Alessio Sakara Blows Away Joey Beltran in First Round at Bellator 168

Local fighter Alessio Sakara electrified the Italian fans inside Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence as he destroyed Joey Beltran in the first. The replacement main event capped off a solid Bellator 168 event that was televised in the afternoon on Spike.

Sakara continued his unbeaten streak in the California-based promotion by drilling Beltran early with punches to the head and taking him out in just 80 seconds. The win was the third in a row for “Legionarious” and his 13th knockout overall.

Goiti Yamauchi was staggered early in the opening frame against Valeriu Mircea and was taken down hard twice. However, Yamauchi was his usual slick self off his back and eventually turned the tables by latching on a triangle choke, forcing the tap at the 3:33 mark.

Also on the Bellator 168 card, Ed Ruth quickly disposed of Emanuele Palombi as he took him out with strikes in just 93 seconds; Kleber Raimundo Silva knocked out Philipe Lins at 3:42 of the second due to punches; and John Salter mounted Claudio Annicchiarico and rained down punches until the fight was stopped at 1:40 of the first.