Bellator 155 ‘Carvalho vs. Manhoef’ Results: Play-by-Play & Round-by-Round Scoring

Vincent Morales vs. Hamilton Ash

Round 1

Tom Supnet is our referee for this featherweight bout. Ash opens the bout with a meager kick to the body. Morales swings and misses with a pair of right hooks. Morales is looking to keep enough distance early for his strikes while Ash continues to try and close the gap. A hard right to the jaw from Morales. Another, but Ash shakes them off. A pair of stinging leg kicks from the Oregonian, forcing Ash to tie him up. A few knees to the head from Ash on the inside, opening a gash above Morales’ right eye. He’s bleeding pretty badly but he’s not yet bothered by it. Ash clinches again and takes his back, looking to take the fight to the mat. With two minutes left, Ash finally drags his foe to the ground but he can’t keep him there long at all. Morales is back on his feet but the Montanan takes him down again, still all over his back. The blood is pouring from Morales now, dousing his knees and thighs in a slick red sheet. Morales eventually stands up again but he can’t shake the lankier Ash off. The round ends with Ash on his opponent’s back against the cage. 10-9 Ash.

Round 2

Morales is backing away to start the frame, trying to keep Ash at a distance. Ash tags him with a few decent kicks to the arms. A few moderate rights land to the noggin for Ash, who is now using his length to his advantage. Finally, Ash shoots in but he’s stuffed. They scramble during the level change and Hamilton immediately sweeps him, landing in side control. Ash fishes cross-body for the arm, possibly for a key lock but he quickly abandons it. Ash switches to knee-on-belly but Morales shrimps away from it, though he can’t get Ash off. Morales explodes to his feet and finally separates with two minutes left, but his volley of punches is wild and loopy, allowing the Montanan to easily avoid them all. Morales is bleeding again and is breathing heavily as he backs away from his adversary. The action slows to a crawl with about 40 seconds left, other than a wild overhand right by Morales that misses by a mile. Ash has a mid-level kick blocked as he hunts the retreating Morales down. 10-9 Ash

Round 3

Ash lands a few scant kicks to the body, but Morales doesn’t even flinch as he scampers away to safety. Ash clinches in an effort to drag him down again, but the Oregonian slithers out to safety. Morales is lunging in with single desperate punches; he’s not setting anything up with smooth movement and/or combos. Ash, meanwhile, continues to simply walk after his foe, tossing out a few punches here and there. Morales drills Ash with a hard lead right to the jaw and he is rocked. A second powerful right to the cantaloupe rattles Ash and Morales jumps on him just as Ash shoots in.

Ash crumbles to his left and is pounded on by a few hammer fists and he is out. Big come-from-behind knockout for Morales.

The Official Result

Vincent Morales def. Hamilton Ash via KO (Punches) R3, 2:32

Joe Hamilton vs. Tyler Freeland

Round 1

Hamilton immediately drops the miniscule Freeland with a kick to the chest. The Idahoan wastes no time as he pounces on the Vegas kid, takes his back and quickly submits him with a rear-naked choke.

The Official Result

Joe Hamilton def. Tyler Freeman via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1, 0:22

Brendon Raftery vs. Casey Johnson

Round 1

The two local rivals are already talking trash to each other as soon as the fight starts. Raftery tags him with a left to the body but it’s not hard. Johnson goes with a shin to the thigh, but Raftery misses his counter left hook. Raftery slaps a kick off his enemy’s shin but his follow-up three-punch combo hits air. A hard left kick to the body from Raftery. A right-left connects for Raftery and it drops Johnson onto his back. Raftery dives in but his foe is able to pull to full guard. Raftery whiffs on a huge right from inside the guard. Johnson is clinging, trying to clear his head and possibly get a restart. Raftery stands up and flips his rival over, but Johnson scrambles and is able to pull guard again. Johnson is doing nothing off his back in terms of submission or sweep attempts. Then again, Raftery isn’t doing that much more other than a few punches here and there. “Big” John McCarthy implores them do something with a minute left. Johnson’s right eye is turning blue and is starting to close a little. Time expires with very little happening over the final two minutes of the frame. 10-9 Raftery

Round 2

Johnson charges right at his adversary but nothing from his volley of punches lands cleanly. They trade some decent leather early before they tie each other up. Johnson looks for a hip toss but misses. Raftery turns around in the clinch and inexplicably gives up his back. Johnson is all over him and just as he drags him down, he latches on a textbook rear-naked choke. It’s very deep and finally gets the tap.

