Bellator MMA was in action in Milan, Italy on Saturday, with a card cleaved into three parts – Bellator Kickboxing 12, Bellator: Milan, and Bellator 230. The MMA portion, or portions, of the show saw a couple of key names in action: veteran striker Melvin Manhoef, and his former two-time foe Rafael Carvalho. Only this time, the pair were not facing one another.

Carvalho was making the move to light heavyweight for the first time, taking on Vadim Nemkov. It was a rude welcome to the weight class, as Nemkov submitted the former middleweight champ in the second round.

Manhoef, meanwhile, was in action against Yannick Bahati, and made short work of the much taller man. The first round finish came on the ground, thanks to some downright nasty GNP.

Full results and a gallery of highlights can be found below.

Bellator: Milan Results

Light Heavyweight: Alessio Sakara def. Canaan Grigsby by TKO (punches), Round 1, 0:23
Welterweight: Stefano Paterno def. Ashley Reece by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Light Heavyweight: Melvin Manhoef def. Yannick Bahati by TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:29
Lightweight: Rafael Macedo def. Kane Mousah by split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Bellator 230 Results

Light Heavyweight: Vadim Nemkov def. Rafael Carvalho by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:56
Heavyweight: Dragos Zubco def. Hesdy Gerges by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Heavyweight: Kirill Sidelnikov def. Domingos Barros by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight: Walter Pugliesi def. Andrea Fusi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bellator: Milan Preliminary Card Results

Lightweight: Nicolo Solli def. Dan Cassell by submission (triangle choke), Round 1, 3:15

Bellator Kickboxing 12 Results

Gabriel Varga def. Cristian Faustino by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Chingiz Allazov def. Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Yuri Bessmertny def. Giuseppe de Domenico by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Luca Cecchetti def. Alex Avogadro by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 1, 2:09
Jade Jorand def. Silvia La Notte by KO, Round 2, 0:12
Shan Cangelosi def. Kevin Ross by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Endy Bonat vs. Kebrom Neguse ends in a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 29-28)
Taras Hnatchuk def. Giacomo Licheri — by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Luca Memeli def. Pawel Szymanski by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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For MMA fans in the Great White North, the next two days are about one thing: Turkey. It’s Thanksgiving in Canada, but the real bounty for MMA fanatics came over the past two days. Five major events, starting with the PFL kicking off their playoff season on Friday. It’s a rare occurrence when every major MMA outfit on the planet is in action. The only organization missing from the party was Invicta FC, whose next event is a few weeks away.

Still, there was lots to give thanks for with the five shows that did go down. Tons of finishes. Upsets. Star turns. Some events, however, delivered more than others. Let’s take a look at the winners and losers between the five major promotions in action this weekend.

Winner: Ultimate Fighting Championship

Starring: Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Michelle Waterson, Cub Swanson, Kron Gracie

The UFC remains the crown jewel of mixed martial arts, although there’s a real feeling that ONE Championship is nipping at their heels. Already surpassing them in Asia. Still, the UFC’s North American dominance cannot be overlooked, and on Saturday, they put on the sort of show only the UFC can with UFC Tampa. Fantastic action top-to-bottom, with finishes from Marlon Vera, Deiveson Figueiredo, Mike Davis, and Ryan Spann on the prelims. Exciting scraps between Max Griffin and Alex Morono, Eryk Anders and Gerald Meerschaert, peppered throughout the card. An upkick KO of James Vick by Niko Price. Then a couple of wars to top the card, as Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie and Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson were both brilliant, if one-sided.

It’s hard to argue against that kind of showing. The successful strawweight return of Jedrzejczyk, weight struggles not withstanding, also made the card relevant. She could be looking at a title fight in the near future.

