches) at 4:59 of round one
Pedro Carvalho (11-3) defeated Sam Sicilia (17-10) via submission (face-crank) at 1:56 of round two
Emmanuel Sanchez (19-4) defeated Tywan Claxton (5-1) via submission (triangle choke) at 4:11 of round two
Daniel Carey (7-3) defeated Gaston Bolanos (5-2) via technical submission (guillotine) at 4:19 of round one

Preliminary Card

Ivan Batinich (4-1) defeated Daniel Compton (2-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) a 4:33 of round two
Tyson Miller (1-0) defeated Albert Gonzales (1-2) via TKO at 1:18 of round one
Alan Benson (1-1) defeated Favian Gutierrez (2-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Peter Ishiguro (2-1) defeated Elias Anderson (0-1) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Daniel Gonzalez (3-2) defeated Jon Adams (0-1-1) via TKO (strikes) at 4:56 of round two
Cornelius Savage (1-0) defeated Evan Gubera (0-2) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
John Macapa (23-4-2) defeated Ashleigh Grimshaw (20-11-1) via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of round two
Adam Piccolotti (12-3) defeated Jake Smith (7-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:34 of round two
Jessica Borga (3-2) defeated Amber Leibrock (3-4) via submission (armbar) at 4:45 of round one
Cass Bell (4-0) defeated Isaiah Rocha (1-1) via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:21 of round one
Batsumberel Dagvadorj (6-0) defeated James Terry (20-11) via submission (bulldog choke) at 2:43 of round one
Renato Valente Alves (6-4) defeated Abraham Vaesau (5-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:36 of round three
Hyder Amil (4-0) defeated Ignacio Ortiz (2-1-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Chris Gonzalez (3-0) defeated Luis Vargas (2-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)

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At the top of the Bellator 226 card in San Jose, California on Saturday was Ryan Bader. ‘Darth’ Bader held both heavyweight and light heavyweight gold in Bellator, having won the heavyweight grand prix earlier in the year. Now, he was back to defend the heavyweight title, against a fellow UFC alum in Cheick Kongo. Kongo entered the night on an eight-fight win streak, and was fired up to finally get his shot at the title.

Bader? He’d won seven straight fights himself, dating back to his UFC run. His double-champ status was about to be tested, however.

Round 1:

Bader opened with a left jab, then tagged Kongo with another left. Kongo then changed levels with his back against the fence, trying for a takedown. Bader whiffed on an uppercut. Another jab landed for Bader. Then Bader changed levels, taking Kongo down and moving to half-guard. He easily stepped to side control. Kongo’s initial defense was to hold on for dear life. That failed when Bader stepped into mount. Kongo then began working his way to the cage, getting his back against the fence. Kongo tried in vain to wall walk up, but Bader locked up his opponent’s leg with his own. An eye poke by Bader then halted the action, and looking at it again, it was a bad one.

The doctor was brought in to examine Kongo, and after a brief consultation, the bout was waved off! A sad end to a fight that had Bader in the driver’s seat. Chances are, Bellator will be looking to run this one back.

After the fight, Rampage Jackson, teammate and corner for Kongo, got into it with Bader, leading to the pair being separated.

Official Result: Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo ends in a No Contest due to a doctor’s stoppage (eye poke), Round 1, 3:52

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Former champ Daniel Straus took on Derek Campos in the fourth and final featherweight grand prix fight at Bellator 226 on Saturday night. Straus, who returned from a lengthy absence earlier this year, was the second former champion to compete in the tournament Saturday. He’d no doubt be hoping things would go better for him than they did for Pat Curran, who fell to Adam Borics earlier in the evening.

Campos, in something of an oddity, entered the grand prix on a three-fight losing streak. However, having fought some of Bellator’s best, he remained a threat to anyone in the tournament.