The Official Result

Casey Johnson def. Brendon Raftery via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2, 1:16

Dave Jansen vs. Marcin Held

Round 1

Jason Herzog is our referee for this huge lightweight preliminary bout. Held starts the bout off with an aggressive volley of punches, landing some. They tie each other up briefly before Held sneaks out to his right to reset. A hard left-right to the face from the Pole, forcing him to tie his foe up. Jansen scores a slick throw and winds up in a judo scarf hold, putting all of his weight on Held’s head and chest. Held is struggling to break the hold so he begins to pepper the American with a series of meager punches from his back. “The Fugitive” relents on the hold but misses his opportunity to move to mount. As expected, Held grabs his foot and looks for a toe hold and then a knee bar, but he misses them both. They scramble, but Marcin dives into him and keeps him on his butt against the cage. Jansen looks for a guillotine briefly but gives it up, allowing the two to stand back up and regroup. Jansen has a small cut around on his nose but it’s not worrisome. Held remains in attack mode as they go back to the canvas. Jansen gets up late and they land a few decent punches at the bell. Very close round. 10-9 Jansen

Round 2

The lightweights meet in the center of the cage and swing away, both landing a few clean shots. Held has a spinning back kick just blocked but it still causes Jansen to take a few steps back. Jansen shoots in and after the ensuing scramble, Held winds up in the American’s guard. Jansen has a cut somewhere on his scalp and it’s bleeding profusely. Jansen can’t get anything going off his back while the Pole lands a few punches here and there. Herzog stands them up to have the gash on Jansen’s head looked at. After a lengthy inspection, Dave is allowed to continue and Herzog has them restart on their feet.

They trade hard rights to the head, but neither lands any of them cleanly. A hard left uppercut-overhand right by Jansen, but Marcin shoots in and takes him down. Held is in side control with 90 seconds remaining and ties up the far arm with an overhook. Jansen can’t free himself from Held’s pressure. Held instantly dives down for an inverted hell hook and then a foot lock but Jansen defends them well. Held gives up the attempt and lands in half guard while Jansen is a bloody mess. 10-9 Held.

Round 3

Jansen tags his foe with a solid left hook upstairs, but Held walks right through it. They tie each other and it’s Jansen who presses the Pole into the cage. Held reverses position and eventually takes him down. Jansen uses the cage to roll over and scramble out, forcing Held to turtle. As expected, Held rolls into a leg lock-into-toe hold but he misses. Held switches to a knee bar and then an inverted heel hook, but Jansen’s slippery leg slithers free. Jansen is breathing heavily as Heel misses a lazy heel hook attempt and they are back up. Marcin is all over him before Jansen shoots in. Held sprawls nicely and then rolls off his back for an inverted triangle, misses it, and then fishes for an arm bar and then an awkward omaplata. He misses them all, allowing Jansen to explode up and attempt a standing guillotine. As soon as he drops down to try and it in, Held slips his head out and back into half guard. With 40 seconds left, Jansen needs a knockout or submission in order to win this rematch. Held cracks him with a few left elbows against the cage and time is running out. It’s all Held, who easily wins another round, almost 10-8. 10-9 Held (29-28 Held)

The Official Result

Marcin Held def. Dave Jansen via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2) R3, 5:00

