Front Row Pics: Bellator 140 @ Mohegan Sun, CT

Ward v Carroll

Every time the Bellator promotion visits Connecticut (not often enough as far as East Coast fans, ourselves included, are concerned!) it more than lives up to its promise of world-class MMA entertainment, and last night was certainly no exception. Excited fans filled the Mohegan Sun Arena for Bellator 140 and got more than their money’s worth in a evening filled with impressive performances punctuated by spectacular finishes throughout the night, which was broadcast live on Spike TV.

The Russian juggernaut Andrey Koreshkov took the welterweight belt from Douglas Lima by controlling the action for five straight rounds in the main event. After an evening filled with early knockouts and submissions, the fans may have gotten impatient at times with the methodical performance put on by Koreshkov, but there was no denying the effectiveness of his strategy and the resulting unanimous decision.

Jimmy Smith (R) talking to newest Bellator addition Josh Koshcheck

Knockout artist Paul Daley dominated Dennis Olson in the second round, forcing the stoppage early on by landing strike after unanswered strike until the referee had seen enough. In his post-fight interview, Daley made it a point to call out his old rival Josh Koscheck, who will take on his first Bellator fight later this year and happened to be sitting cageside. It may take a while before they get their rematch, but I for one can’t wait to see it!

Brennan Ward vs Roger Carroll, one of the most anticipated matchups of the night, did not disappoint. Both men kept a blistering pace from the opening bell and threw everything they had, but local favorite Ward was clearly getting the better of the exchanges in the first round, which culminated in a massive right hand that laid Carroll out cold. Just a brutal knockout that is guaranteed to make the highlight reels for a long time to come ~ Ward has never looked better in the cage.

Chris Honeycutt and Paul Bradley saw their fight cut short in a no contest due to an accidental head butt opening a bad cut on Bradley’s head; this was after a head butt in the first round had opened Bradley in the corner of the right eye, but this time the physician called off the fight due to the severity of the wound. It was a disappointing outcome to what was otherwise a very entertaining duel, and we can only hope for a rematch in the near future.

Michael Page dispatched Rudy Bears with an impressive knockout early in the first round, the quickest finish of the night and all the more impressive for it.

Other fights of note on the preliminary card:

• Dean Hancock forced Alex Dunworth’s corner to throw in the towel in a very one-sided second round.
  
  

  The capacity crowd on its feet, loving every second of the action

• Kaline Medeiros served up a nasty kimura submission to her opponent Sarah Payant in a decisive first-round victory.

• Kin Moy was not doing well after two and a half rounds against Blair Tugman who was winning the striking game, but pulled a big upset by getting a triangle choke around the three-minute mark. 

Official results, with photos by FlashWounds’ Co-owner/Sr. Photographer Frank Poulin and Sr. Contributing Fight Photographer Drew Pion:

Andrey KORESHKOV def. Douglas Lima (UD)

Paul DALEY def. Dennis Olson (TKO @ 1:12 of Rnd 2)

Brennan WARD def. Roger Carroll (KO @ 2:06 of Rnd 1)

Chris Honeycutt vs. Paul Bradley (No contest due to head butt @ 2:47 of Rnd 2)

Michael PAGE def. Rudy Bears (KO @ 1:05 of Rnd 1)

Dean HANCOCK def. Alex Dunworth (TKO @ 2:14 of Rnd 2)

Kaline MEDEIROS def. Sarah Payant (Sub — Kimura @ 3:24 of Rnd 1)

Ryan QUINN def. Waylon Lowe (Sub — Guillotine @ 2:47 of Rnd 2)

Remo CARDARELLI def. Billy Giovanella (UD)

Kin MOY def. Blair Tugman (Sub — Triangle Choke @ 3:01 of Rnd 3)

Parker PORTER def. Eric Bedard (Sub — Americana @ 2:51 of Rnd 2)

Ilya KOTAU def. Nicolas Sergiacomi (Sub — RNC @ 2:17 of Rnd 1)

Bellator MMA
Spike TV
Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino 

To view more of Drew Pion’s work, please click here to visit his official website ~ and to check out some of our past fight coverage, visit FWs’ MMA/Combat Sports section. 

Very special thanks to Danny Brener/Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.