Johnny Eblen used grappling and striking to wrestle the middleweight championship from Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 Friday night in Uncasville.
It was an impressive display of domination from Eblen, right from the first round. A stiff shot to the face from Eben seemed to take the starch out of the champion, who was controlled on the ground and on the defensive for much of the fight.
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1540538040715776001?s=20
WHAT A PERFORMANCE!
Johnny Eblen snatches the middleweight title away from Gegard Mousasi in a stellar upset 🏆 #Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/xF3tfJO14p
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
The judges scored it 50-45, 50-45, and 50-45 for Eblen.
The win keeps Eblen (12-0-0) undefeated in 12 fights. Mousasi (49-8-2) had a four fight win streak snapped with the defeat.
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1540553915665551360?s=20
In the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix tournament, Danny Sabatello and Magomed Magomedov both advanced to the semi-finals with wins.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
BELLATOR 282 PRELIMS
BRYCE LOGAN VS. MANDEL NALLO
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 👊💥
A perfectly timed right hand for @NoTweetMandel sends @BryceLogan23 to the canvas! What a stoppage.#Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy prelims fueled by El Super Markets LIVE now 👇
➡️ https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/96J6JL4vsW
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 24, 2022
WINNER: MANDEL NALLO VIA TKO (PUNCH) R1 1:07
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MANDEL NALLO VIA UD
Andrews: That was quick.
AARON JEFFERY VS. FABIO AGUIAR
#FearTheMullet 🔥@aajmma makes a splash in his Bellator debut with a vicious TKO victory. #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy prelims fueled by El Super Markets LIVE now 👇
➡️ https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/rAICyY3u6B
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 24, 2022
WINNER: AARON JEFFRY VIA TKO (KNEE AND PUNCHES) R2 3:30
ANDREWS PREDICTION: FABIO. AGUIAR VIA UD
Andrews: Canadian boy makes good in the second round. Well done, Jeffry.
CODY LAW VS. JAMES GONZALEZ
A close call for @CodyLaw_160 with @JitsuJames looking to sink in the choke.
The #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy Prelims, fueled by El Super Markets, are LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel.
👀 https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/B99aoKZqTX
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 24, 2022
WINNER: JAMES GONZALEZ VIA UD (29-27, 29-28, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CODY LAW VIA TKO
Andrews: What happened, Cody?
ALEJANDRA LARA VS. ILARA JOANNE
🔥 end to the round from @AlejAzuLara.
The #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy Prelims, fueled by El Super Markets, are LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel.
👀 https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/2XoiNKDskm
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 24, 2022
WINNER: ILARA JOANNE VIA UD (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEJANDRA LARA VIA SD
Andrews: Lara did well at the weigh-ins, not so good in the fight.
SABAH HOMASI VS. MAYCON MENDONCA
Let's see that again.
Check out @SabahHomasi's 4️⃣th KO as a pro in slow motion.
The #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy Prelims, fueled by El Super Markets, are LIVE NOW on the #Bellator YouTube channel. 👇
👀 https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/OI5VIHYFM3
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 24, 2022
WINNER: SABAH HOMASI VIA TKO (PUNCH) R1 0:58
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SABAH HOMASI VIA TKO
Andrews: Homasi went for it as expected and got it. Well done.
ANATOLY TOKOV VS. MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1540477719695294464?s=20
WINNER: ANATOLY TOKOV VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 2:28
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANATOLY TOKOV VIA UD
Andrews: Technique and experience beats size and strength almost every time.
#2 CAT ZINGANO VS. PAM SORENSON
Cat Zingano was victorious at #Bellator282, but it came at a price. 🤕
More: https://t.co/b1BX6vAu2u pic.twitter.com/xbUeiS6g7i
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 25, 2022
WINNER: CAT ZINGANO VIA UD (29-26, 29-26, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CAT ZINGANO VIA UD
Andrews: Even with the injury and point deduction, Cat pulled through. Way to go.
#2 BRENT PRIMUS VS. #8 ALEXANDR SHABILY
Shabliy stops the former Champ! 😱
In the biggest win of his career, Shabliy picks up his 7️⃣th straight win!
The #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy Prelims, fueled by El Super Markets, are LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel.
👀 https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/em0bKSYkr6
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WINNER: ALEXANDR SHABILY VIA KO (PUNCHES) R2 1:22
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEXANDR SHABILY VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Shabily is on a mission.
LUCAS BRENNAN VS. JOHNNY SOTO
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒑 📈
Lucas Brennan's stock just keeps on rising! Another stoppage for "Skywalker" 👏
The #Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy Prelims, fueled by El Super Markets, are LIVE NOW on our YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/QcmDUekGY5
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WINNER: LUCAS BRENNAN VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R1 3:34
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LUCAS BRENNAN VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Brennan continues to live the life. Must be nice.
DAN MORET VS. KILLYS MOTA
Incredible scrap between @DanHitman and @KillysM 🤯#Bellator282 @MonsterEnergy prelims fueled by El Super Markets LIVE now 👇
➡️ https://t.co/XHobWDyISk pic.twitter.com/OeN01Pu6NU
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WINNER: KILLYS MOTA VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 1:11
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KILLYS MOTA VIA UD
Andrews: Impressive performance by Mota.
Andrews Prediction: Kilys Mota via UD
BRENNAN WARD VS. KASSIUS KAYNE
𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 🔥
Another classic performance from @SwaggleBerryFin to get the W! #Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
💻 https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/ThY7mgWxeW— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WINNER: BRENNAN WARD VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 1:11
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BRENNAN WARD VIA TKO
Andrews: Ward took advantage of the rookie, which was expected.
#4 MAGOMED MAGOMEDOV VS. #10 ENRIQUE BARZOLA
😱 Magomed Magomedov drops the guillotine on Barzola to advance to the bantamweight Grand Prix semi-finals 💪#Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/sFIwhiIKhi
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
WINNER: MAGOMED MAGOMEDOV VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R4 1:27
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ENRIQUE BARZOLA VIA UD
Andrews: Magomed was simply better. On to the semis.
#6 LEANDRO HIGO VS. #9 DANNY SABATELLO
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1540522063567495169?s=20
WINNER: DANNY SABATELLO VIA UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LEANDRO HIGO VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Okay, so Sabatello backed up his talk. Good job.
MAIN EVENT
GEGARD MOUSASI VS. JOHNNY EBLEN
The challenger is bringing it 💥#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
💻 https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/jSYyIOa9vV— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
WINNER: JOHNNY EBLEN VIA UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GEGARD MOUSASI VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Wow! I was not expecting a dominant win like that. Perhaps its time for Mousasi to move on or hang ’em up.
The next Bellator event is Bellator 283, which is scheduled for July 22 at the Emerald Queen and Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull takes on Sidney Outlaw in the main event.