Jesse Brock vs. Olly Bradstreet

Round 1

The two bantamweights trade sporadic low kicks early. Bradstreet quickly changes levels and lands a takedown. Brock fights his way back to his feet, but Bradstreet is all over him. Brock escapes out and resets, but Bradstreet sucks him into another clinch. This time it’s Brock who is pressing him into the cage and searching for a takedown of his own. The two exchange a few decent knees to the body before Brock takes him down and moves to side control. Bradstreet scoots to half guard, but Brock is crushing him with his weight. Bradstreet hips out and pulls to butterfly guard, but can’t free himself. Brock is smothering his foe and eventually takes his back during a mad scramble. Brock slips his arm around the front and is fishing for the rear-naked choke. He’s threatening fiercely, but Bradstreet is able to free himself of the danger. Bradstreet turtles with 30 seconds left, possibly looking to ride out the clock. Brock thinks armbar from the back but times runs out. 10-9 Brock

Round 2

They trade leg kicks early and often until Brock shoots in and lands the takedown. Bradstreet is hanging onto his foe’s head, but Brock quickly scoots out of harm’s way to the other side and then to north-south. Brock as all over him again, keeping the Utah fighter pinned to the canvas. Bradstreet rolls over and turtles and when they stand up, Brock locks on a deep standing guillotine. Bradstreet fights his way out of it but he’s taken right back down. Brock rides the wave back to side control, keeping his opponent where he wants him. Bradstreet again rolls out and looks for the single leg to run the pipe, but he’s too far. Brock loses another guillotine attempt but he keeps his foe pressed into the cage. Bradstreet is trying everything in his power to get back to his feet and does, but Jesse is all over him and takes him down again. 10-9 Brock

Round 3

Bradstreet storms out of his corner and goes with an overhand right, but he misses by about a foot. Brock changes levels, shoots in, scoops up the Utah fighter and slams him down hard. Bradstreet pulls guard. It’s not long before Brock passes to side control. Bradstreet tripods up and front rolls, but nothing comes from it other than Brock staying on top of him. They spring back to their feet but Brock is all over him, pressing him into the cage. Brock looks for another guillotine, but it’s not tight. With two minutes left, Bradstreet needs to do something. With 90 seconds left, Brock lands another takedown and moves to side control.

Brock pounces onto his foe’s back and slaps on a rear-naked choke, surprising Bradstreet. It’s tight and deep and eventually Bradstreet taps out.

The Official Result

Jesse Brock def. Olly Bradstreet via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3, 3:57

Chase Gormley vs. Joey Beltran

Round 1

Tom Supnet is the ref for this one, the first fight on the main card. Gormley opens the battle with a few moderate low kicks as Beltran keeps away to gauge the space and reach. Gormley continues to pepper his foe with meager kicks, though he’s starting to paw with his jab a little more now. A loopy overhand right lands for Chase, though it’s mostly blocked. Gornley misses with a massive, loopy overhand right. Beltran continues to back up and wait, not letting his hands or feet go at all. Very little action with a minute left as the crowd quietly awaits some violence to occur. Finally, Beltran opens up with a multi-punch flurry, though most of his shots fall short. A few strikes are exchanged at the bell. 10-9 Gormley.

Round 2

Some low kicks from Gormley early after taking a few jabs to the head. Beltran remains a little too far on the outside to get his shot to land. Instead, he absorbs a few low kicks as he backs away. Very little action from these heavyweights two minutes in. A hard right leg kick causes Beltran to stumble, but Gormley doesn’t follow it up with anything to keep the momentum going. Beltran finally opens up again and tags the larger man with a nice right to the cheek. A ton of jabs from both men before Beltran pops him with another right to the chin. Beltran is more assertive in the final minute, making Gormley back off. A nice right to the head from Chase, but Beltran is unfazed. A nice flurry at the bell for Beltran but it’s not quite enough to win the round. Very close, uneventful round. 10-9 Gormley

Round 3

Gormley misses with a right to the dome. Beltran chases after Chase and drills him with a hard right to the jaw, causing him to stumble back. He is shaken and Beltran closes in, but Gormley takes him down. It’s not long before Joey is able to stand up and rest in the center of the cage. Gormley is very cautious now, backing away from Beltran, who is only slightly busier. A nice jab from Beltran at the midway point, but he doesn’t follow it up. Gormley appears to be aiming to coast to the end, not letting his hands go whatsoever. A winging, loopy overhand right from Gormley misses, but Beltran doesn’t counter with anything.

