On a finish heavy night, the judges present at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, needed to render their score just twice.
Veterans Karo Parisyan (24-10) and Phil Baroni (15-18) opened up the Spike TV card with Parisyan showcasing his much improved boxing skills. Parisyan was able to put the heavy handed Baroni away in the first round with a series of viscous uppercuts and hooks.
Egidijus Valavicius (27-11) had no answers for the relentless striking onslaught of Liam McGeary (8-0), succumbing to a standing TKO in just over two minute in the first round. McGeary will meet fellow finalist Kelly Anundson for the light heavyweight tournament championship later this year.
In the co-main event, Brandon Halsey (7-0) defeated Brett Cooper (20-10) to become Bellator’s middleweight tournament winner, earning himself a shot at Bellator’s middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko. Halsey was able to secure a first round submission victory, locking in an armbar after scoring a takedown early in the fight.
The main event saw Andrey Koreshkov outwork Adam McDonough all three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. McDonough seemed outclassed from the get go, unable to get anything significant going against Koreshkov during the fight. The Russian picked Mcdonough apart with solid strikes, even landing a spinning back kick that floored McDonough during the second round. With this win Koreshkov becomes the Bellator welterweight tournament winner, and will receive a title bout with current welterweight champion Douglas Lima.
The full fight card results are posted below:
Main card
Andrey Koreshkov def. Adam McDonough via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brandon Halsey def. Brett Cooper via Submission (armbar) 1st Round (2:09)
Liam McGeary def. Egidijus Valavicius via TKO (punches) 1st Round (2:10)
Karo Parisyan def. Phil Baroni via TKO (punches) 1st Round (2:06)
Prelims
Augusto Sakai def. Matt Frembling via TKO (knees and punches) 3rd Round (3:32)
Bubba Jenkins def. Poppies Martinez via TKO (punches) 1st Round (4:10)
Kelly Anundson def. Philipe Lins via TKO (injury) 1st Round (1:40)
Fernando Gonzales def. Karl Amoussou via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Saad Awad def. Joe Duarte via TKO (elbows) 1st Round (1:18)
Sergio Rios def. Stephen Martinez via KO (headkick and punches) 2nd Round (0:20)
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