Winner: Professional Fighters League

Starring: Kayla Harrison, Sarah Kaufman, Ray Cooper III, David Michaud

The PFL kicked off their playoff season Friday, hosting a show from fight capital Las Vegas for the very first time. A smart move, getting ahead of the pack, with most MMA action going down Saturday. And it paid off in spades. Interest in the event was up, there was plenty of in-cage action, and even a little drama. Kayla Harrison got a new opponent on 24 hours notice, but did what she always does, submitting Bobbi Jo Dalziel. Sarah Kaufman fell to Larissa Pacheco in a surprise twist. David Michaud may have been the real breakout performer, battling through two tough fights to make it to the finale. And Ray Cooper III earned a spot in the finals for the second year straight, with a finish of Chris Curtis, who was defeated twice on Friday, having been brought back as a lucky loser almost immediately after announcing his retirement following his first loss.

The PFL’s tournament-based, merit-driven format and million dollar purse has struck a chord with fans, and other promotions have started upping their prize money. Hopefully, strong performances like this continue throughout the post-season.

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Bellator 230’s main event saw former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho back in action. In a light heavyweight scrap, he’d take on the formidable Vadim Nemkov. The action aired via tape delay on Paramount and DAZN, having gone down earlier in the day in Milan, Italy. And of note, it represented Carvalho’s debut at 205lbs, after a catchweight fight at 190lbs earlier on against Chidi Njokuani.

Nemkov, billed as a knockout artist, went right to work Saturday, using a leg kick to set up a high kick in the opening seconds. The Russian then put the pressure on the former middleweight champ, battering him against the fence, then using an inside trip to take him down. Nemkov moved into guard, while Carvalho worked to the fence, wall-walking up.

Before long, however, Nemkov had the Brazilian back down. Again, Carvalho freed himself, and back on the feet, fired a kick. Nemkov returned fire, forcing Carvalho to retreat. He’d fire a head kick that was partially blocked. At the end of the opening frame, Carvalho was struggling to get offense going.

Round two had Carvalho needing the make a course correction. He was circling into Nemkiv’s power hand, and wound up wobbled early. The former title holder had his legs nearly go out from under him, but managed to hold it together. He fired off a high kick of his own, but wound up taken down, Nemkov dangerously close to mount. He’d move to side control, and end up in half guard. None of it was good for Carvalho, however. Nemkov looked to create space, and picked his shots, while controlling his opponent’s legs. Carvalho would roll, looking to cover up and escape harm, only to give up the back. That allowed Nemkov to lock in a choke, and force the tap!

The finish was just the second submission win in the career of Vadim Nemkov, who is now a front runner to challenge Ryan Bader for the light heavyweight title.

Official Result: Vadim Nemkov def. Rafael Carvalho by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:56

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The second of two heavyweight scraps on the Bellator 230 main card saw Dragos Zubco taking on Hesdy Gerges. Neither man was all that experienced in the MMA realm, but both had come over from kickboxing. For Dragos, it was his first MMA fight in years, while Gerges had competed for Bellator last December at Bellator 211, losing his pro debut, and only MMA fight, that night.

Gerges, taller and longer, held center early. Dragos caught a kick, however, dumping Gerges to his back and pouncing. Hesdy Gerges was able to make it back up, and the pair would tie up by the fence. Gerges added some knees to the thigh, and the pair reversed. Zubco looked to take the fight down, but Gerges show some decent balance and takedown defense, keeping it standing. That led to the ref restarting them, only for the pair to go right back to the fence. It was clear that Zubco was looking for the takedown, and he finally got it with about a minute remaining. Gerges simply powered up, however, which finally led to Zubco firing off some wild punches, uppercuts with huge swings behind them.

The second continued to be a plodding affair, until just before the midway mark. There, the pair opened up, exchanging wildly, with Zubco getting the better of things, tagging Hesdy Gerges! Gerges would end up on his back, Zubco in side control, working on a crucifix.

The third would see Gerges come on about ninety seconds in, connecting with a right. With Zubco on his knees, Gerges threw strikes from the back, hitting the side of the head. He tried to control the back, but Zubco was able to power up, and began letting his hands go. A couple of wide hooks connected. They’d go back to clinching, grinding into the fence, as the round wore on. For the second straight fight a heavyweight bout went the distance, never a good sign.

