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On May 20th, 2022, Bellator MMA presented its 292nd event, headlined by a highly anticipated bout between Islam Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson. The event took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and featured a stacked card of exciting matchups.
FRIDAY,MARCH 10, 10 PM ET
Nurmagomedov, the cousin of retired UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, came into the fight with an undefeated record of 15-0. Henderson, a former UFC lightweight champion, was looking to bounce back from a split decision loss in his previous fight.
The fight was billed as a clash of styles, with Nurmagomedov’s grappling prowess pitted against Henderson’s striking and submission skills. As the bell rang for the first round, both fighters came out cautiously, feeling each other out with a few probing strikes.
It was clear from the outset that Nurmagomedov was intent on taking the fight to the ground, as he shot for a takedown early on. Henderson, however, was able to stuff the attempt and landed a sharp knee to Nurmagomedov’s midsection as he came back up.
The rest of the round played out in similar fashion, with Nurmagomedov pressing forward and attempting takedowns, while Henderson looked to keep the fight on the feet and land strikes. While neither fighter was able to gain a clear advantage, it was Henderson who seemed to be landing the more significant shots.
As the second round began, Nurmagomedov again looked for the takedown, but this time he was successful. He quickly took Henderson’s back and began working for a rear-naked choke. Henderson, however, showed his veteran savvy and was able to defend against the submission attempts.
After several minutes of grappling on the ground, Nurmagomedov was able to transition to mount and began raining down punches on Henderson. With only seconds left in the round, Nurmagomedov landed a huge elbow that stunned Henderson and left him unable to defend himself.
The referee stepped in to stop the fight, giving Nurmagomedov the TKO victory at 4:59 of the second round. It was a dominant performance from Nurmagomedov, who showed his world-class grappling skills and improved striking ability.
In the co-main event, Aaron Pico continued his ascent up the featherweight ranks with a second-round knockout of Patricio Freire. Pico, a former Olympic wrestler, showed off his striking skills, landing a beautiful left hook that put Freire down for the count.
The win was Pico’s fourth in a row and cemented his status as one of the top prospects in the sport. After the fight, Pico called for a title shot against reigning champion A.J. McKee, setting up a potential blockbuster matchup in the future.
Other notable fights on the card included a welterweight matchup between Michael Page and Neiman Gracie, which saw Page win a hard-fought decision, and a women’s flyweight bout between Valerie Loureda and Liz Carmouche, which saw Carmouche win a close split decision.
Overall, Bellator 292 was a night of exciting fights and top-notch performances. The main event between Nurmagomedov and Henderson was a showcase of world-class grappling and striking, and Pico’s knockout of Freire was a highlight-reel finish that will be remembered for years to come.
As Bellator continues to grow and attract top-level talent from around the world, events like Bellator 292 are a testament to the organization’s commitment to putting on exciting fights for fans. With a deep roster of talented fighters and a growing fan base, the future looks bright for Bellator MMA.