Beltran digs a pair of hooks to the body but his follow-up right hook up top misses. A hard right hook to the gut from Beltran with 30 seconds left. Gormley backs away until the bell, finally ending the fight. 10-9 Beltran

The Official Result

Chase Gormley def. Joey Beltran via Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29) R3, 5:00

Marloes Coenen vs. Alexis Dufresne

Round 1

Jason Herzog is the referee in this 150-lb. catchweight battle. They immediately clinch and Dufresne scores a takedown via inside leg trip. Coenen threatens with an armbar but Alexis slips out of it as soon as it’s attempted. Dufresne dives down into Coenen’s full guard and is quickly stuck in a neck crank. The Dutch grappler lets it go and lands a few meager punches from her back. Coenen closes her guard, preventing the pass. Dufresne lands a moderate amount of punches from the top but none of them are hard enough to any damage. Coenen explodes out with a textbook sweep and reverses position.

Dufresne has control of her foe’s left arm and is looking to set up a triangle, but gives it up. The action is slow going with a minute left. Coenen postures up and is quickly stuck in a triangle. It’s deep and the Dutch lady is in deep trouble. Dufresne pulls down on her head and shoots her hips to the ceiling. Coenen is trying like hell to get out but she can’t. Coenen leaves her right arm out too far and Dufresne snatches it up and locks in the armbar, forcing an immediate tap.

The Official Result

Alexis Dufresne def. Marloes Coenen via Submission (Triangle Armbar) R1, 4:33

Augusto Sakai vs. Dan Charles

Round 1

Charles is aggressive early, tossing out a few low kicks before they clinch against the cage. Sakai separates from the clinch with a loopy left hook but it’s blocked. Charles lands a nice push kick to the belly of the bigger man before slicing him with a shin to the thigh. Sakai is backing away, not letting his hands go just yet as Charles stalks him with a plethora of kicks to the legs and body. A high left kick from the Brazilian is blocked. Charles is dropped by an inadvertent left foot to the groin. Replays show just how clean it is and Charles isn’t feeling so cheerful right now. He’s finally up and tells John McCarthy, “He kicked my nut off!” After a few minutes, the Arizona fighter is ready to go after Sakai is sternly warned. Charles regroups and tags the bigger man with some kicks to the midsection. Charles is down again from a kick to the groin, this time from the right while they both kicked at the same time. The crowd groans in displeasure and Charles is given more time to recover while the Brazilian has a point deducted. The fight resumes and the heavyweights miss several punches and kicks until the end of the round. 10-8 Charles

Round 2

Charles lands a few kicks to the belly early as Sakai circles. The Brazilian slams a nice right kick to the ribs of his foe. Very little action between the two before Charles dishes out a solid kick to the side of the larger man’s frame. They paw jabs and feint strikes here and there, but Charles reaches him with a kick to the belly. Sakai returns the fire with a pair of feet the body before backing away. They circle each other repeatedly, not willing to really open up and sort of offense, leaving the muted crowd growing restless. Sakai dishes out a series of low kicks late, but neither man seems too eager to take over the battle. A nice side kick from Charles closes out the round. It’s almost too close to call but the Brazilian gets it on some late activity. 10-9 Sakai.

Round 3

Charles shoots in as soon as they touch gloves and lands the takedown. Sakai scrambles and explodes back to his feet. Charles goes back to keeping a distance with some kicks to the body while Sakai lands a few to the leg. Sakai with a hard kick to the body, forcing the American to back off. Charles circles to his left as he paws with his jab, backing away. Very slow going with two minutes left as neither man is willing to let any sort of offense get going. Sakai digs his right foot into Charles’ left thigh and then backs off. Charles retreats, looking to reset. With a minute left, it’s anybody’s guess as to who will win or who wants it more. Sakai is chasing the American across the cage and then cracks him with a front kick to the neck. Charles is bothered by it and backs off. 10-9 Sakai

