Bellator ‘2014 Monster Energy Cup’ Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Sean Cantor vs. Gustavo Lopez

Round 1

Mark Smith is the referee in this bantamweight matchup. Cantor tags him with a glancing right hand 30 seconds in. Lopez catches a left leg to the body and then eats a left/right. Both men are fairly passive for the first half of the contest. A left hand rocks Cantor, leading to a shot by Lopez. Cantor sprawls nicely against the cage but Lopez eventually takes his back, sinking in both hooks. Lopez wraps his foe with pesky reach-around punches while he looks for the choke. Cantor stands up, leaning against the cage as he defends the choke until the Xtreme Couture fighter lets go. After the separation, Cantor cracks him with a leg kick but he's taken down again. Lopez scrambles around and seizes his back again, looking for the rear naked. Lopez flattens him out and sinks in the choke, forcing the tap.

The Official Result

Gustavo Lopez Def. Sean Cantor Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 4:39

A.J. Williams vs. Adrian Hadribeaj

Round 1

Mark Smith is the referee for this lightweight encounter. Williams catches a kick and blasts Hadribeaj with a left hand, dropping him. After a scramble, Hadribeaj takes his back but "Black Dynamite" immediately explodes out, back to his feet. Another left hand clips Hadribeaj, who stumbles into the cage. Williams can't capitalize and they reset in the center of the cage. AJ swings wildly with a left and right, but misses them both. Hadribeaj connects with a stuff push kick but just misses the shin to the head. They trade low kicks until the Michigan fighter lands a spinning back kick to Williams' gut. Williams cracks his foe with a left hand just before the bell. 10-9 Williams.

Round 2

Williams just misses with a left hook early. They trade blows until Williams shoots in, but he lands in a guillotine. It's not too right and the Syndicate MMA fighter lifts his opponent up and powers out of it. Williams grazes him with a left/right and then delivers a spinning elbow. Hadribeaj blocks most of it and clinches until they separate. Hadribeaj goes low with the kick and eats a left hand, dropping him. Hadribeaj looks for the triangle and then a heel hook but Williams escapes back to his feet. The two exchange clean right hands to the face. Hadribeaj goes for the head kick but is a bit too far to land cleanly. Williams misses a spinning, flying back kick but connects with a left hook on touchdown. Hadribeaj with a right hand just before he eats another left hand at the horn. 10-9 Williams.

Round 3

Hadribeaj opens the round with a thunderous leg kick. Another. Williams uncorks a heavy left hand, forcing a clinch. Williams with a knee to the face. The massive crowd begs for more knees and Williams obliges again and again until they separate. Hadribeaj swings for the fences but misses. They trade meager low kicks as both are beginning to fade. Right/left by Williams again forces a clinch. Williams unloads a monster of a left hand but it finds only air. Hadribeaj lands a slick counter right hand to the jaw. Williams connects on a left hook. Another. Williams falls to his back after slipping on a failed head kick. Hadribeaj stands over him, looking to pass. They reset in the center of the cage and trade punches and knees until the horn ends it. 10-9 Williams, and 30-27 for Williams overall.

The Official Result

Adrian Hadribeaj def. A.J. Williams via Split Decision R3 5:00

James Wilson vs. Dan Charles

Round 1

Steve Mazzagatti is the third man in the cage for this heavyweight duel. Charles goes to the head kick immediately but it's blocked. Charles goes low with the kick and the to the face with a right hand. Wilson shoots in and they clinch against the cage. Charles switches levels and scoops up his for for a huge double leg. Charles quickly scoots to side control where he serves up a platter of elbows and hammer fists. Wilson defends well and explodes back to his feet, but the Phoenix fighter is all over him, dragging him down again. Charles instantly gets to mount, but Wilson is controlling his wrists. Beautiful sweep by Wilson, who again gets back to his feet. They clinch but Wilson inadvertently knees his opponent in the groin. After a brief sabbatical, they resume. They clinch again but Wilson lands an uppercut to the groin. He is good to go and pops him with a right hand just before the bell. 10-9 Charles.

Round 2

Wilson opens the frame with nasty leg kicks. Charles absorbs a few more before he goes for the flying knee. They clinch and Charles unloads a flurry of knees, but Wilson blocks most. Charles shoots in for a double, but the LA-based fighter sprawls nicely against the cage. Charles switches to a single leg, but he can't get his foe to the ground. With both men gassing out, they stall until Mazzagatti resets them. They trade meager jabs as they gasp for air in the center of the cage. Very little action for the final two minutes of the round. 10-9 Charles.

Round 3

Wilson lands a few scant leg kicks until he eats a decent right hand. Both men are cautious and tired. Charles lands a hard shin to the ribs and then a left hand. Wilson snaps Charles' head back with a jab over a lazy left hook. Charles finally shoots in for a double, but Wilson sprawls. Again they clinch against the fence, gasping for air. Finally Mazzagatti separates them. Hard right leg kick by Wilson, his best attack in several minutes. Charles unleashes a massive bomb of a right hand but he misses badly with a minute left. Charles goes for an awkward jump kick but misses by a few feet. Wilson is not looking to engage until Charles shoots in again. The fight ends with the two clinching against the cage. 10-9 Charles in the final round, and 30-27 Charles overall.

The Official Result

Dan Charles def. James Wilson via Unanimous Decision R3 5:00