Round 1:

Straus ate a punch early in the opening round, stunning him! In a flash he was on his back, Derek Campos on top. Straus launched elbows from the bottom, while Campos made his way to half-guard. Daniel Straus would look for a kimura, perhaps in hopes of forcing Campos off him more so than actually pulling off the submission. However Campos was nearly able to mount, nearly took the back, then locked in an arm-triangle. He didn’t have it, but he was once again in full control. He would finish the round in mount, raining down punches.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Derek Campos.

Round 2:

The second round found Daniel Straus once again planted on his back, Derek Campos in half-guard. Straus locked him up briefly, refusing to allow him much room to work. Campos was able to slip in an elbow or two, while Straus was at a loss for how to escape. Far from the wall, unable to reverse, he looked to his corner, but Campos had soon moved to mount. Again, he set up a triangle choke.  Straus survived it but Campos remained in mount. He opened up in the final seconds, but the bell saved Straus and they headed to a third.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Derek Campos.

Round 3:

For the first time Saturday night, a grand prix fight went to the third round. Straus would need a finish to advance in the tournament, that much was certain. Stras fired off a number of kicks early, both high and low. Campos however shot in, fast and powerful, and completed the takedown. Given Straus’ inability to get back up in the first two rounds, that could have sealed his fate. Campos was quickly in half-guard, then locked in an arm-triangle choke and stepped over. The choke was tight, but Straus refused to tap. Campos moved back to mount. He worked the body; Straus was no closer to escaping. Campos trapped an arm and landed a couple of punches to the face of his opponent.

Somehow, in the final thirty seconds, Straus made it back up. However, he went from the frying pan into the fire. He ate a shot, and found himself rocked. Retreated as Campos fired off a knee. Campos connected again, and Straus went down. He appeared to have injured an arm or shoulder, and ate several more shots before the round came to a close.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-8 for Derek Campos

4️⃣ #FeatherweightWGP Fights 💰
4️⃣ Decisive Victories 💥

Half of the second round is set, but who will they face ❓ pic.twitter.com/UIuBOEKli3

— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) September 8, 2019

Official Result: Derek Campos def. Daniel Straus by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)

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Former two-time champion and two-time Bellator MMA tournament winner Pat Curran entered the Bellator featherweight grand prix as one of the more experienced fighters in the tournament. His opponent, a rising prospect in the form of Hungary’s Adam Borics. Borics was an undefeated rookie to start the night, and he’d be getting a solid step up in competition at Bellator 226 against Curran.

Round 1:

The third fight of the featherweight grand prix started with a feeling out process. Borics would attack his opponent’s leg, but he didn’t have a ton on the kicks. Nor did Curran on his own. Neither man had found their range by the midway mark of the round. Borics was swinging, but hitting air. He finally doubled up on his jab, at least getting something through. The pair went back to trading kicks, however, with little else happening in the opening round.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Borics

Round 2:

Someone was going to have to open up in the second. The question was, who would make the first move? Borics fired a combination, then landed a leg kick. Curran went to the body with a kick, that at least partially connected. More low kicks from both men followed, but there was still little in the way of action by the midway point. Borics flashed a front kick but came up short. Borics’ inside and outside leg kicks were getting harder, however, and Curran was showing some damage. He fired off a spinning back fist that went well wide.

Finally, things opened up when Adam Borics launched a flying knee, dropping Curran, who survived the blow but wound up with Borics on top. The earlier leg kicks had made Curran an easy target for that knee. Borics began raining down blows, as ref Frank Trigg waved it off right at the bell!

Adam Borics def. Pat Curran by TKO, Round 2, 4:59

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Fight two in the Bellator featherweight grand prix saw UFC veteran Sam Sicilia, coming off a win over Derek Campos, take on the dangerous Pedro Carvalho. It was the third fight of the Bellator 226 main card, and saw Carvalho, the lesser known fighter, enter the night on a five fight win streak. The action went down Saturday at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA.

