It took Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi only 85 seconds to defend his crown at Bellator 275 Friday night in Dublin, Ireland.
Mousasi (49-7-2) used crisp striking to methodically hurt challenger Austin Vanderford and a stuffed takedown to punish Vanderford (11-1-0), who appeared to injure his left shoulder while trying to take Mousasi down.
.@Mousasi_MMA retains his @BellatorMMA Middleweight World Title at #Bellator275 pic.twitter.com/tuHYF94ycm
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) February 25, 2022
In the post-fight interview, Mousasi declared himself the best middleweight in the world. The win was his 49th and his next victory will mark the half-century mark.
In other bouts:
GEGARD MOUSASI DEF. AUSTIN VANDERFORD VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 1:25
SINAEAD KAVANGH DEF. LEAH MCCOURT VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
CLARAN CLARKE DEF. ABOU TOUNKARA VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE)
KHASAN MAGOMEDSHARIPOV DEF. JOSE SANCHEZ VIA UD (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
JORNEL LUGO DEF. BRIAN MOORE VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
BRETT JOHNS DEF. KHURSHED KAKHROV VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 3:00
DAVY GALLON DEF. CHARLIE LEARY VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 3:01
STEPHANIE PAGE DEF. DANNI MCCORMACK VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 1:46
DARRAGH KELLY DEF. JUNIOR MORGAN VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 1:47
VLADIMIR TOKOV DEF. DANIELE SCATIZZI VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
GOKHAN SARICAM DEF. KIRILI SIDEINIKOV VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
NATHAN KELLY DEF. SCOTT PEDERSEN VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
LEE HAMMOND DEF. JAMIE HAY VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 3:32
The next event is Bellator 276, which is scheduled for Mar. 11 at the Family Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. In a featherweight title eliminator, Mads Burnell takes on Adam Borics.
