MMASucka will be live from the Mohegan Sun Arena posting updates and results from press row at Bellator 185. Headlined by the debuting Gegard Mousasi facing one-time middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko, the main card includes five bouts and starts at 9:00 pm EST on Spike TV.
Leading up to fight night, the event has been plagued by injuries. Causing the main card to be reshuffled several times. The original co-main event was set to pit Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal against former light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary, in what was likely a number one contender elimination scrap. However, earlier in the month “Mo” was removed from the card due to injury. McGeary was given a new opponent—Bubba McDaniel—but a week later McGeary suffered an injury of his own and that bout was canceled too. Though, the onslaught of injuries did not end there.
Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko main card updates and results
Earlier this week, the most recent attempt at putting together a solid co-main event fell through once again. Brennan Ward suffered an injury and his planned fight with fan-favorite David Rickels was also hit with the co-main event jinx, and subsequently cancelled. Not to be outdone, Neiman Gracie’s (the latest Gracie family member making strides for greatness in MMA) original opponent Javier Torres was also dismissed from the card because of injury.
All said and done, the card still features the much anticipated debut of Mousasi–who was on an absolute tear before departing the UFC for greener financial pastures–and champion boxer turned MMA pugilist Heather Hardy will have more attention put on her second bout in the Bellator cage. Here is how tonight’s card shakes out.
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Ana Julaton (2-2) vs. Lisa Blaine (1-0)
Winner – Lisa Blaine via split-decision
Review – A lackluster card opener between two fighters with a combined five fights. Probably couldn’t expect much more.
Lightweight Bout: Ryan Quinn (13-7) vs. Marcus Surin (4-0)
Winner – Ryan Quinn via unanimous decision.
Review – Quinn’s wrestling was just too much for Surin. Really had no answers for it till late in the fight, despite it not being overpowering.
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Heather Hardy (1-0) vs. Kristina Williams (Debut)
Winner – Williams wins via technical knockout (doctor stoppage).
Review – Williams completely outmatched Hardy in a highly anticipated second bout for the budding fan-favorite before the referee mercifully had enough. Wow, Williams looked very good in a her pro debut.
Welterweight Bout: Neiman Gracie (6-0) vs. Zak Bucia (18-8)
Winner – Nieman Gracie by submission in round two.
Review – A Gracie is gonna Gracie. That’s what this Gracie did and he tenaciously got his submission prize in round two. Kudos to Bucia for surviving Gracie on his back for over three minutes in round one.
Middleweight Bout: Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (56-9, 1 NC)
Winner – Gegard Mousasi wins by unanimous decision.
Review – It was a close fight. A bit surprised it wasn’t a split-decision. That second round could have gone either way. However, Mousasi shows tons of guts battling through a compromising eye injury to get the win in his debut.
Thoughts from Press Row:
- Arena looks about 70 percent full with the last prelim bout going on.
- Marloes Coenen on press row stealing a seat and no one cares. Legends get away with everything.
- Boxing promoter Lou DiBella is sitting right next to Bellator President Scott Coker. Intriguing, are more boxers like Heather Hardy Bellator bound?
- Former WWE and current ESPN announcer Tood Grisham is cage side taking in the action.
- Hellboy himself Ron Pearlman is over near press row mingling.
- Marcus Surin comes out to James Brown. Classy.
- Crowd was really into the Williams/Hardy fight, and no surprise, Hardy’s name has been on the rise.
- The crowd reactions to replays of Williams’ headkick to Hardy was probably the loudest moment of the night.
- Gracie affair here in the co-main event. Neiman in the cage, Renzo in his corner, and Royce watching cage side.
- Surprising to see a decent amount of empty seats on the top and bottom sections. Many may have left early once the locals finished, but I would have to imagine the injuries to so many notable names on this card had to have a legit effect on ticket sales.
- No surpise, “Dreamcatcher” gets the loudest ovation of the night.
- Mousasi with serious swelling on his right eye.
