Bellator 99 Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Hector Ramirez vs. Savo Kosic

Round 1

Kosic throws a blocked head kick and stalks forward on Ramirez in a karate stance before botching a throw. Ramirez rolls Kosic onto his back and takes top position in cross-side control, leaning right to left across Kosic and flattening him out. Short, grinding elbows from Ramirez now, while Kosic simply lies on his back and throws the occasional knee to Ramirez’s right flank. The 205ers remain in this holding pattern through the middle of the round, with Ramirez maintaining position and dropping short elbows. “Sick Dog” gets a little more active in the final 30 seconds when referee Mike Beltran tells the fighters to get busy or get stood up.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Ramirez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ramirez
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ramirez

Round 2

Ramirez gets poked in the eye by Kosic’s outstretched hand, but the veteran recovers after only a few seconds and the fight resumes. Kosic is able to shut down the next takedown attempt from Ramirez, and holds Sick Dog on the fence when he comes in to clinch again. While trying to work a guillotine choke, Kosic throws a knee up the middle and hits Ramirez square in the cup. Ramirez recovers from this, too, and comes back to club Kosic with a big right hand. Kosic is already dazed when a follow-up left hook sends him to the ground. Ramirez pounces and takes full mount, trying to pound out his injured opponent, but Kosic bucks him out of mount. From side control, Ramirez sets up a crucifix, and Kosic is twice warned for grabbing Ramirez’s trunks from underneath. Ramirez momentarily frames up a keylock, then takes mount again before voluntarily moving back to side control with 90 seconds left in the round. Ramirez is landing knees to the body, punches and elbows to the head, but not enough to get a stoppage before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Ramirez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Ramirez
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Ramirez

Round 3

Kosic is able to connect with a few punches and body kicks in the early going of round three, before being taken back to the mat at the base of the fence.

Ramirez moves quickly to cross-side control, where he complains to ref Beltran that Kosic is grabbing his glove. More elbows and knees from Ramirez on top, and again he gets a crucifix to land shots on Kosic’s unprotected face. Kosic doesn’t appear to be attempting any sort of escape, instead opting to stay flat on his back and absorb the strikes. With 10 seconds left, Kosic explodes to his feet and blitzes Ramirez against the cage, but he can’t land anything clean before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Ramirez (30-26 Ramirez)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ramirez (30-26 Ramirez)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ramirez (30-26 Ramirez)

The Official Result

Hector Ramirez def. Savo Kosic via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Andy Murad vs. Gavin Sterritt

Round 1

Murad puts Sterritt against the fence and pops the Englishman in the ribs and head with hard, short left hands while keeping an underhook with the right. Sterritt can’t get out of the clinch, absorbing more punches and shoulders to the face, but it’s not enough for referee John McCarthy, who splits up the fighters. Murad hits a double-leg takedown and advances to half guard, then leans across to work a kimura on Sterritt’s left arm. Sterritt pulls the limb free as Murad passes to side control. Sterritt gets to his feet, but only momentarily, as Murad catches a kick and plows him right back to the ground. Murad works from Sterritt’s full guard now, but the Californian’s offense is stifled in the final 30 seconds as Sterritt wraps up his arms.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Murad
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Murad
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Murad

Round 2

Murad quickly closes in on Sterritt and presses him against the cage post again, then drops for a double-leg and hits another takedown. Sterritt works back to his feet, eating a series of left hands on his way and then being held against the fence. After a moment, Sterritt escapes and clips Murad with a pair of right hands. The momentum doesn’t last long, as Murad soon puts the Brit on the fence with a waistlock. Sterritt strikes his way out with elbows and a head kick, and when the fighters separate, Murad is streaming blood from the outside corner of his right eye. Murad gets another takedown and Sterritt begins throwing elbows from his back at the damaged eye. A pool of Murad’s blood has gathered on Sterritt’s chest by the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Murad
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Murad
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sterritt

Round 3

Murad takes a minute to navigate the range before getting inside on a single-leg and putting Sterritt on the ground. The cut that was patched up between rounds is once again spurting blood all over Sterritt, while on top Murad drops sideways elbows on his opponent’s head. Sterritt gets back to his feet midway through the round but is held against the fence. With 2:15 left on the clock, the fighters separate and McCarthy takes the opportunity to have the physician check on Murad’s cut.

Murad is cleared to continue, and now Sterritt literally smells blood, pushing forward on Murad with kicks to the body. Murad stays on his back foot until the 60-second mark, when he clinches for a few seconds and releases. Sterritt clubs Murad with a big right straight, stuffs a takedown attempt and has a head kick blocked. Sterritt closes out the fight with one more right hand to the grisly face of Murad, and this one is headed to the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterritt (29-28 Murad)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterritt (29-28 Murad)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sterritt (29-28 Sterritt)

The Official Result

Gavin Sterritt def. Andy Murad via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00

Musa Toliver vs. Goiti Yamauchi

Round 1

Toliver goes for and scores a quick double-leg takedown, elevating and putting Yamauchi on his back near the base of the fence. Yamauchi quickly throws up his legs and traps Toliver’s left arm in an omoplata, then uses it to deftly sweep to top position. Toliver tries to scramble from beneath the Brazilian, but Yamaguchi slickly dives onto his back, using his legs to trap Toliver's arm in a back crucifix. From there, Yamauchi wastes no time in applying a deep rear-naked choke and forcing the American to tap out.

