After losing in his bid for two belts in Cage Warriors, Moore moved to Bellator and reeled off four straight wins at his usual weight of 205-lbs, earning him this title opportunity at the right time to headline in his birth city. In beating fellow UFC alumnus Phil Davis, Anderson bounced back from his duology with Vadim Nemkov, where he lost the second fight after being on his way to winning the first bout before an accidental foul resulted in a no-contest. With Nemkov vacating the belt to move up to heavyweight just as PFL bought Bellator, he too got his opportunity to fight for the belt, which he won on this third chance and became Bellator light-heavyweight champion.

When the bout began, Anderson immediately got to pressuring and putting his hands to work. The threat of the takedown helped him get an early lead in strikes, but Moore landed a few big shots that turned the tides and got the Irish faithful cheering two minutes into the first round. However the veteran turned those cheers to boos by taking down their countryman with a powerful shot. Anderson pinned Karl in half-guard for much of the rest of the round and landed short punches to secure a 10-9 on the scorecards in his favor for the first of five rounds.

Much of the second round involves Anderson holding Moore against the fence and attempting takedowns with little success. However, Moore had even less success getting offense off as his back was constantly scraping against the links of the cage.

The third round began with Anderson catching an ill-advised Karl Moore head-kick and taking down the Irishman. Moore almost finished the fight when he snatched an armbar and forced Corey to scramble out of it, but Anderson did just that and then settled back in Karl’s full-guard for most of the round. Moore got back up and got trapped in the clinch but broke free with seconds left and landed a few good strikes before the bell rang.

The championship rounds began with another early takedown from Anderson. He smushed Moore into the fence for half the round once more until Karl stood back up with the help of the fence. Little happened in the striking before Anderson got another takedown and the pattern repeated again until the round ended.

Anderson began the final round with a stunning right hand into a double leg. Moore tried to throw up subs from guard but with no success. Eventually he got back up and the pattern of the entire fight went around again. The only interesting moment of the round was the referee standing Corey up because he felt Anderson was using his head to strike Moore illegally from on top. Of course, after that he just clinched Karl again to stifle him for the rest of the fight.

The Irish crowd booed, loyal to the end despite the knowledge that their man had lost even before the scorecards were read, making Corey Anderson a champion of a major MMA promotion at long last.

Official Result: Corey Anderson def. Karl Moore by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)

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The bout had been a long time in the making, with Kennedy undertaking multiple fight camps to prepare for the Brazilian legend.

Early on there was a fair amount of feeling out, with Pitbull holding center and walking Surrey, B.C.’s Kennedy down. Kennedy fired kicks in response, while towering over the multi-time champ. Pitbull went low with a kick of his own, drawing a combination in response from Kennedy. More of those Pitbull low kicks would follow, with the champ chewing up the lead leg of the Canadian.

Round two was another patient, at times plodding round, with champ Pitbull conserving energy, picking his spots with low kicks and his right hand. Kennedy stayed on the outside, trying to avoid the leg kicks of the champion with minimal success. When Kennedy attempted to close the distance, Pitbull would quickly retreat. By the midway mark of the second, the redness on Kennedy’s lead leg was practically glowing. And when the challenger went after a takedown with just over a minute left in the frame, Pitbull briefly defended with a guillotine before grounding himself and moving back to his feet.

With just 12 seconds on the clock, a low blow would land on Pitbull, leading to a rest spot for both men.

With a solid break for both men between the low blow and time between rounds, the third felt like a fresh start. Kennedy fired a leg kick, then fired another to the body. Kennedy’s left hand followed, while the champ looked to counter. About 90 seconds in, Kennedy went on the attack as Pitbull stumbled. The champ wound up cut off an elbow, and Kennedy pressed him into the cage, looking for a takedown and firing knees.

To that point, it was the most significant moment of the fight, and had Pitbull on his heels while Kennedy continued to press. The champ did fire a right hand back that connected, which had Kennedy taking his foot off the gas; Pitbull followed with a body shot then went on the attack, firing wild before unleashing a flurry of strikes, body and head as Kennedy covered up! Pitbull continued to piece up the challenger, mixing in knees, more body work, lefts and rights up top, and finally Kennedy slumped to the floor, signaling the end!

The win snaps a two-fight skid suffered by Patricio Pitbull, the word of his career.

Official Result: Patricio Pitbull def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO, Round 3, 4:07

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There was no need to point out the importance of the fight for these two, with a shot at champ Johnny Eblen hanging in the balance.

