In the main event, Mike Richman, a longtime Bellator MMA veteran turned bare-knuckle boxer, looked for his fourth straight win under the BKFC banner — as well as for the interim world title. Richman’s trio of BKFC wins dated back to last year, and included victories over notable names in David “Caveman” Rickels and Dakota Cochrane.

Opposite Richman was Isaac Doolittle, winner of two straight under the promotional banner.

Also in action at BKFC 31 on Saturday, another Bellator MMA standout in Brandon Girtz. The hard-hitting fighter was paired up with Jake Lindsey in the evening’s co-main event. Chris Camozzi, meanwhile, was paired up with Bubba McDaniel one fight earlier.

BKFC 31 takes place Saturday, October 15, 2022 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The card airs live on Fite.tv — full results can be found below.

BKFC 31: Richman vs. Doolittle Results

Main Card

Mike Richman def. Isaac Doolittle by KO, Round 3, 1:35 – for the BKFC Interim Light Heavyweight World Championship
Jake Lindsey def. Brandon Girtz by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 2, 2:00
Chris Camozzi def. Bubba McDaniel by KO, Round 1, 0:37
Josh Copeland def. Levi da Costa by KO, Round 3, 2:00
Christian Torres def. Cody Madden by unanimous decision (48-45, 48-45, 50-43)
Gorjan Slaveski def. Evgeny Kurdanov by unanimous decision (48-46,50-44,49-45)
Khortni Kamyron def. Crystal Pittman by unanimous decision (48-43, 48-43, 48-43)
Andrew Yates def. Nolan McGlaughlin by KO, Round 1, 0:19

Preliminary Card

Andrew Angelcor def. Van Vo by KO, Round 3, 1:59
Keegan Vandermeer def. Zeb Vincent by KO, Round 1, 0:40

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It certainly felt like the cage was a powder keg in the opening round. Corrales pressed the action early, with Girtz on the outside. Not surprisingly, he had a bit of an edge in speed, but Girtz wasn’t far behind in his featherweight debut. And he was no less explosive than at lightweight. Corrales employed a few kicks, Girtz had to be careful off a slip, and it felt as if either man could find the finish at any given moment.

Round two saw Corrales go body-head as Girtz moved in. Girtz managed to kick an elbow, potentially hurting his opponent’s arm. The pair seemed to have loosened up, and things were picking up. Corrales kicked a leg, the pair exchanged, and again, it felt like either man remained capable of finding a finish. Girtz, however, seemed to be having some issues with his lead leg, and Corrales chopped away at it again. The cumulative effect of those attacks was likely going to impede Girtz’s ability to execute his own game plan, if he continued to eat them.

The leg kicks continued to land for Corrales in the third. Girtz remained on the outside, trying to close the distance in explosive fashion, taking big swings. But Corrales was able to slip out of range, work the leg over, and being the more mobile fighter at that point, land his own attacks. With the edge in volume swinging in his favor, it was Corrales walking away with the decision win. The only surprise, really, was an opposing 30-27 score for Girtz from one judge.

Official Result: Henry Corrales def. Brandon Girtz by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)

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Fight number sixteen with the promotion, however, will see him drop down. Just two days out from the fight, Girtz told Cageside Press that “I feel great. I’m no stranger to cutting weight. I wrestled for years and that’s what I did.”

Speaking at a Bellator 250 virtual media day, the Genesis Training Center fighter added that “It’s kind of why I never did in fighting. But it’s it’s a process I’m used to. It’s a sacrifice and dedication, it’s the exact edge I’ve wanted and I’ve been missing for a little bit. I got to be on point on everything right now. And it’s good. It gives me a little edge.”

Welcoming Girtz to the weight class at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT is Henry Corrales. The former King of the Cage featherweight champ is as game a fighter as you’ll find in Bellator’s 145lb division. And Girtz is thrilled to get the match-up he’d been seeking for his divisional debut.

“I love it. It’s actually the fight I asked for,” Girtz said of the pairing with Corrales. “When we first knew we were going to go down to 45, we would look at the roster. I said, ‘who’s one of the toughest, grittiest guys at 45? And this was the guy that they came up with. And this is the fight I want. I want to go in there. I want someone to come come forward. I want someone that wants to take my head off just as bad as I want to take his off.”

Coming off a loss to Myles Jury, the pairing with “OK” Corrales may be just what the doctor ordered for Girtz. At the very least, it’s likely to result in a firefight.

Watch the full Bellator 250 virtual media day press scrum with Brandon Girtz above.

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On Tuesday, Cageside Press confirmed an initial report from The Scrap with Bellator MMA officials, which revealed that Henry Corrales and Brandon Girtz had been booked as the co-feature of the event. The fight will take place in the featherweight division.