The Official Result

Goiti Yamauchi def. Musa Toliver via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 1:01

Blagoi Ivanov vs. Manny Lara

Round 1

Ivanov takes the better part of one minute before moving behind long, powerful punches and grabbing hold of Lara against the fence. Lara turns it around but leaves his neck exposed as he changes levels for a double-leg takedown, allowing Ivanov to sink in a standing guillotine choke. The American struggles briefly, but the sambo champion jams his back into the fence. Lara taps out from his knees, and referee Herb Dean steps in to separate the heavyweights and end the fight.

The Official Result

Blagoi Ivanov def. Manny Lara via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 1:17

Andrew Fisher vs. Joe Taimanglo

Round 1

Taimanglo clubs the much taller Fisher with some big right hands early in the round. There’s an accidental clash of heads as the featherweight step in to strike, and referee John McCarthy pauses the action to check on Fisher. They resume, and Taimanglo tries to clinch up but can’t hold Fisher there. Taimanglo comes over the top with another right hand , grabs a collar tie and pops Fisher with an uppercut. Fisher lands a counter before eating another right at the end of a Taimanglo combo. Fisher ducks the next wide right to land a short counter hook. Taimanglo lands an uppercut to the body of Fisher in the last exchange before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo

Round 2

Fisher tries to establish his jab at the start of round two, but Taimanglo is still working a good distance and scoring with big right hands, both over the top and uppercuts. Taimanglo mixes in some knees now, pulling Fisher’s head down to his level with the Thai plum. The fighters are warned again to mind their heads when stepping in to strike. Taimanglo misses with an uppercut and gets pushed back by a right from Fisher, who is leaking blood from his nose. Taimanglo tries a lunging right just before the end of the round, allowing Fisher to wrap him up and finish the frame controlling Taimanglo’s back.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo

Round 3

Fisher catches a kick, but Taimanglo rolls away to continue his steady stream of power punches aimed at his opponent’s head. Fisher is staying on the outside, slowly circling Taimanglo and waiting to counter, as he has for much of the fight.

A wide right hits the face of Taimanglo, who smiles at Fisher before responding with an uppercut. Taimanglo continues to dance in front of Fisher and lean in with jabs in between slugs with his right. With 90 seconds left, ref McCarthy calls for work. Fisher is staying out of the way Taimanglo’s punches and kicks now, but he’s also staying too far away to inflict any damage. With 30 seconds left, Taimanglo comes alive and steps into range, clubbing Fisher with a couple last overhand rights to close out the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo (30-27 Taimanglo)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo (30-27 Taimanglo)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Taimanglo (30-27 Taimanglo)

The Official Result

Joe Taimanglo def. Andrew Fisher via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Akop Stepanyan vs. Justin Wilcox

Round 1

Stepanyan kicks the leg out from underneath Wilcox, then decks the Strikeforce veteran with a hook on the way back up. Body kicks from Stepanyan now, keeping Wilcox moving around the outside while Stepanyan stays planted in the center. Stepanyan whiffs on a low kick, gets spun around and has to backpedal away as Wilcox jumps off the fence with a right hand. Another hard low kick scores for Stepanyan, who stuffs a long shot from Wilcox and then blocks a high kick. Stepanyan keeps the assault coming with speedy punches and spinning kicks which punish the body of Wilcox late in the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stepanyan
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stepanyan
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Stepanyan

Round 2

Stepanyan comes out attacking the lead leg of Wilcox, who is sporting a massive hematoma on his right calf. A spinning back-kick grazes the head of Wilcox.

The wrestler shoots low and finally gets Stepanyan down to the canvas in the center of the cage. There’s a bloody cut on Wilcox’s head where the kick landed as he stays heavy on top of Stepanyan, flattening him out. Stepanyan tries to escape and has his back taken, where Wilcox sinks in a deep rear-naked choke. Stepanyan does not tap out, instead going unconscious and forcing referee Mike Beltran to call an end to the fight.

