On Friday, Bellator 138 went down at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri with the entire main card broadcast on Spike TV. The card featured a main event that seen MMA legend Ken Shamrock take on bareknuckle fighter Kimbo Slice and a co-main event that pitted the “Pitbull” Patricio Freire against German challenger Daniel Weichel.
Kimbo Slice def. Ken Shamrock via TKO – punches (Round 1, 2:22)
In a main event that may have been more spectacle than sport, Kimbo Slice was able to pull off a come from behind win and defeat the one-time “World’s Most Dangerous Man” in what would be deemed a catch weight bout after Shamrock was unable to make the minimum 235 lb requirement for heavyweight. Both men came out noticeably slow in their movements and it was obvious Shamrock wanted nothing to do with Kimbo on the feet, immediately securing a takedown and subsequently locking in a rear naked choke that looked to have Slice on the verge of tapping. Shamrock, however, was unable to finish with Kimbo eventually breaking free and scrambling to his feet, catching Shamrock on the way up, before knocking him senseless with a straight right that sent a defenseless Shamrock to the mat with a nasty gash, and most likely the final loss of his career. Shamrock clearly looked aged and slow in his movement and at 51 it’s unlikely we will see him fight again. With the win Slice now moves to a respectable 5-2 in his MMA career, but it’s doubtful we will see him face a step up in competition with Bellator most likely to continue to use him for circus fights such as this one.
Patricio “Pitbull” Freire def. Daniel Weichel via knockout (Round 2. 0:32)
In what was easily the best and only real competitive fight on the main card, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire pulled off a big comeback victory to retain his featherweight crown. There was no feeling out process in this one as both men engaged in the pocket from the get go, but it was the German challenger Weichel who would out strike Pitbull on the feet, before a straight right hand rocked the Champion with just under ten seconds left in the first round. With the crowd roaring in attendance, Weichel backed the clearly shaken Freire against the fence before a knee dropped Freire. With only seconds left Weichel followed with punches – and this is where things get weird – before referee John McCarthy stepped in at the rounds end. Weichel, not hearing the bell due to the roaring crowd began to celebrate thinking the fight had been stopped, but to his dismay, was informed there would be a second round. Undeterred, and sensing the finish Weichel came out in round two stalking the still clearly dazed champ, backing him up against the fence and landing a big left hand that again had Pitbull hurt. But, in a wild turnaround, and just when it looked like we would have a new Featherweight Champion, Freire landed a devastating left hook that landed square on the jaw of Weichel, who fell stiff into the mat, eating one more right hand before Big John McCarthy stopped the fight. It was a wild finish to a great fight, and although Weichel was able to expose holes in his game, Pitbull showed the true heart and will of a champion in staying calm and focused in the face of adversity. With victories over Strauss, Curran and now Weichel the only seeming contender left in the thin featherweight division is up and coming prospect Bubba Jenkins, who meets Joe Wilk at Bellator 139.
Bobby Lashley def. Daniel Charles via TKO – punches (Round 2, 4:14)
In what could only be described as a mauling, late replacement Daniel Charles was clearly outmatched in what would become a two round rag-dolling by Bobby Lashley. Charles would start the fight at distance, using kicks and jabs to keep away, but after ducking a Charles right hook, Lashley moved in for the take down. The rest of the round would go like this; Lashley gets Charles up against the fence, lands big knees to the thigh, suplexes Charles to the mat, repeat. By the end of round one Lashley would land six suplexes on the clearly frustrated Charles, peppering him each time with a flurry of short punches. Lashley would continue to use his overwhelmed opponent like a wrestling dummy in round two with Charles even resorting to grabbing the fence numerous times to thwart the takedown. Though the fight could have been stopped at any point in the second round, Lashley would eventually finish the fight landing some big shots on a defenseless and covering Charles. Though it was a typical performance from Lashley against a mediocre opponent, the part-time professional wrestler now moves to 3-0 in Bellator and should see a step up in competition in his next fight.
Daniel Straus vs. Henry Corrales via submission – guillotine choke (Round 2, 3:47)
Coming off a recent loss in a title bout to Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire at Bellator 132, Strauss took on debuting undefeated Henry Corrales handling the prospect his first career loss. Round one saw Strauss utilized his wrestling and clear size advantage to bully Corrales around before dropping him with a knee from the Thai clinch up against the cage. A wobbly Corrales would survive, making it back to his feet, but quickly found himself back on the canvas with Strauss getting his back and sinking in a guillotine only to be saved by the bell. Corrales looked to recover in between rounds and was starting to find success on the feet in round two before getting caught again, this time, a big left hook sent a stunned Corrales back to the mat allowing Strauss to get his back and sink in a rear-naked choke than transition to a head and arm choke forcing the tap. Though he looked dominant in this fight, Strauss has alternated between wins and losses since losing his title to Pat Curran at Bellator 112 and will need to put together consistent wins against tougher opponents before he can be considered a contender again.
Michael Chandler def. Derek Campos via submission – rear naked choke (Round 1, 2:17)
Chandler had the crowd heavily behind him in this one and wouldn’t disappoint them. Both men came out with guns-a-blazing, but it was Chandler who would utilize crisp striking in the pocket to outland Campos before dropping him with an overhand right in the first round. Standing over Campos, the former champ continued firing punches through his guard almost ending the fight, but Campos would do a good job of covering up, eventually making it back to his feet. Chandler would then pressure a shaky Campos up against the fence getting his back before putting him back on the mat with a suplex. It was only a matter of time at this point as Chandler easily took Campos back sinking in a rear-naked choke for the win. Though it may be hard to believe, the win would be Chandler’s first in two years and first since losing his title to Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 106. Following the fight Chandler took to the mic to call out man who took his belt Will Brooks, but one would think he will need at least one more win over a formidable opponent before a title shot materializes.
Afterthoughts
It was a standout card for the promotion, and Bellator 138 certainly had its entertaining moments featuring great performances from Michael Chandler and Patricio Freire, and a main event freak show in Kimbo vs. Shamrock. Worth noting was the announcement from Bellator CEO Scott Coker of an event taking place September 19th, 2015 in San Jose that will feature a light heavyweight title fight between Liam Mcgeary and Tito Ortiz, a four-man one night light heavyweight tournament that will feature the Bellator debut of Phil Davis, King Mo, Emmanuel Newtown and Linton Vassel, as well as a separate ring set up that will see three Glory Kickboxing fights.
Preliminary Results:
- Justin Guthrie def. Steven Mann via submission – D’Arce choke (Round 2, 1:09)
- Justin Lawrence def. Sean Wilson via TKO – strikes (Round 1, 4:56)
- Chris Heatherly def. Garrett Gross via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Kyle Kurtz def. Adam Cella via submission – armbar (Round 2, 4:13)
- Hugh Pulley def. Eric Irvin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Miles McDonald def. Dan O’Connor via submission – rear-naked choke (Round 3, 4:30)