Corrales (17-5) is a former King of the Cage featherweight and bantameight champion who first joined Bellator in 2015. After struggling out of the gate against some very high-level opponents in Patricio Freire, Daniel Straus, and Emmanuel Sanchez, “O.K.” Corrales went on a five-fight tear that culminated in his knockout of promotional darling and top prospect Aaron Pico at Bellator 214 last year.

That earned Corrales a shot in the Bellator featherweight grand prix, where he was eliminated by former bantamweight champ Darrion Caldwell. In his last outing, this past January, Corrales lost a second straight bout, to Juan Archuleta.

The formidable Brandon Girtz (16-9) has struggled of late, posting a 2-5 record across his last seven bouts. The Gensis Training Center athlete, who trains in Colorado alongside the likes of Justin Gaethje, will enter Bellator 250 off a loss to Myles “Fury” Jury in his last outing.

Girtz has historically competed as a lightweight.

Bellator 250 takes place Thursday, October 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The card includes a fight for the vacant middleweight title between Gegard Mousasi and welterweight champ Douglas Lima. Pro wrestling star Jake Hager, a member of the AEW roster, is also expected to appear.

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None more so than Fortune, the previously undefeated heavyweight who is a big part of the division’s future. Fortunes went south for the wrestler early, as opponent Tim Johnson pressed the attack and connected with a knockout right hook in the first round. It will likely be a few fights for Fortune to work his way back to getting that next step up, while Johnson, a UFC veteran, finally gets his first win in the Bellator cage.

That knockout was unquestionably the star of the show on Friday. The main event, meanwhile, was a much closer affair. The undefeated Yaroslav Amosov improved to 23-0 in the end, with a unanimous decision win over Ed Ruth. Yet overall, it was a close, measured affair, one that shouldn’t set Ruth too far back in the welterweight division.

For Amosov, the win likely won’t be enough for a title shot — especially given champ Douglas Lima will be moving up to vie for the vacant middleweight title against Gegard Mousasi.

Full results from the event, and photo highlights, can be found below!

Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov Results:

Main Card

Yaroslav Amosov def. Ed Ruth by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Myles Jury def. Brandon Girtz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tim Johnson def. Tyrell Fortune by KO (punches), Round 1, 2:35
Valentin Moldavsky def. Javy Ayala by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-24, 30-24)

Preliminary Card

Davion Franklin def. J.W. Kiser by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:30
Chris Gonzalez def. Aaron McKenzie by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Kevin Croom def. Adil Benjilany by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Cris Lencioni def. Salim Mukhidinov by split decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Kyle Crutchmer def. Scott Futrell by submission (anaconda choke), Round 1, 2:58
Grant Neal def. Claude Wilcox by TKO (punches), Round 3, 3:37
Josh Hill def. Vinicius Zani by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Solo Hatley Jr. def. Gaston Bolanos by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Denise Kielholtz def. Kristina Williams by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:15
TeeJay Britton def. Gabriel Varga by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Keith Lee def. Shawn Bunch by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
Christian Edwards def. Marco Hutch by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)

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Lightweight action at Bellator 239 had longtime promotional standout Brandon Girtz taking on former UFC athlete Myles Jury in the evening’s co-main event. Girtz entered the night off a win over Saad Awad, while Jury was seeking his first promotional victory, having dropped his debut against ex-UFC champ Benson Henderson.

Girtz was on the attack early, looking to land a right hand. He’d continue to push the action, forcing Jury to counter. Girtz continued to lead the dance, while Jury went to the body with a kick. The right hand was a constant threat from Brandon Girtz; Jury, meanwhile, got his jab going, and mixed in a knee. Girtz soon hand him backpedaling off a pair of right uppercuts, however. They’re continue to trade throughout the opening round, Jury going back to the well with his knee, Girtz throwing heavy leather every time out.

The second round had Girtz immediately on the attack, firing some heavy hooks, backing Myles Jury up to the fence. Girtz then dropped, looking for a takedown, which he’d land soon enough. Girtz would go to work inside Jury’s guard, and spend a considerable amount of time there. He couldn’t make much happen, however, and with a minute and forty seconds remaining in the frame, the ref stood the pair up. Almost immediately, Jury landed an eye poke that brought about an extended pause to the action. When they did get back underway, Jury would drop for a takedown attempt, which Girtz would impressively fight off. He did, however, risk giving up the back, with Jury literally climbing up him and getting hooks in. They’d head to the final frame however.

Round three again saw Jury’s knees come into play, as he caught Girtz coming in with one at least once. Girtz was finding himself backing up a fair bit. His power was still there, but less effective than earlier on. Jury, meanwhile, went looking for a late takedown. Once again, he mounted the back late in the round, and pulled Girtz down just before the final bell.