The Official Result

Justin Wilcox def. Akop Stepanyan via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:20

Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Houston Alexander

Round 1

The light heavyweights line up about three feet apart from one another and begin cautiously circling in the center of the cage. Matyushenko lands first with an outside low kick, countered by a right straight from Alexander. “The Assassin” grabs a leg and spins Matyushenko to the canvas in the center, but Matyushenko drives forward and puts Alexander on his back. Alexander scrambles up and circles for a moment before being grabbed by Matyushenko and tossed to the ground. Matyushenko takes full mount, but Alexander immediately turns over and slips out the back door. Matyushenko lands a right hand in the final moments of a slow going opening round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko

Round 2

Matyushenko clips with another punch that draws a look of disbelief from Alexander. The pace remains slow as Alexander tries for a takedown and is turned away. More feints and level changes through the middle of the round, with both men taking turns circling one another in the middle of the cage. Matyushenko continues slapping with leg kicks and pumping his jab in Alexander’s face, while Alexander is mostly just dodging the strikes. Alexander shuts down a takedown try and gets Matyushenko on his knees but can’t capitalize on the position.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko

Round 3

Alexander sets up on the outside again, while Matyushenko continues to pick away with jabs and low kicks. After about a minute, Matyushenko drives Alexander to the ground, but the Nebraskan won’t stay down long.

As soon as Alexander stands, Matyushenko takes out one of his legs to keep him on the ground. Matyushenko keeps hold of the kneeling Alexander’s far leg and drops hammer fists until Alexander scrambles to his feet. Houston puts a hand on the floor to avoid knees to the head, so Matyushenko just drags him down at the base of the fence and keeps Alexander pinned there, throwing left hands until the end of the bout.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko (30-27 Matyushenko)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko (30-27 Matyushenko)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Matyushenko (30-27 Matyushenko)

The Official Result

Vladimir Matyushenko def. Houston Alexander via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Desmond Green vs. Fabricio “Guerreiro” da Silva

Round 1

The southpaw Green twice tries to tie up with “Guerreiro” in the opening 90 seconds, both times being pushed away by the rangy Brazilian. Guerreiro uses push kicks and long punches as he stays outside the wrestler’s range in the center of the cage. Guerreiro tosses Green to the ground, then hits him with a knee to the belly as they stand. Green catches a kick and clips Guerreiro with a hard right hand counter. Guerreiro is feinting with overhand rights, while Green looks to lung forward with head-down punches that come up short. Green catches another kick and makes Guerreiro pay, then goes back to cutting angles outside of range. Guerreiro puts a hard kick on Green’s body before being taken down. He nearly scrambles up, but Green picks the ankle to keep him on the floor at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro

Round 2

Both men are throwing hard in early exchanges, with the Brazilian landing cleaner punches in close quarters. Guerreiro stuffs a takedown, then tries one of his own which puts Green on the ground. Guerreiro grabs his opponent’s waist as they stand and knees Green’s thigh as they work against the fence. Ref Herb Dean twice warns Green not to grab the fence, while Guerreiro continues to add on more knees. Green slips out and the featherweights resume striking, Guerreiro continuing to work with punching combos and leaping kicks. One kick grazes Green’s cup, and the American takes a moment to recover before the fight resumes with 20 seconds on the clock. Green grabs hold of a leg and trips Guerreiro to the ground, then takes him down again when Guerreiro gets up just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guerreiro

Round 3

Green latches on to the back of Guerreiro and spends the better part of two minutes holding the Brazilian against the cage, working for a takedown. With Guerreiro’s hand on the mat, Green has to settle for knees to his opponent’s thighs.

Guerreiro rolls through and throws up a triangle which Green easily slips out of, but which allows Guerreiro to get back to his feet. The punches are fewer and farther between in the late going, with both featherweights visibly tired and looking for single shots. Green shuts down a pair of takedown attempts from Guerreiro inside the last minute. Guerreiro continues coming forward, throwing single punches, while Green hops backwards until the end of the round, when he hits Guerreiro with a hard kick to the body.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Green (29-28 Guerreiro)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Green (29-28 Guerreiro)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Green (29-28 Guerreiro)

The Official Result

Fabricio “Guerreiro” da Silva def. Desmond Green via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Diego Nunes vs. Patricio Freire

Round 1

Freire takes the center of the cage and pushes out at Nunes with some early leg kicks, while Nunes inches along the outside in the tense opening minute. Suddenly, Nunes rushes forward and gets melted by a nasty, short counter left hook. Nunes falls to the ground, unconscious, and “Pitbull” makes sure he stays there with a couple more punches as referee John McCarthy rushes to intervene.

The Official Result

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire def. Diego Nunes via KO (Punches) R1 1:19

Nick Moghaddam vs. Virgil Zwicker

Round 1

Both men start cautiously, circling each other and measuring distance. Zwicker throws a leg kick then knocks Moghaddam down with a short, stiff jab. Moghaddam gets up and Zwicker tags him with another leg kick. Zwicker backs Moghaddam up with an uppercut and knocks him down with a straight right.

The Temecula native Zwicker continues to punish Moghaddam's legs while he's on the ground before letting him stand. Zwicker quickly knocks Moghaddam down once again and begins punishes from the top. It's all one-way traffic. Zwicker allows his foe to stand, but when Moghaddam regains his feet, “Rezdog” crushes him with another overhand right, putting him on the mat again. This time, the hometown fighter is unrelenting, punching and elbowing until Mike Beltran rescues the outmatched Moghaddam.

The Official Result

Virgil Zwicker def. Nick Moghaddam TKO (Punches and Elbows) R1 3:22