Bellator 289
Bellator 289: Stots vs. Sabatello was a mixed martial arts event produced by the promotion Bellator MMA that took place on December 9, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[1] The event featured 11 bouts in total, headlined by a bantamweight tournament semifinal in the ongoing 2022 Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix, a $1 million prize competition, and included a women's flyweight championship defense.[2] It was broadcast live on Showtime in the United States, with prelims airing on the Showtime app and YouTube.[3] In the main event, interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots faced undefeated challenger Danny Sabatello in a five-round bout to determine the second finalist for the grand prix.[4] Stots emerged victorious via split decision (45-50, 48-47, 48-47), advancing to the final against Patchy Mix, who had submitted Magomed Magomedov via rear-naked choke in the evening's second semifinal earlier on the card.[5] The decision drew controversy due to one judge scoring the fight 50-45 for Sabatello, prompting a review by the Mohegan Sun commission, though the result stood.[6] The co-main event saw flyweight champion Liz Carmouche defend her title against former champion Juliana Velasquez in a rematch of their controversial first encounter.[7] Carmouche retained the belt via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47), solidifying her reign.[5] Other notable results included Dalton Rosta defeating Anthony Adams by unanimous decision in a middleweight clash and Ilara Joanne edging Denise Kielholtz via split decision in a women's flyweight opener.[4] The event marked a key chapter in Bellator's grand prix format, highlighting rising contenders in the bantamweight division.[8]Event Overview
Date and Venue
Bellator 289 was held on December 9, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[9][4] The event marked a significant stop in Bellator MMA's 2022 schedule, featuring the bantamweight tournament semifinals as part of the 2022 Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix.[10] The Mohegan Sun Arena, a prominent entertainment venue owned by the Mohegan Tribe, has a seating capacity of approximately 10,000 for MMA events and has hosted numerous high-profile combat sports bouts since opening in 2001.[9][11] This location provided an intimate yet energetic atmosphere for the card, which drew a live audience to witness key title implications in the bantamweight division.[4]Broadcast Details
Bellator 289 was broadcast live in the United States on Showtime, with the main card airing at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on December 9, 2022.[12] The preliminary card streamed for free on the official Bellator YouTube channel starting at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT.[12][9] In the United Kingdom, the event was available to stream on BBC iPlayer.[13] International viewers outside the US and UK had access through various regional broadcasters and streaming services, though specific details varied by territory.[14] The broadcast included English-language commentary led by Mike Goldberg and John McCarthy for the main card.[7]Background
Bantamweight World Grand Prix
The Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix was an eight-man single-elimination tournament announced on December 3, 2021, during the Bellator 272 broadcast, with the winner earning $1 million and a title shot against the undisputed bantamweight champion.[15] The initial field included champion Sergio Pettis, Kyoji Horiguchi, Juan Archuleta, Patchy Mix, Magomed Magomedov, James Gallagher, Raufeon Stots, and Leandro Higo, with all bouts structured as five-round fights to mirror championship format.[15] Injuries significantly altered the bracket prior to the quarterfinals. Pettis suffered a torn ACL, forcing him to withdraw from his scheduled matchup against Stots and vacating the title on an interim basis, with Archuleta stepping in as replacement.[16] Similarly, Gallagher pulled out due to injury, replaced by Higo in the bout against Danny Sabatello, who entered as an alternate.[16] Enrique Barzola also filled in as an opponent for Magomedov after initial bracketing adjustments. These changes preserved the tournament's momentum while highlighting Bellator's depth in the division.[17] The quarterfinals unfolded across two events in 2022, narrowing the field to four semifinalists. At Bellator 279 on April 23, Mix controlled Horiguchi with superior grappling to secure a unanimous decision victory (48-47, 48-47, 48-47), while Stots claimed the interim championship with a third-round knockout (head kick and punches) over Archuleta at 0:16. Bellator 282 on June 24 featured Sabatello dominating Higo on the ground for a unanimous decision (49-46 x3), and Magomedov advancing via fourth-round guillotine choke submission against Barzola at 1:27.[18]| Quarterfinal Matchup | Event | Result | Method/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patchy Mix vs. Kyoji Horiguchi | Bellator 279 | Mix wins | Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47), 5 rounds |
