On Friday, February 18th, 2022, Bellator MMA presented its latest offering, “Bellator 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2”. This was an event that promised excitement, and it certainly delivered. With a packed card featuring some of the biggest names in the sport, including former UFC fighters, this event was one of the most anticipated in recent memory.
SAT,APRIL 21
10 PM ET
The main event of the evening saw Liz Carmouche take on Vanessa Porto in a flyweight bout. This was a rematch of their 2011 encounter in Invicta FC, which Carmouche won via TKO. However, Porto was eager to avenge that loss and prove that she had what it takes to hang with one of the best in the business.
The first round was a back-and-forth affair, with both fighters looking to establish dominance. Carmouche landed some solid shots early on, but Porto quickly recovered and started to find her range. The second round was much the same, with both fighters trading shots and looking to gain the upper hand.
In the third round, Carmouche started to take control. She landed some significant strikes that appeared to rock Porto, and the Brazilian fighter looked to be in trouble. However, Porto showed her heart and resilience, and managed to weather the storm.
The fourth round was more of the same, with Carmouche continuing to dominate the striking exchanges. However, Porto refused to give up and continued to fight back, showing her toughness and durability.
In the fifth and final round, Carmouche put the finishing touches on her performance. She landed a brutal knee that sent Porto to the canvas, and followed up with some ground and pound to secure the TKO victory. It was a dominant performance from Carmouche, who proved once again why she is considered one of the top fighters in the women’s flyweight division.
The co-main event saw two heavyweights clash, as Linton Vassell took on Marcelo Golm. Vassell was coming off a win over Ronny Markes, while Golm was looking to bounce back from a loss to Alexander Romanov.
The first round was a feeling-out process, with both fighters looking to find their range. Vassell landed some significant strikes early on, but Golm showed his power with a couple of big shots of his own.
In the second round, Vassell started to take control. He landed some heavy shots that appeared to hurt Golm, and followed up with a takedown. From there, Vassell was able to secure top position and work some ground and pound.
The third round saw Golm come out swinging, looking to finish the fight with one big shot. However, Vassell weathered the storm and continued to control the fight with his wrestling and ground and pound. In the end, Vassell was awarded a unanimous decision victory, cementing his status as one of the top heavyweight contenders in Bellator.
Another notable fight on the card was a featherweight bout between former UFC fighter Shane Burgos and Brazilian prospect Rafael Barbosa. Burgos was making his Bellator debut, while Barbosa was looking to build on his impressive win over James Gallagher.
The first round was a close one, with both fighters landing some significant strikes. However, it was Barbosa who appeared to have the edge, landing some hard shots that had Burgos on the defensive.
In the second round, Barbosa continued to dominate, landing some brutal leg kicks that had Burgos hobbling. However, Burgos showed his heart and toughness, and managed to weather the storm and keep fighting.
The third round saw Burgos mount a comeback, as he started to find his range and land some solid shots of his own. However, it was too little, too late, as Barbosa had built up enough of a lead in the earlier rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. It was a disappointing debut for Burgos, but he showed that he has the heart and toughness to hang with some of the best fighters in the world.
Another exciting fight on the card was a lightweight bout between Patricky Freire and Benson Henderson. Freire was looking to rebound from a loss to Tofiq Musayev, while Henderson was hoping to build on his win over Brent Primus.
The first round was a close one, with both fighters landing some significant strikes. However, it was Freire who appeared to have the edge, landing some hard shots that had Henderson on the defensive.
In the second round, Freire started to take control. He landed some heavy shots that appeared to hurt Henderson, and followed up with a takedown. From there, Freire was able to secure top position and work some ground and pound.
The third round saw Henderson mount a comeback, as he started to find his range and land some solid shots of his own. However, it was too little, too late, as Freire had built up enough of a lead in the earlier rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. It was a disappointing result for Henderson, but Freire showed that he is still one of the top lightweights in the world.
Overall, Bellator 294 was a fantastic event that delivered on its promise of excitement and action. With some of the biggest names in the sport on the card, there was never a dull moment, and the fans were treated to some truly spectacular fights.
The main event between Carmouche and Porto was a particular highlight, as both fighters showed their heart and toughness in a back-and-forth battle. Carmouche’s dominant performance was a testament to her skill and experience, and she will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the women’s flyweight division for years to come.
With events like Bellator 294, it’s clear that Bellator MMA is a major player in the world of mixed martial arts. With a roster of talented fighters and a commitment to delivering high-quality events, Bellator is a must-watch for any MMA fan.