Round 1:

Carvalho attacked the leg and tagged Sam Sicilia early. However, maintaining his composure, Sicilia took the fight to the ground, looking to land some ground n’ pound. When Carvalho tried to get back up along the fence, Sikjitsu’s Sicilia took the back, looking for a choke. Carvalho would survive, and Sicilia slipped to the side. As they went back to the feet, he went to the body; Carvalho landed a body kick. But soon enough Sicilia had the fight back down. Once again, he took the back, looking for a rear-naked choke. Carvalho then reversed, moving to the top and looking to slice his opponent up with some elbows. He then slipped an arm around Sicilia, locking in a guillotine from the top.

Sicilia, however, slipped out, but Carvalho was in the driver’s seat, and went after another choke then transitioned to the back as Sam looked to wall walk up.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Sicilia.

Round 2:

Carvalho landed a left early; Sicilia fired a spinning back fist. An uppercut on the inside followed for Sam, while Carvalho went to the body with a kick. Carvalho had an edge on the feet, but Sicilia refused to go down easy, firing lefts and rights before they finally went to the ground, Carvalho taking Sicilia’s back. Soon enough he had the choke locked in (technically a crank), and forced the submission!

Official Result: Pedro Carvalho def. Sam Sicilia by submission (face crank), Round 2, 1:56

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The opening fight of the Bellator featherweight grand prix was a battle of experience versus youth. On the experience side at Bellator 226, Emmanuel Sanchez, a.k.a. El Matador, a former Bellator featherweight title challenger. On the side of youth, Tywan Claxton, an undefeated prospect who entered the night 5-0.

Round 1:

Claxton managed to get Sanchez down early in the opening round, and before long, Sancehz was bloodied and struggling to make it to his feet. Back up, Sanchez was firing, as he needed to. A right hand landed but once again, Claxton shot for the takedown, driving hard and landing it. Claxton worked from inside his opponent’s high guard. Sanchez went looking for an arm, and while he couldn’t hold onto it, that created some space for him to get his back to the fence.

However, Sanchez turned the tables at the end of the round, scoring a takedown of his own, moving to mount, and landing ground and pound as Claxton covered up. Call it a near finish, as it looked bad, but he was saved by the bell.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Claxton

.@TClax149 gets the takedown in round two!#FeatherweightWGP #Bellator226 pic.twitter.com/aF7OYdKI4s

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) September 8, 2019

Round 2:

Perhaps to prove that he wasn’t out of it after a rough end to the first, Claxton launched a flying knee early. He then shot for a takedown, but Sanchez stuffed it, and began applying pressure. Sanchez had the prospect pinned against the fence, but Claxton cinched a body lock, reversed, and landed the takedown — only to find himself in an inverted triangle with an arm trapped. Claxton survived, but moments later was in a traditional triangle. Claxton was stuck and was soon eating elbows and punches. He held on as long as he could, but before long, Sanchez had depleted his air, worn him down, and handed ‘Air’ Claxton his first career defeat!

Official Result: Emmanuel Sanchez def. Tywan Claxton by submission (triangle), Round 2, 4:11

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Daniel Carey comes into Bellator 226 with a 6-3 record with a 2-2 record in Bellator. He’s also 2-1 in top regional promotion LFA. Carey’s last fight came against promising Moroccan fighter Adil Benjilany, losing by head kick.

Gaston Bolanos is a Muay Thai specialist from Peru, winning championships in both South America and the United States. His transition to mixed martial arts has been smooth, going 5-1 with all of his wins coming by knockout. The one loss is by triangle choke, so the development of his ground game is something to watch.

Daniel Carey started the fight with several leg kicks against the experienced striker Bolanos. Bolanos answered with a solid combination, backing Carey up. Carey got caught with a body kick and a left that rocked him. Bolanos backed him to the cage and flurried with more shots. Carey locked him up and went for a guillotine. Bolanos was standing but couldn’t escape the grip. Carey fell to his back and locked Bolanos down with his legs. Bolanos tried to adjust and escape, but simply could not escape the grip. Bolanos went to sleep and his four-fight win streak came to an end.

