Bellator was the first major MMA organization to host an event in France. Returning to Paris last night, Brent Primus battled hometown favorite Mansour Barnaoui. Gegard Mousasi took on Fabian Edwards in the main event.
Thibault Gouti (16-6) Vs. Kane Mousah (14-4)
Round 1
Mousah looks confident, pressing forward at every opportunity.
Gouti lands a left hook which floors Mousah. Mousah can get to his feet quickly and doesn’t look too affected.
Gouti is starting to land more shots, and his reach advantage is beginning to show. Mousah ends the round with a flurry of shots, including a knee from the clinch. We score it 10-9 Gouti.
Round 2
Nice body kick by Mousah. Gouti looks to counter whenever his opponent closes the space; he’s happy to be on the back foot. Mousah lands two more ferocious body kicks.
Gouti lands an uppercut with his back to the cage, and then a clean right-hand KO’s Mousah! Thibault Gouti wins via knockout.
Douglas Lima (32-11) vs. Costello Van Steenis (14-2)
Van Steenis enters this fight with notable victories over Fabian Edwards, Mike Shipman, and Chris Honeycutt. Lima looks to return to the win column following defeats in his last four fights.
Round 1
Overhand right lands by Lima before Van Steenis lands a brief takedown. The Dutchman narrowly misses with a spinning back fist which could have caused serious damage. Van Steenis lands another takedown to see out the round.
Round 2
Van Steenis disguises his kicks well. His speed and flexibility make it difficult for Lima to see where the kicks will land (18 of 22 have landed so far.)
Lima lands a straight right hand and begins to have success with leg kicks of his own. Van Steenis takes Lima down and lands several elbows before the bell sounds. Close round, a tough one to call
Round 3
Van Steenis walks onto a right hand from Lima, which rocks him. Lima follows up with several strikes, but his opponent recovers well and attempts a takedown. The final bell sounds. Lima has grown into this fight, the result of which will hinge on how the judges viewed the second round. We go to the scorecard:
Douglas Lima wins via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Brent Primus (11-3) vs. Mansour Barnaoui (20-4)
A fight in the quarter-final round of the one-million-dollar lightweight Grand Prix. Number eight-ranked Barnaoui, fighting out of Paris, France, looks to make it nine victories in a row against the former Bellator lightweight champion, number four-ranked Primus. Referee Blake Grice gets us underway.
Round 1
Barnaoui goes on the offensive, initiating a clinch against the cage and throwing multiple shots. They separate, and the Frenchman chases his opponent, landing some jabs in the process.
Primus fights against the relentless pressure; this pace will be challenging to sustain for five rounds (should it go that far). Clean elbows land from the clinch by Barnaoui, and Primus continues to throw strikes of his own.
Barnaoui’s mouthpiece is punched out of his mouth, but he then lands a takedown – crazy round.
Round 2
The second round (Primus dominant on the ground) contrasts the first (Barnaoui dominant on the feet). Primus lands a takedown after eating a right hand. Barnaoui escapes a rear naked choke and then an armbar attempt.
Round 3
Both fighters eat jabs. The pace is slower, but the output has remained. Elbows and knees up the middle continue to be successful for the Frenchman.
Primus looks exhausted. He’s throwing punches, but they’re labored in nature, not causing much concern.
Primus drops to the canvas, and Barnaoui looks to the end the fight from the top position. The remainder of the round is spent on the ground as Primus attempts to choke out his opponent. Big John McCarthy has it 29-28 Barnaoui so far—all to play for.
Round 4
Flying knee from Barnaoui. Primus lands a takedown and gains side control. He moves to mount and attempts a choke on Barnaoui. Primus uses his body weight to pressure the neck, but after two minutes, he gives up on the choke. Looks like we’re 2-2 heading into the final round
Round 5
A left jab by Barnaoui wobbles Primus a little, but he manages to compose himself quickly and gain a takedown. Primus has only landed six strikes less than his opponent with just three minutes remaining in the fight.
This round follows the same pattern as the previous, with Primus in a dominant ground position looking for submission via choke hold. The clock rus down.
Brent Primus wins via unanimous decision (48-47 x3). He advances to fight Usman Nurmagomedov in the semi-finals.
Fabian Edwards (11-2) vs Gegard Mousasi (49-8-2)
Number 2 (Edwards) takes on number 1 (Mousasi) in this middleweight contest in the Bellator 296 headliner. Edwards has notable wins against Charlie Ward and Lyoto Machida on his resume. This is Mousasi’s sixtieth professional contest which includes victories against Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort.
Round 1
Edwards lands a left hand early on. A low blow from Mousasi brings a halt to the action.
We resume action, and the hand speed from Edwards is evident. Mousasi catches a kick but fails to secure the takedown.
Both men land straight left hands. Mousasi then lands a couple of shots on Edwards, but in general, the Englishman has managed the range well this round. A relatively quiet opening round under the bright lights in Paris.
Round 2
The left hand of Edwards lands clean on two occasions in the opening minute of the round. He then lands a clean on Mousasi after eating a shot himself.
An illegal blow by Mousasi (knee to the face of a grounded opponent) brings another halt to the action. The referee decided it was unintentional, as Mousasi aimed for the body.
Edwards continues to be a little quicker and sharper in the striking battle.
Round 3
Patience is shown by both men. Edwards controls the range very well. Mousasi is more successful with his striking when pushing Edwards onto the back foot.
Edwards lands several kicks, focusing on low kicks to Mousasi’s lead leg. Edwards lands a great combination – right hand to the face and left to the body. The scorecard of commentator Big John McCarthy is 30-27 in favour of Edwards after the third round.
Round 4
Edwards landing shots with some ease, but Mousasi doesn’t seem hurt. Mousasi takes Edwards down and takes Edwards’ back. Edwards gets back to his feet to avoid a submission attempt.
Mousasi lands some jabs on Edwards, and they enter into a clinch. Edwards lands a couple of knees before landing a takedown of his own to finish the round.
Round 5
High kick to the head lands from Edwards; he has been more clinical in the exchanges. After a clinch against the cage, Edwards lands a takedown and tries to look for a way to finish the fight as he takes his opponents back. The clock runs down, and it looks like the man from Birmingham, England, has done enough to win.
Fabian Edwards wins via unanimous decision (49-46 x3)
Johnny Eblen enters the cage for a face-off with the winner. Things get a little heated between the pair, but they are soon separated. Eblen vs Edwards will fight for the middleweight title at the 3 Arena, Dublin, on Saturday, September 23
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