Bellator MMA lands in the Heart of America for Bellator 284 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A former title challenger looks to regain momentum against a Japanese fighter on a new journey in a new weight class in the main event. Keep it locked right here for live Bellator 284 results.
Main Event: Gracie vs. Yamauchi
Neiman Gracie was once one of Bellator’s great success stories, but now he finds himself trying to break through his own ceiling. After falling to the then-champ Rory MacDonald, the Brazilian has alternated wins and losses since then. Most recently, the brilliant grappler was out-wrestled by Logan Storley at Bellator 274.
Still ranked by Bellator at number five at welterweight, he’ll fight an outsider to the top ten in Goiti Yamauchi. Of course, Yamauchi has already spent plenty of time ranked at lightweight before moving up in weight. The Japanese-Brazilian fighter has won both of his fights in the first round since moving up, and presents a fresh challenge for Gracie in this five-round main event.
Co-Main Event: Mowry Reaches the Top
The co-main event sees 10-0 prospect Steve Mowry fight recent interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky. This is a massive fight for Mowry to take an enormous step up in competition and potentially seat himself at the top of the division with a win. Mowry has never gone past the second round, and Moldavsky could be the litmus test to see if he’s ready for deeper waters.
Moldavsky, on the other hand, has gone 6-1 for Bellator and beaten some of their biggest names at heavyweight. Linton Vassell, Tim Johnson, and Roy Nelson have all fallen to the dominance of Moldavsky in Bellator. Even with his record, it is an odd move by Bellator to send Mowry to Moldavsky this early, but the suspension of watching an undefeated finisher fight a veteran who typically goes the distance makes the fight a marvel.
Rest of the Card: Crossroads for “The Iliminator”
Also on the main card is former flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane taking on Bruna Ellen. Once one of Bellator’s most dominant fighters, Ilima-Lei is at an interesting place in her career, having lost her title and her last fight. This fight will show where her headspace is at- not only has she frequently talked about retirement, but she missed weight as well. On paper, a fight with Bruna Ellen is a winnable fight for the Hawaiian, but the intangibles around her drive to succeed make it more questionable.
Also fighting at Bellator 284 is former title challenger Austin Vanderford taking on Canadian veteran Aaron Jeffrey, and DeAnna Bennett and UFC vet Justine Kish rematch after a close decision earlier this year. Full live results for Bellator 284 can be found below.
💪𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕒 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡 𝕠𝕟 𝕨𝕖𝕚𝕘𝕙-𝕚𝕟𝕤! ⚖️
Don’t miss the #Bellator284 main card when it commences at 9pm ET/6pm PT LIVE on @SHOSports tomorrow night! pic.twitter.com/K55WcxIpeK
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 12, 2022
Bellator 284 Results
Main Card (Showtime, 9pm EST / 6pm PST)
Goiti Yamauchi def. Neiman Gracie via TKO (Uppercut and Punches) at 3:58 of round 2
Valentin Moldavksy vs. Steve Mowry ruled a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) at :54 of round 1
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Bruna Ellen via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)*
Gokham Saricam def. Said Sowma via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Aaron Jeffrey def. Austin Vanderford via TKO (Right Hook and Punches) at 1:25 of round 1
Preliminary Card (Bellator YouTube, 6pm EST / 3pm PST)
Marcos Breno def. Josh Hill via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
DeAnna Bennett def. Justine Kish via Decision (29-28 x3)
Sullivan Cauley def. Tyson Jeffries via KO (Knees) at 1:39 of round 1
Pat Downey III def. Keyes Nelson via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at :36 of round 1
Bailey Schoenfelder def. Mark Currier via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:35 of round 2
Mitchell McKee def. Tony Ortega via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 1:28 of round 2
Amateur: M,A, Yah II def. Brett Bye via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
*The scorecard originally were incorrectly read as a split decision win for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane; however, the decision was a unanimous verdict
