The eighth season of the Bellator MMA starts tonight at the Bren Center in Irvine, California and this is the beginning of the organization having fight card on Spike TV.
The preliminary card will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Spike.com and the main card will start at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV.
Tonight’s card will feature two title fights and will be headlined by Michael Chandler defending the Bellator lightweight title against season six tournament winner Rick Hawn.
Live Results of Bellator 85 will begin at 8 p.m. ET with the preliminary card and play by play of the fights will begin with the main card at 10 p.m. ET.
To discuss the fights, use the comments section below and follow Jason Floyd (@jason_floyd) and on Twitter, who will be covering the fights.
Preliminary Card Results:
Cleber Luciano def. Mario Navarro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Joe Williams def. Jamie Yager via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:02
Savant Young def. Mike Guymon via KO (punch) – Round 2, :48
Emanuel Newton def. Atanas Djambazov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:21
J.J. Ambrose def. Brian Warren via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, :50
Jason Lambert def. Hector Ramirez via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:59
Aaron Miller def. Joe Camacho via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Pat Curran vs. Patricio Pitbull
Round 1 – Pitbull came out and threw the first punch and each fighter were tentative at the start of the fight. Pitbull would catch a leg kick of Curran, but would not be able to do anything once he caught the leg. They exchange leg kicks as they circled around each other. Pitbull would land a combination with 40 seconds left in the round and then landed a low kick. The fight moves on to the second round.
Round 2 – The round opened with the fighters meeting in the center of the cage and each fighter looking to land combinations. Pitbull would accidentally poke Curran in the eye, but Curran would continue. Curran began to throw more leg kicks, but Pitbull continued to land his own leg kicks. After Curran landed punches, blood began to come out of the nose of Pitbull. Curran would land a jab in the final moments of the round, but once again Pitbull would land a leg kick and the fight heads to the third round.
Round 3 – As the rounf started, Pitbull came out throwing his punches and kicks. Pitbull was the aggressor as the round opened, but struggled to get past the boxing defense of Curran. Pitbull landed a head kick that had Curran on his heels, but he recovered quickly. They would continue to exchange strikes with neither fighter being able to land a combination. As the round concluded, Curran went for a flying knee, but it was unsuccessful.
Round 4 – Once again, Pitbull opened a round as the aggressor. Curran landed a combination that slowed down Pitbull for a moment. Curran’s corner began to tell him that Pitbull was hurt and he became the aggressor. The fighters would head butt each other and the fight was stopped for a moment. Upon the restart of the fight, Curran became the aggressor. Pitbull went for the first takedown of the fight, which he was unable to achieve. With 20 seconds left in the round, Curran landed a jab and the fight heads to the final round.
Round 5 – Pitbull opened the round as the aggressor, but Curran appeared to beginning to land better strikes. Pitbull went for a takedown, which was unsuccessful. Both fighters began to attack each other with body shots. They would continue to exchange punches and Pitbull’s right eye is either closed or on the verge of being closed. In the final minute of the fight, Pitbull began to turn it on and they exchanged punches as the final bell sounded.
Result: Pat Curran def. Patricio Pitbull via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the Bellator featherweight title
Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Mikhail Zayats
Round 1 – Babalu landed a body kick and Zayats immediate grabbed him and they grappled against the cage with Zayats back against the cage. Zayats had a body lock on Babalu and looked for a leg trip. After a lack of advancement in position, referee John McCarthy separated the fighters. The action returned to the middle of the cage and Babalu landed a push kick that hit Zayats in the groin. The action would be stopped for a moment, before Zayats said he could continue. Babalu landed a right hand that connected and Zayats immediately looked to grab onto Babalu. They would grapple against the cage and Babalu looked for a takedown. McCarthy would end up separating the fighters since neither of them was advancing their position. Zayats landed a spinning back fist that rocked Babalu and landed multiple strikes and finished the fight with strikes on the ground.
Result: Mikhail Zayats def. Renato Sobral via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:49 to advance to semifinals of light heavyweight tournament
Michael Chandler vs. Rick Hawn
Round 1 – Chandler opened the fight by throwing leg kicks and being the aggressor early on in the fight. Hawn threw an uppercut as Chandler came in, but the punch missed. Chandler went for a takedown and was able to get the fight to the ground. Chandler would have top position in Hawn’s closed guard. Chandler worked his ground game and Hawn attempted to get off his back. He would get up to his knees and Chandler began to throw knees to the body. Hawn would get back to his feet and landed a right hand that backed up Chandler. They would circle around each other as the round ended.
Round 2 – Chandler looked for a takedown in the first 40 seconds of the round and would easily get the fight to the ground with a slam. Chandler began to work his ground game and began to land strikes. Hawn attempted to get to his feet and Chandler got on his back. He got one of his hooks in and looked for a submission. Hawn attempted to get Chandler off his back as he moved towards the middle of the cage, but Chandler held on and locked in a rear-naked choke and Hawn would tap out and Chandler retains his Bellator lightweight title.
Result: Michael Chandler def. Rick Hawn via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:07 to retain the Bellator lightweight title
Seth Petruzelli vs. Jacob Noe
Round 1 – Noe was able to land the first punch and Petruzelli would look for a takedown in the first 30 seconds of the round. They would grapple against the cage and Petruzelli would back off once he was unable to get the fight to the ground. Noe appeared to catch Petruzelli with an eye poke, but the referee did not see it and instructed Petruzelli to fight. The action would continue and they exchanged strikes. Petruzelli went for a double leg takedown, but Noe would reverse positions and begin to throw his ground strikes. After landing multiple strikes, the referee came in to stop the fight and Noe advances to the semifinals of the Bellator light heavyweight tournament.
Result: Jacob Noe def. Seth Petruzelli via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:51 to advance to semifinals of the light heavyweight tournament