Early on, the pair went to work along the fence, jockeying for position. While Fabian would get his opponent to a knee, the takedown wasn’t completed, and Jeffery stood back up, getting back in the driver’s seat.

Not a lot of action through the first ninety seconds, with the ref taking a good look at the pair but allowing them to continue. Jeffery would briefly get double underhooks, and fire shoulder strikes and knees, drawing a complaint of a low blow, though the referee had them fight on.

The bit of action the did play out off the fence saw Edwards land a left, which Jeffery answered back with elbows.

Round two started off in similar fashion, but when they came off the fence, Edwards stumbled off a Jeffery kick. Fabian then changed levels to pursue a takedown, but couldn’t land it; Aaron Jeffery instead reversed position and pressed Edwards against the cage. Edwards did manage to reverse the position, but was warned for grabbing the fence.

Edwards then wisely broke, found some distance and landed his left jab once, then twice. A cut opened up on the Canadian. But Jeffery soon re-engaged, clinching up once more. Late in the round, however, Edwards managed to scale the back, getting a body lock in place and briefly riding his opponent before sliding off. Jeffery then walked forward, only to be hit with another Edwards left hand, not to mention an uppercut.

Round three saw a couple of early exchanges with Edwards once again landing his left, while Jeffery tried to tie things up. The Canadian then smashed Edwards with an upwards elbow as he closed the distance, but Edwards reversed position along the fence and landed a throw. Jeffery, however, reversed position immediately and the pair went right back to the feet.

Much of the remaining time was spent in a grinding, grappling heavy affair along the fence. With about 25 seconds left on the clock, Edwards escaped, but was quickly pressed back up into the cage once again, with Jeffery landing more knees.

The judges sided with Fabian Edwards unanimously, two rounds to one. That books him a rematch with Eblen later in the year.

Official Result: Fabian Edwards def. Aaron Jeffery by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

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With the promotion touching down in Belfast, Northern Ireland, two titles were on the line. In the main event, the promotion’s vacant light heavyweight strap was up for grabs, having been dropped by Vadim Nemkov as he made the move to heavyweight.

Vying for the title were Corey Anderson, who twice faced Nemkov, with the first meeting ending in a No Contest and the second in a decision loss, and Karl Moore.

In the co-main event, Patricio Pitbull, pretty much the face of the promotion in recent years, faced Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy with the Brazilian’s 145lb title on the line.

Where to Watch Bellator Belfast

Bellator Belfast takes place on Friday, March 22, 2024 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In the U.S. the card streams on HBO MAX, while Canadian fans can catch the action on Fight Network. Prelims are expected to stream online in advance of the main card, starting at 12PM ET. Full results from the event can be found below.

Bellator Belfast: Anderson vs. Moore Results

Main Card

Corey Anderson def. Karl Moore by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) – for the vacant Bellator light heavyweight championship
Patricio Pitbull (c) def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO, Round 3, 4:07 – for the Bellator featherweight championship
Fabian Edwards def. Aaron Jeffery by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – number one contender bout
Leandro Higo def. James Gallagher by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Manoel Sousa def. Tim Wilde by knockout, Round 1, 4:48

Preliminary Card

Ciaran Clarke def. Darius Mafi by submission (arm triangle choke), Round 3, 0:41
Alfie Davis def. Oscar Ownsworth by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Luke Trainer def. Grant Neal by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nathan Kelly def. Vikas Singh Ruhil by knockout (elbow), Round 1, 0:40
Abraham Bably def. Isaiah Pinson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nate Kelly def. Jordan Elliott by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 1:48 – amateur bout

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The younger of the pair, Nate Kelly, is competing as an amateur, a rare sight on a major mixed martial arts card, though not unheard of (Biaggio Ali Walsh, who had a standout amateur run, competed five times for the PFL before turning pro earlier this year).

At just 19, bantamweight Kelly is making his Bellator debut on Friday against Jordan Elliott, having previously competed for the PFL. As for when he plans to turn pro, “it’s all about timing,” he told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day.

It’s also all about his SBG Ireland head coach.

“I can say whatever I want, can I have my own plans or whatever I can think but it all comes down to the boss, John Kavanagh,” stated Kelly. “If he tells me 2026 then it’s going to be 2026. I never go against John’s word. So it’s about just sitting down with John when the year’s out and see where we’re at and see what he thinks. Because his opinion matters most, he sees me day in and day out in the gym. He’s the closest to me in that sense. Whatever plans I have will only be going ahead if they’re backed by John and John thinks it’s what’s best for me.”