“I want a title shot, I want a new contract, and I want a little gig at the side of the booth,” Jury told ‘Big’ John McCarthy following the fight. He will need a few more wins, but Friday was a step in the right direction.

Official Result: Myles Jury def. Brandon Girtz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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We started off our conversation by discussing the horrific helicopter crash involving Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven others. Girtz expressed his sympathy towards everyone involved and his respect for the former NBA superstar. “He’s a big icon, a big sports icon, so a lot of us in the sports world look up to him. It’s a tragedy, man.”

Girtz also discussed his recovery process after he tore his bicep last year before his fight with Jon Tuck. “This camp’s been a little different. We’re going to make it to this fight 100%,” Girtz said. He’s feeling healthy and ready to go, he added, and although his sights are set on Myles Jury currently, he would still like to fight Paul Redmond at some point down the line. Remond was his original opponent before Tuck stepped in.

“Redmond I would fight, because I’d like to go to Ireland,” he said. Girtz doesn’t have too much of a reason beyond that, besides the fact that “we were scheduled to fight each other for over a month or two. That was kind of a person I was preparing for.”

Regardless of opponent, Girtz wants to compete more often, he added. “The last couple years, it’s been once a year. That’s not what I want to do. I want to fight more than that. This year, I’m looking to get three to four. One time a year does not cover my itch.”

Girtz also chatted about the landscape of the Bellator lightweight division and where he stacks up. Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson, believes Girtz, still have some unfinished business to tend to. “I see them two fighting soon.” But hopes after he beats Jury that he will get another crack at Chandler in 2020.

Girtz discussed how long he envisions himself fighting for. As of now the 34 year old feels healthy and his skill set is constantly evolving, so he has no intentions of retiring anytime soon.

Most importantly, Brandon Girtz is excited to fight Jury in the co-main event on February 21. “I think it’s a match-up of two different styles. I like to call him a point fighter. He’s trying to score, I’m out there fighting.” Brandon feels very confident about this match-up adding that “I’m gonna look to put it on him, I’m gonna look to put him on his head. I absolutely think I’m gonna finish him.”

Taking every bout as a “one-round fight,” Girtz takes the mindset heading in that his opponent is trying to get to his family through him. As a result, “I’m not out there trying to point with him. I’m not playing pitter patter. I’m going out there for the kill.”

Finally, Girtz gave his prediction for this Sunday’s Super Bowl match-up. Brandon will be watching the game at Justin Gaethje’s house and believes Patrick Mahomes will be the difference, and sees the Chiefs getting the win. We’ll know soon.

Bellator 239 takes place February 21, 2020 at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

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The Bellator 239 main event is set, and will see the promotion head to Thackerville, Oklahoma for the first time in 2020. In a press release Monday, Bellator officials announced that Ed Ruth vs. Yaroslav Amosov would headline the February card. Also announced, a lightweight co-main event between Brandon Girtz and Myles Jury.

Welterweight Ruth (8-1) will enter his first main event with the company coming off a pair of wins over Jason Jackson and former UFC athlete Kiichi Kunimoto. A decorated wrestler who has spent his entire professional career with Bellator MMA, Ruth’s only setback to date was a welterweight grand prix loss to Neiman Gracie last year at Bellator 213.

Amosov (22-0), meanwhile, is somewhere beyond prospect status at this point. The undefeated Ukrainian has defeated Gerald Harris, Erick Silva, and Caveman Rickels since joining Bellator in 2018. He also holds a notable win outside Bellator over future KSW champ Roberto Soldić.

Bellator 229’s co-main event, as noted, will feature former UFC lightweight Myles Jury (17-5) taking on Bellator mainstay Bradon Girtz (16-8). Jury will enter the fight off a loss to Benson Henderson in his promotional debut, while Girtz is coming off a win against fellow Bellator veteran Saad Awad.

Bellator 239 takes place Friday, February 29 at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The card is expected to air live on the Paramount Network.

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Temecula, CA — In a main event that was an absolute barn burner, Brandon Girtz got the better of Saad Awad Friday night at Bellator 219. Girtz, a training partner of Justin Gaethje (fighting Saturday at UFC Philadelphia), was swinging for the fences throughout the fight. At least twice, he seemed close to finishing. But the resilient Awad managed to recover and escape on both occasions. And far from a one-sided fight, Awad gave plenty back to Girtz, who was showing his battle scars, so to speak, after the bout.

Not to worry though. As he told media members including Cageside Press post fight at the Pechanga Casino and Resort, “When you win, everything hurts a lot less. Let’s just put it that way.”