Many tabbed Bolanos as a fighter who was snubbed from the 16-man featherweight tournament. Given this result, it seems that a slot in the tourney would have been a bit too early.

Daniel Carey def. Gaston Bolanos by Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round 1 (4:19)

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Bellator 226 was another tentpole event for Scott Coker and co., and on Saturday night, it saw the first four fights of the million-dollar featherweight grand prix unfold. Not to mention a heavyweight title fight between Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo in the main event.

Before all that, however, a solid preliminary card warmed up the crowd, and viewers world-wide. Among those competing in the Bellator cage, John Macapa, who at one time might have been a name throwing down in the 145lb grand prix. He was taking on England’s ‘White Wolf’ Ashleigh Grimshaw. Team Alpha Male prospect Christopher Gonzalez was in action as well, as was women’s featherweight contender Amber Leibrock, who would face Jessica Borga.

The action kicks off at 6:45 PM ET. The Bellator 226 Preliminary Card live stream is available below, along will full results from the night’s early action.

Bellator 226: Bader vs. Kongo – Live Tonight on DAZN

Bellator 226: Bader vs. Kongo Preliminary Card Results:

Featherweight: John Maċapa def. Ashleigh Grimshaw by TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) in Round 2 (5:00)
Middleweight: Ivan Batinich vs. Daniel Compton
Middleweight: Cornelius Savage vs. Evan Gubera
Lightweight: Christopher Gonzalez def. Luis Vargas by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
Bantamweight: Cass Bell def. Isaiah Rocha by Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round 1 (1:21)
Middleweight: Favian Gutierrez vs. Alan Benson
Women’s Featherweight: Jessica Borga def. Amber Leibrock by Submission (Armbar) in Round 1 (4:45)
Catchweight (140 lbs.): Peter Ishiguro vs. Elias Anderson
Welterweight: Batsumberel Dagvadorj def. James Terry by Submission (Bulldog Choke) in Round 1 (2:43)
Flyweight: Daniel Gonzalez vs. Jonathan Adams
Lightweight: Adam Piccolotti def. Jake Smith by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 2 (2:34)
Featherweight: Hyder Amil def. Ignacio Ortiz by Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Welterweight: Renato Alves def. Abraham Vaesau by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 3 (3:36)
Catchweight (180 lbs.): Albert Gonzalez vs. Tyson Miller

The post Bellator 226: Bader vs. Kongo Preliminary Card Live Stream and Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Staff Writers	Bolanos vs. Carey	Sicilia vs. Carvalho	Claxton vs. Sanchez	Curran vs. Borics	Straus vs. Campos	Bader vs. Kongo
Jason Payne (138-60)
Heath Harshman (132-66)
Keith Shillan (91-48)
Ryan Fortune (90-49)
Jay Anderson (124-74)
Dan Doherty (123-75)
Gabriel Gonzalez (119-79)
Mike McClory (75-50)
Paarth Pande (97-65)

The main event of Bellator 226 features Ryan Bader defending one of his two belts against top heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo. Bader is undefeated at 5-0 since signing with the promotion, winning both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. Kongo has basically forced his way into a title shot, winning eight consecutive fights. The champion was picked by six of nine writers.

The co-main event is between featherweight mainstays Derek Campos and Daniel Straus. Straus has been with Bellator since 2010 and held the featherweight title twice, but never successfully defended it. Campos debuted in 2012 and is looking to bounce back from losing his last three fights. Seven of nine writers went with the former champion.

It’s old guard vs. new guard in the first round of the tournament, as Pat Curran faces Adam Borics. Curran debuted for the promotion in 2010 and was the champion twice, with two defenses to his name. He’s won three of his last four fights. The 26-year-old Borics has been beyond impressive in his career, going 13-0 and finishing his four Bellator opponents in exciting fashion, including a flying knee KO of Aaron Pico. Borics was slightly favored, with five of nine picks going to him.