2025 seems to be the goal for Kelly, at least, but again it all comes down to his coach giving the green light.

“So I’ll see where I’m at by the end of the year, and see how many fights we get in, see how I’m performing in the cage and if I’m happy, and then we can go from there and I’ll sit down with John. And hopefully early 2025 I’ll be taking that jump.”

Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Nate Kelly above.

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It’s a high-profile opponent, with Edwards the brother of UFC welterweight champ Leon, and a high-stakes match-up, but Jeffery (14-4) doesn’t need that for motivation or to perform any better.

“I don’t think it makes a difference,” Jeffery told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day. “I’ve been saying this in every interview lately, my first fight was my Bellator debut, that felt huge. The next one was short-notice against number two in the division, that felt huge. The next one was against John Salter, he was ranked #4, people were kind of saying I might have got a title shot after that one, so that was huge. Then I lost that one, my back was against the wall fighting #4 Dalton Rosta, so that one was huge.”

Jeffery defeated Rosta, and has now landed himself in this latest big opportunity. As the Niagara Top Team fighter put it, “they all kind of feel the same, every fight’s high stakes at this point.”

As for whether Aaron Jeffery believes a win over Edwards will be enough to land a fight with 185lb champ Johnny Eblen, “I think so, man,” he stated. “They’ve announced it as the number one contender fight, so I don’t know what else I need to be told to believe that. I’m hoping so.”

Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Aaron Jeffery above.

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Anderson (17-6, 1NC) faces Karl Moore this Friday at Bellator Belfast, with the title vacated by Nemkov on the line. If all goes well and things aren’t too busy at 205lbs, Anderson is game to move up a division.

“100%. Especially if the fights slow down, there’s nobody next in line,” Anderson told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day. “Right away after 205, I want to stay active. 100%.”

“I got the belt here, I finished that business, there’s no other fights lined up,” continued Anderson, “let me go up to heavyweight and start picking at that division and earn my way up to a title shot there as well.”

With Vadim Nemkov having moved up and picked up a win over Bruno Cappelozza last month, Anderson could see pursuing a third fight with the Russian at heavyweight as well. The pair met twice as part of Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix; the first bout ended in a No Contest, the second in a decision win for Nemkov to close out the tournament.

In fact, Nemkov at heavyweight is a fight Anderson has already asked for.

“When we was waiting, we didn’t know what was going on with the buyout and everything, I hadn’t had any fight news or anything heard from anybody. I heard Nemkov was going up and I wasn’t sure who he was going to fight; as soon as it was posted he was going to heavyweight I texted Mike Kogan, I was like ‘yo, I’m sitting out, let me fight him at heavyweight,'” revealed Anderson.

“I’ll fight him there. I don’t care, I’ll be his debut fight at heavyweight. I just want to get that trilogy back. So whether it’s at heavyweight or he ends up coming back down to 205, 100%, that’s a fight I would love to get back.”

Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Corey Anderson above.

The post Corey Anderson at Heavyweight? It Could Happen, Says Bellator Belfast Star appeared first on Cageside Press.

Still, the undefeated Irish standout sees at least two potential roads ahead, as he returns at Bellator Belfast this Friday, taking on Darius Mafi.

“It’s like, there’s two avenues now,” Clarke told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day. “I can pursue maybe, whether it be a tournament I work towards, or— the only ting I would say, it’s a little bit in limbo with Bellator as far as the Champions Series, there’s no rankings, but we still obviously see the title fights are going ahead.”

The PFL has tournaments. Bellator has title fights. Both could be big. That said, Clarke clearly recognizes what he needs to do to land such an opportunity.

“I’d have to be in a position where I’m good enough to be considered for these things. But yeah, that’s it, just focus on each fight,” Clarke continued. “If I keep winning, then Bellator, I’ve never turned down a fight. If they tell me it’s X person next, it’s like yeah.”

“Here in Bellator, like you said, I started with them, I’m 8-0, please God be nine. I’m here to fight the best that they have, I’ve said yes to everybody. The opponent on Friday, I take him very serious, and that’s it.”

As Ciaran Clarke noted, rankings in Bellator appear to be gone. The promotion’s official rankings, previously voted on by members of the media (including from this website), have been removed from Bellator’s official site. For Clarke, however, the rankings were never really a necessary yardstick to determine where he was at.