Breaking down the bout, Girtz said that “I knew what I was getting with him. I was excited at the beginning, because I thought I put him out right away. I looked at him, he did go out, he came right back. And I was like ‘aww sh*t, this is going to be a fight.'”

It absolutely was. And Brandon Girtz wouldn’t have it any other way. “That’s what I do. I come to fight,” he said. “Put somebody like a Saad in front of me, you’re gonna see a fight. I’m not going to quit. When I get hit, I come back harder.”

In his mind, there was never really any doubt that he’d won the contest. “I thought I was for sure landing the harder shots. He went down twice. Three times.” Yet Girtz had high praise for his opponent, adding that “the guy’s an animal. He doesn’t stop coming.”

Of course, going to the judges is always a dicey prospect. While Girtz thought that “for sure I won the fight,” he later admitted that “you never know when it goes to the judges. I don’t want to, I thought ‘are these guys going to screw me?’ That’s going to go through your head, I’ve had it happen before. That’s why you see me, every time I’m throwing, I’m throwing to end the fight.”

Girtz did believe the fight might be stopped in the third. Especially after coming close in the first. “I thought he was done again, you know, and he just came back. He’s a damn warrior.” Girtz credited Awad for moving out of the position, admitting that he just couldn’t hold his opponent down at that point.

In the end, however, all three judges saw the fight for Girtz, leaving little question about the victor. Now, it’s on to the next one. Hopefully soon, though he did mention a slight knee injury that will need to be checked out.

As to what comes next, well, “I haven’t really thought past Awad, I’m not going to lie,” said Girtz. “He was the only guy I’ve been thinking about. I’ve been out a year. The roster changes, the top names change. I had him in my sights, and I have Chandler in my sights. I’m not saying Chandler’s next. I know I gotta go out there and put another one of these on, and hopefully knock somebody out next.”

“I got nobody in mind. I just want a top guy, I want someone that wants to fight.”

Watch the full Bellator 219 post-fight press scrum with Brandon Girtz above!

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Heading into Bellator 219 Friday night in Temecula, CA, the main event could be summed up in one word: explosive. Saad Awad and Brandon Girtz were two fighters with plenty of mutual respect between them. Yet neither was expected to back down when they met in the cage on Friday. Whether someone would walk away with the finish was the question. Both fighters told Cageside Press ahead of the fight that they were most certainly looking for it.

After the glove touch, the pair faced off at center, neither wanting to step back. Awad did, when Girtz closed the distance launching overhands. But Awad came right back on the attack. Then it was Girtz’s turn, and this time, he connected. Awad was under fire, eating some heavy blows! Soon Saad Awad was down, and Brandon Girtz was on top. He tried to step over, but Awad managed to scramble free. Next it was Awad’s turn to go on the attack. Girtz covered up, backed up for a moment, then came storming back, swinging again! The fight wasn’t half over, and it was already crazy.

Of course, that pace was going to be hard to keep up. Awad mixed things up with some kicks, then lunged forward again, but missed. Girtz’s heavy overhands were still lightning quick, but he was hitting air. Awad continued to attack with kicks, and added a jumping knee before the round came to a close, and a final front kick.

Both men were battered, but still standing. Round two saw Awad backing Girtz up with his kicks once again. While Girtz had the edge in power, Awad was the more versatile fighter. Yet it was Girtz wobbling Awad again in the second, only for him to scramble away from harm. Another big right hand landed for Girtz moments later, and Awad turned and escaped. He came back, landing a jab in an exchange. Girtz continued to swing away. Awad fired a knee, ate a punch, and it was pandemonium once again.

Later in the round, Girtz went to the body with a kick. Awad was still keeping him on the outside as best he could. Another exchange with less than thirty seconds to go in the round saw both men land, and they’d head to a third.

We're going back & forth in this this third and final round between @BrandonGirtzMMA and @SAADMMA.#Bellator219 pic.twitter.com/TcchR5tayM

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) March 30, 2019

The third and final round of the Bellator 219 main event had Awad and Girtz continue to trade, continue to stand toe-to-toe. However, at the mid-way mark, Awad shot for a leg, only to wind up covering up as Girtz rained down hard punches. The ref was right on it, but warning Girtz for hitting the back of the head, he missed Girtz holding the shorts, for an extended amount of time. That allowed him to better control Awad, but Awad survived, and made it back to his feet. Awad then raised his arms, gesturing Girtz to keep bringing it in a fight where both men had done just that! Awad rocked Girtz in the final seconds with some stand and bang, but they went to the bell!

No losers in that one — a fantastic end to the night at Bellator 219.

Brandon Girtz def. Saad Awad by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

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