The Official Result

Augusto Sakai and Dan Charles Fight to a Majority Draw (28-28 x2, 30-26 Charles) R3, 5:00

Pat Curran vs. Georgi Karakhanyan

Round 1

Jason Herzog is the referee for this featherweight co-main event. Karakhanyan quickly delivers his left shin into Curran’s ribs. Curran backs off calmly and circles to his right. The two size each other up for the first minute, tossing out a few jabs here and there. Curran goes with a kick to the ribs again. A low kick from Curran, followed by an overhand right. Karakhanyan walks right through both of them but can’t get anything going in return. Karakhanyan misses with a spinning back kick. A massive left hook drops Karakhanyan, who quickly covers up. Curran pounces on him but Georgi is keeping him tight, trying to clear his head. Curran is in half guard with 2:30 left. Curran is not going crazy even though his foe is still scrambled. Karakhanyan has an overhook on Curran’s left arm but he’s not doing anything other than clearing his head. Curran is looking pass the half guard but Karakhanyan is playing it too safe. With a minute left, nothing is happening on the ground but Herzog isn’t warning them. Curran pops up gets mount and quickly goes for the armbar. Karakhanyan snakes out of but they are back down and in Karakhanyan’s full guard. 10-9 Curran

Round 2

Karakhanyan shoots in right away but he’s stuffed. Curran has control of his neck but lets go of it and winds up on top in half guard. Karakhanyan shuffles his hips and pulls to full guard, trapping his foe’s right arm. Karakhanyan wraps up the neck and looks for a sweep but misses it. Curran is trying to pass to his left and does but Karakhanyan quickly rolls over and turtles. Curran gets one hooks in but Karakhanyan is defending him well. Finally, Curran gets the second hook in and is looking to set up the rear-naked choke. There is still half a round left and Karakhanyan isn’t doing anything but defending. Karakhanyan spins around and recovers guard, but Curran is all over him. They scramble again but Karakhanyan latches onto the neck, but his guillotine falls short. With Curran on his back now, Georgi lands a few punches. Curran pulls to full guard with 45 seconds left and Herzog finally restarts them. Karakhanyan misses with a massive spinning head kick at the bell. 10-9 Curran

Round 3

Curran stuffs a takedown as soon as the round begins. They miss a few left hooks early as neither man seems to be too desperate to win this round. Curran is backing away slowly, waiting for Georgi to attack. Karakhanyan avoids a takedown attempt but after he spins away, Curran takes his back and presses him into the cage. They scramble to the ground where Curran pulls guard. Karakhanyan lands a few grazing punches but Curran quickly breaks his posture. Curran is looking to sweep or set up a submission while Karakhanyan seems content to play it safe within his foe’s guard.

Finally, Karakhanyan looks/ to pass to his right but Curran is keeping him back. With a minute left, Georgi likely needs to do something huge in order to win this. He lands a nice right elbow but Curran rolls with it. Karakhanyan scoots to half guard and threatens with an arm triangle but “Paddy Mike” eventually sucks him right back into full guard. Time runs out on Karakhanyan. 10-9 Karakhanyan (29-28 Karakhanyan)

The Official Result

Pat Curran def. Georgi Karakhanyan via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3) R3, 5:00

Bellator Middleweight Title Fight:
Rafael Carvalho vs. Melvin Manhoef

Round 1

Big John McCarthy is the ref for this middleweight title fight. The two square off cautiously in the center of the cage. Manhoef misses a left low kick while the Brazilian goes high with a front kick, but his falls short as well. Manhoef is very passive early as he goes with another low kick. Carvalho misses a left head kick by mere inches. They continue to measure each other at the midway point, but Carvalho lands a left foot to the ribs. A head kick by Carvalho is blocked. The restless crowd is booing the surprising total lack of action. Another high kick from Rafael misses again. McCarthy stops the action and warns the two start to mix things up with 90 seconds left. They paw and feint over and over, not willing to let anything go, angering the crowd. Neither man does anything noteworthy whatsoever for five minutes. 10-10