“I don’t really care about the rankings. It’s kind of more you guys, actually, where you put us if that makes sense. Because reason being, when I’m losing fights even, Monday morning comes, or whenever, say please God all goes well, I was back to the gym Monday. It’s funny because win or lose, it’s just like ‘well done,’ fist bump. The man that I’m training with, he has a fight next week, I’m helping him prepare,” explained Clarke. “We know how good we are, we don’t need results or wins or losses to determine it. Of course that’s what this game is all about, is records and on the night, how good you are. But I think if you put it on a pedestal, this kind of big event, that’s where you crumble, the nerves get to you.”

“I know how good I am. I’ll just fight whoever they put in front of me, and if that means it’s a tournament ahead of me, or if it’s a title, or a guy that was ranked before, that’s the way I take it. And I’ll be taking it, I don’t worry.”

Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Ciaran Clarke above.

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Now known as the Bellator Champions Series, the promotion is set to crown a new light heavyweight champ this Friday, with Corey Anderson facing Karl Moore. The promotion’s previous champ, Vadim Nemkov, vacated the title after making the move to heavyweight, and was victorious in his debut in the weight class last month as part of the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card.

In the co-main event, meanwhile, Patricio Pitbull, who recently declared “I am Bellator,” will put his featherweight title on the line against Canadian Jeremy Kennedy.

Weigh-ins for Bellator Belfast took place Thursday, results can be found below. The ceremonial weigh-ins stream live at 2PM ET below.

Bellator Belfast: Anderson vs. Moore Weigh-In Results

Main Card

Light Heavyweight: Corey Anderson (204.6) vs. Karl Moore (204.6) – for vacant Bellator MMA light heavyweight championship
Featherweight: Patricio Freire (c) (145) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (145) – for Bellator MMA featherweight championship
Middleweight: Fabian Edwards (185.6) vs. Aaron Jeffery (185.2)
Featherweight: James Gallagher (145.4) vs. Leandro Higo (145.1)
Lightweight: Manoel Sousa (155.6) vs. Tim Wilde (155)

Preliminary Card

Bantamweight: Ciaran Clarke (135.5) vs. Darius Mafi (135.3)
Featherweight: Nathan Kelly (146) vs. Vikas Singh Ruhil (147)*
Heavyweight: Abraham Bably (257.4) vs. Isaiah Pinson (242)
Light Heavyweight: Grant Neal (205.4) vs. Luke Trainer (203.8)
Lightweight: Alfie Davis (155.6) vs. Oscar Ownsworth (155)
130lb Contract Weight: Jordan Elliott (129.5) vs. Nate Kelly (129.1)

* Singh Ruhil missed the featherweight limit by one pound, will be fined a percentage of his purse. Bout moved forward

The post Bellator Belfast: Anderson vs. Moore Weigh-In Results and Video appeared first on Cageside Press.

Talk of the promotion heading to the South American MMA hotbed has swirled for years, but the company has never managed to pull the trigger despite having Brazilian champs including Cris Cyborg, Patricky Pitbull, and brother Patricio over the years.

Now the face of the company, Patricio Pitbull (35-7) for one appears to have put thoughts of fighting at home behind him.

“To be sincere, I’ve kind of given up on that dream. I’ve been told by three different owners that they were going to bring it to Brazil,” Pitbull told media outlets including Cageside Press during the Bellator Belfast media day on Wednesday. “First Bjorn Rebney, then Scott Coker, and now Donn Davis. And it still hasn’t happened. I’m 36 years old, I’ve been waiting for it to go to Brazil for 14 years. Me and my brother were champions. Many champions come from Brazil, but I don’t see it happening, since it hasn’t happened yet. So I’m just going to keep doing my job and continue moving forward.”

Pitbull has been at the top of the company for a decade now, much like UFC star Jon Jones. The Brazilian, who fights Jeremy Kennedy this Friday in Belfast, Northern Ireland, isn’t sure why he’s been able to maintain his “Bellator GOAT” status for so long.

“When Jon Jones and I die, you guys should study our bodies because we’re the only ones that have been able to maintain at this level of being champions for over a decade. I don’t know why, how I’ve been able to accomplish this, staying on top for so long. Basically since 2014 and it’s 2024, that’s 10 years.”

Later, Pitbull would simply proclaim “I am Bellator.”

Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Patricio Pitbull above.

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