Tywan Claxton looks to stay undefeated in his young career against Emmanuel Sanchez. Claxton is 5-0 with four finishes, and looks to be a featherweight of the future. Sanchez is an impressive 10-3 in the promotion, with the only loss in his last six fights being a title fight against Patricio Pitbull. Sanchez got the nod with five of nine picks going to him.

Sam Sicilia takes on rising prospect Pedro Carvalho. Carvalho is 3-0 since joining Bellator with an impressive win over Derek Campos. Sicilia is 2-1 since leaving the UFC, also defeating Campos in his last fight. Another close pick, as Sicilia got five to Carvalho’s four.

Opening the main card is a prospect showcase as Gaston Bolanos takes on Daniel Carey. Bolanos is a Muay Thai specialist with a 5-1 MMA record and all of his wins coming by KO. Carey is an even 2-2 with the promotion. Bolanos was unanimously picked.

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Favian Gutierrez weighed in with a luchador mask, Abraham Vaesau missed weight for a catchweight bout, but mostly, the Bellator 226 official weigh-ins were an orderly affair. Right up until Cheick Kongo gave a firm shove to opponent Ryan Bader during the final face-off ahead of fight night.

Both men made weight, however, not that it was ever in question, given the pair clock in well below the 265lb upper limit of the division. That means the heavyweight title fight between double-champ Ryan Bader (who also holds 205lb gold) and Kongo is a go. So too are the four opening round bouts from Bellator’s featherweight grand prix. With four more fights in the tournament coming later in the month, the 16-man grand prix was set to be a hot topic.

But it was Bader’s first heavyweight title defense that would have curious MMA fans looking on Saturday night. Kongo, on an eight-fight win streak, was his toughest test in the weight class to date.

Full weigh-in results are below. The event takes place Saturday, September 7 live at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA.

Bellator 226: Bader vs. Kongo Weigh-In Results

Heavyweight: Ryan Bader (c) (228.7) vs. Cheick Kongo (239.2) – For the Bellator MMA heavyweight championship
Featherweight: Daniel Straus (144.4) vs. Derek Campos (144.9) – Bellator featherweight grand prix opening round
Featherweight: Pat Curran (144.6) vs. Ádám Borics (144.7) – Bellator featherweight grand prix opening round
Featherweight: Sam Sicilia (145) vs. Roberto de Carvalho (144.1) – Bellator featherweight grand prix opening round
Featherweight: Emmanuel Sanchez (144.1) vs. Tywan Claxton (144.3) – Bellator featherweight grand prix opening round
Featherweight: Gaston Bolanos (145.5) vs. Daniel Carey (144.2)

Preliminary card

Middleweight: Ivan Batinich (185.2) vs. Daniel Compton (185.3)
Catchweight (180 lbs.): Albert Gonzalez (180) vs. Tyson Miller (179.1)
Middleweight: Favian Gutierrez (185.6) vs. Alan Benson (184.7)
Catchweight (140 lbs.): Peter Ishiguro (139.9) vs. Elias Anderson (139.8)
Flyweight: Daniel Gonzalez (125.3) vs. Jonathan Adams (124)
Middleweight: Cornelius Savage (184.9) vs. Evan Gubera (184.7)
Featherweight: John Maċapa (145.6) vs. Ashleigh Grimshaw (145.5)
Lightweight: Adam Piccolotti (155.2) vs. Jacob Smith (155.4)
Women’s Featherweight: Amber Leibrock (145.4) vs. Jessica Borga (144.7)
Bantamweight: Cass Bell (135.6) vs. Isaiah Rocha (135.1)
Welterweight: James Terry (169.7) vs. Batsumberel Dagvadorj (171)
Catchweight (175 lbs.): Abraham Vaesau (178.8)* vs. Renato Alves (172.9)
Featherweight: Hyder Amil (145.9) vs. Ignacio Ortiz  (145.4)
Lightweight: Christopher Gonzalez (155.8) vs. Luis Vargas (156)

* Vaesau missed the catchweight 175lb limit and will be fined 20% of his purse

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