After four months away and a rumored sale being finalized, Bellator MMA is back for a new year and a new era. Friday’s Bellator 302 is the first card from the promotion after being sold to the Professional Fighters League and the first card without Scott Coker at the helm of Bellator after he decided against remaining with the organization after the sale.
It’s also the start of a new media rights deal for Bellator inside the United States. Just this past Tuesday, after weeks of wondering where MMA fans would be able to watch Bellator cards, an answer was given. Effective with today’s show, Bellator will now be shown on Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service Max (formerly HBO Max.)
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This is a busy weekend for the streaming service from the premium movie channel, as it’s also showing all games aired on TNT, TBS and TruTV for this season’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, known alliteratively as March Madness. While the Road to the Final Four continues this afternoon and evening inside the United States, Belfast, Northern Ireland is where Bellator sets up shop for the first card of its new Champions Series.
Main Event
Two title fights will be the focus of the show this afternoon. Today’s main event sees the Vacant Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Championship at stake when No. 1 contender Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC MMA, 4-1, 1 NC Bellator) fights No. 4 contender Karl Moore (12-2 MMA, 4-0 Bellator) to succeed Vadim Nemkov as champ.
Co-Main Event
Immediately before the light heavyweight title is decided, your co-main event will be for the Bellator MMA Featherweight Championship between incumbent titleholder Patricio Pitbull (35-7 MMA, 23-6 Bellator) and No. 3 contender Jeremy Kennedy (19-3, 1 NC MMA, 4-1 Bellator). Both title fights are five rounds at five minutes per round.
Rest of the Card
Also on today’s main card is a middleweight contest between No. 1 contender Fabian Edwards (12-3 MMA, 8-3 Bellator) and No. 3 contender Aaron Jeffery (14-4 MMA, 3-1 Bellator), a lightweight showcase matching Tim Wilde (17-4-1 MMA, 5-1-1 Bellator with Manoel Sousa (10-0 MMA, Bellator promotional debut) and a featherweight bout pitting James Gallagher (12-2 MMA, 9-2 Bellator) against Leandro Higo (22-6 MMA, 5-4 Bellator).
Bellator 302 Results:
Main Card:
Main Event: Corey Anderson def. Karl Moore by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) for Vacant Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Championship
Co-Main Event: Patricio Pitbull def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO (strikes) at 4:07 into round three for Bellator MMA Featherweight Championship
Fabian Edwards def. Aaron Jeffery by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Leandro Higo def. James Gallagher by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Manoel Sousa def. Tim Wilde by knockout (left hook) at 4:48 into round one
Prelims:
Featured Prelim: Ciaran Clarke def. Darius Mafi by submission (arm triangle) at :41 into round three
Co-Featured Prelim: Alfie Davis def. Oscar Ownsworth by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Luke Trainer def. Grant Neal by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nathan Kelly def. Vikas Singh Ruhil by knockout (elbow) at :40 into round one
Abraham Bably def. Isaiah Pinson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30 27)
Amateur: Nate Kelly def. Jordan Elliott by submission (armbar) at 1:48 into round one