Official Result: Dragos Zubco def. Hesdy Gerges by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Heavyweights slugged it out as part of the Bellator 230 main card. Going down Saturday night in Milan, Italy, one of two scraps featuring the big men saw Domingos Barros take on Kirill Sidelnikov. Sidelnikov had finished his first six wins as a pro, and none of them had left the first round. However, the Team Fedor fighter had developed into a more well-rounded fighter, after starting his career at the young age of 19.

Still, Sidelnikov’s finishing ability made Saturday’s showdown with Barros something of a “blink and you’ll miss it” affair heading in. It didn’t turn out that way however.

Barros, mind you, would have a significant height and weight advantage. That said, he was the one closing the distance first, with Sidelnikov firing off a number of punches as Barros moved in. The pair clinched briefly, then moved back to the open. Barros shot low for a takedown, which Team Fedor’s Sidelnikov stuffed. An exchange or two later, and Barros made another attempt, stuffed again. Barros would back his opponent up to the fence, however. In the final minute, Sidelnikov would connect with an uppercut, and later land a right hand while Barros was circling along the cage.

The fight, however, would head to the second. There, Sidelnikov would press the action while Barros fended him off with kicks. He’d get his jab going, add a right, and go on the attack himself, one of his better moments in the fight to that point. They’d clinch by the cage, where Sidelnikov would land an elbow off the break. Barros would later engage in a Thai clinch briefly, firing a knee. At the end of the round, Barros engaged in a little bit of showboating, but if Sidelnikov was bothered, he didn’t show it.

Entering the third round, there was a question as to whether Barros needed a finish. Sidelnikov could easily have been up two rounds. Barros walked forward early, and when he wasn’t moving forward he was trying to utilize his length. Barros’ jab was working, but it wasn’t enough to do any real damage until an accidental eye poke with two minutes remaining. A brief pause, and they got back underway. Only for a kick to also land low, again with Sidelnikov on the receiving end. Again, he wouldn’t take much time, instead going on the attack with a flurry of punches. Barros seemed to be coasting, a rather odd tactic in a relatively close fight. Late in the third the Russian would come on strong landing several strikes, Barros at one point covering up. They’d go the distance, with Kirill Sidelnikov taking the victory.

Official Result: Kirill Sidelnikov def. Domingos Barros by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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Starting off the Bellator 230 card in Milan, Italy was a welterweight scrap between a pair of Italian fighters. Walter Pugliesi and Andrea Fusi were tasked with kicking off the card, which aired in North America on both Paramount Network and DAZN. It was also a rematch of their earlier Bellator MMA fight, at Bellator 211 last December. That night, Fusi had come out on top.

In the rematch, Fusi held center early, forcing Pugliesi outside and throwing a kick to the body. Pugliesi answered with kicks of his own, both low and high. The pair tied up along the fence, but neither man was able to get the fight down. Back in the open, Fusi pressed forward, driving Pugliesi back to the fence as he attacked. Pugliesi, however, turned him, putting Fusi’s back to the fence. The pair would trade knees, then break; Pugliesi fired off a number of hooks and a head kick as they re-engaged. The latter was blocked, but Fusi was retreating. Pugliesi would land a number of heavy shots off the break, before they clinched once again. The clinch work, frankly, was giving him the edge.

Round two had Fusi on the offensive early, looking for the takedown. Pugliesi had other ideas, reversing the position and getting the fight down himself. They popped right back up, and faced off in the middle. The pair would battle it out much as they did in the first, clinching then separating. Pugliesi came on at the end of the first, firing a spinning back fist and elbows that bloodied Andrea Fusi.

The third frame had Fusi in need of a stoppage. He immediately found himself working on a weak guillotine attempt, which Pugliesi easily broke free of. Back on the feet, it was Pugliesi pushing forward, firing single strikes and occasional combos. The clinch allowed him to sneak in a knee, and overall, he was mixing up his striking nicely. Fusi would try a desperation kimura when they went back to the ground later on, but it simply wasn’t his night.

Official Result: Walter Pugliesi def. Andrea Fusi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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