Round 2

The crowd is already booing the lack of action 10 seconds into the round. They paw with jabs and low kicks, refusing to take any risks early. Manhoef opens up a little bit with some hard kicks to the legs, but Carvalho backs off. The Surinamese-Dutch slugger slams a hard right leg to the Brazilian’s ribs, the best shot of the fight thus far. Carvalho lands a kick to the ribs and then the leg before backing off. Carvalho is now leading the charge, pressing the attack with kicks to the legs and gut while Manhoef retreats. A hard leg kick from Manhoef follows a flurry of meager left hands. The crowd continues to showers these two with boos and jeers. Manhoef just clips the champ with a left-right to the head but it doesn’t do any real damage. Carvalho lands a knee on the inside and they clinch against the cage. Carvalho digs a knee to the groin and when McCarthy steps in the lands a pair of elbows on the break. McCarthy gives him a stern warning while Manhoef recovers. The fight resumes and Manhoef lands a pair of right leg kicks. 10-9 Manhoef

Round 3

A powerful right-left to the head from Manhoef right away but Carvalho blocks them. Carvaljo accidentally pokes the challenger in the eye and is warned. Manhoef goes with a few low kicks on top of some weak jabs as he backs away, looking to counter. They clinch and Carvalho is looking to bring this fight to the ground but Melvin is keeping his posture up to prevent it. Manhoef spins and throws the Brazilian to his knees and lands a short left hand before Carvalho pops up and ties him up. After a terse struggle, Carvalho gets him down but the Dutch banger doesn’t stay down long. They clinch against the cage at the midway point. Carvalho lands another knee to the groin during the clinch. McCarthy gives Carvalho and his corner a very stern warning about the fouls and then the fight resumes. Carvalho ducks under a left hook and ties him up before pressing him into the cage. With a minute left, the lack of action continues to suck the life out of this capacity crowd as they boo endlessly. Manhoed drills him with a short right uppercut to the puss on the break late in the round. 10-9 Manhoef.

Round 4

For the first time in his MMA career, Manhoef goes into the fourth round. The champ shoots in but he is stuffed all the way across the cage. They split up and regroup but nobody is willing to let his hands or feet go. A jump knee by the Brazilian, who turns it into a wild takedown. Carvalho has side control but he’s not doing anything with it just yet. McCarthy yells at them to work as nothing has happened for over a minute now, eliciting another torrent of boos and hatred from the crowd. Melvin bridges and shrimps out to his feet. Hey continue to measure each other, refusing to let their money makers fly. A lead left from the champ lands on Manhoef’s face, which might be his best strike of the fight. Manhoef pops him with a left hook but it’s a glancing one. With a minute left, nothing is happening. McCarthy continues to bark at them to get things going. Manoef misses a spinning head kick by a foot and Carvalho just sprints out of danger, not in position to counter. Another dreadful round expires. 10-9 Manhoef

Round 5

The champion likely needs a knockout in order to retain his title. Carvalho comes out with a series of left jabs to start the frame but Manhoef counters with a pair of hard leg kicks. A Superman punch from Manhoef just misses its target, but he follows it up with a left leg kick. Carvalho comes with a flying knee but misses badly. They paw with plenty of jabs before the Brazilian shoots in. He brings Manhoef down but he can’t keep him there. Carvalho presses him into the cage and at the midway point, maybe something terrific will happen. Carvalho brigns him down but Manhoef reverses him on the way down and mounts him for a second, before they pop back up to their feet. Manhoef takes him down and lands in the champ’s guard, but they just stay there. There is no urgency on the champ’s side as he just holds the challenger close to him. Manhoef stands up and backs away. Carvalho backs away and looks like he wants to be anywhere but in the cage. Manhoef isn’t capitalizing on Rafael’s lack of effort and just watches him kind of throw a lazy kick. A head kick by Melvin is blocked with 30 seconds left. Carvalho circles away, unwilling to engage. Finally, one of the worst championship fights in the history of MMA comes to a close. 10-9 Manhoef (50-46 Manhoef).

The Official Result

Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) R5, 5:00