Tonight’s Bellator 271 card has the potential to be one of the best cards of the year and chart the direction the promotion takes with certain divisions in 2022 and beyond.
At the top of the card is women’s MMA pioneer and current Bellator Women’s Featherweight champion Cris Cyborg as she defends her belt for the third time, but standing in her way is the rugged and heavy-handed Sinead Kavanagh.
Kavanagh looks to pick up the Irish MMA mantle for Bellator MMA with a win after last week’s tough losses by Peter Queally and James Gallagher at Bellator 270 in Dublin. She is a +900 betting underdog, so obviously the Cyborg effect is still in full force but an upset is a very real possibility.
In the co-main event, a matchup of top-six-ranked heavyweights in Linton Vassell and Tyrell Fortune takes place. Vassell is on a two-fight winning streak and Fortune has won three of his own, the winner could be primed for a title shot or a number one contender’s matchup.
Also on the main card, Aaron Pico faces Justin Gonzales which is sure to be a barn burner of a matchup, as well as heavy-handed Steve Mowry, who looks to continue his climb in the heavyweight division and break into the top five against PFL veteran Rakim Cleveland.
The Bellator 271 main card can be seen on Showtime at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, and is preceded by the preliminary card, which can be seen on the Bellator’s YouTube page starting at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT.
Bellator 271 Results
Main Card
Cris Cyborg def. Sinead Kavanagh via KO (Punch) at 1:32 of Round 1 — Bellator Women’s Featherweight Title Bout
Linton Vassell def. Tyrell Fortune via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Aaron Pico def. Justin Gonzales via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Arlene Blencowe def. Pam Sorenson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Steve Mowry def. Rakim Cleveland via Submission (Kimura) at 3:28 of Round 1
Bruna Ellen def. Desiree Yanez via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Roman Faraldo def. Robert Turnquest via KO (Flying Knee) at 1:17 of around 1
Cody Law def. Colton Hamm via KO (Elbow) at 4:01 of Round 1
Valeria Loureda def. Taylor Turner via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Waldo Acosta-Cortes def. Muhammad DeReese via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jordan Newman (3-0) vs. Shane O’Shea (4-2)*
Ethan Hughes def. Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie via TKO (Punches) at 4:05 of Round 3
*Fight cancelled due to O’Shea not weighing in
Featured Image courtesy of Bellator MMA