| Raufeon Stots vs. Juan Archuleta | Bellator 279 | Stots wins (interim title) | TKO (head kick and punches), R3 0:16 |
| Danny Sabatello vs. Leandro Higo | Bellator 282 | Sabatello wins | Unanimous Decision (49-46 x3), 5 rounds |
| Magomed Magomedov vs. Enrique Barzola | Bellator 282 | Magomedov wins | Submission (guillotine choke), R4 1:27 |
Women's Flyweight Championship Rematch
The Women's Flyweight Championship rematch at Bellator 289 pitted defending champion Liz Carmouche against former champion Juliana Velasquez, a bout born out of controversy from their initial clash for the vacant title at Bellator 278 on April 22, 2022.[19] In that fight, Carmouche secured victory via TKO (elbows) at 4:47 of the fourth round after trapping Velasquez in a crucifix position and landing ground-and-pound strikes, but the stoppage drew widespread criticism as Velasquez had dominated the earlier rounds with effective striking, including two knockdowns of Carmouche.[20][21] Velasquez voiced strong dissatisfaction post-fight, describing herself as "disgusted" by the referee's decision and asserting she had controlled the bout, dropping Carmouche twice and leading 3-0 on the judges' scorecards before the stoppage.[22] Bellator president Scott Coker acknowledged the debate surrounding the outcome and expressed receptiveness to booking a rematch to address fan concerns and provide closure. The rematch was officially announced on September 14, 2022, for the co-main event of Bellator 289 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, allowing both fighters time to prepare after the divisive first encounter.[23] Buildup to the December 9 event highlighted escalating personal tensions, with Carmouche noting the rivalry had become deeply personal while emphasizing her focus on improvement over confrontation.[24] Velasquez, seeking to reclaim the belt she viewed as unjustly lost, aimed to capitalize on her prior dominance and prove her striking prowess in a five-round title fight.[25]Results
Main Card
The main card of Bellator 289 featured four bouts, headlined by a bantamweight tournament semifinal between interim champion Raufeon Stots and challenger Danny Sabatello, as part of the ongoing $1 million Bantamweight World Grand Prix.[4] In the co-main event, women's flyweight champion Liz Carmouche defended her title against former champion Juliana Velasquez in a highly anticipated rematch. The card also included another Grand Prix semifinal pitting unbeaten prospect Patchy Mix against undefeated Russian Magomed Magomedov, and a middleweight clash between Dalton Rosta and Anthony Adams. All fights aired on Showtime following prelims on MMA Fighting and YouTube.[26] In the main event, Stots (19-1) edged out Sabatello (13-2) via split decision (45-50, 48-47, 48-47) after five grueling rounds, advancing to the Grand Prix final against Patchy Mix. Stots, known for his wrestling base, controlled much of the grappling exchanges, though Sabatello's pressure and volume striking led to a controversial scorecard from one judge. The fight drew criticism for its close nature, with Stots landing 128 significant strikes to Sabatello's 115, per official stats. This victory solidified Stots' status as a top contender while marking Sabatello's first loss in Bellator.[7][5] Carmouche (17-7) retained her women's flyweight title against Velasquez (12-2) by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47), dominating with superior wrestling and ground control over five rounds. In their first encounter at Bellator 278, Carmouche had won by fourth-round submission, but Velasquez's improved striking tested the champion early; however, Carmouche reversed multiple takedown attempts and outstruck her opponent 142-89. This win extended Carmouche's reign and avenged any lingering doubts from the prior bout's late finish.[8][27] The first Grand Prix semifinal saw Mix (18-1) submit Magomedov (20-1) via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 2:39 of the second round, showcasing his elite grappling credentials. Mix, a former NCAA Division I wrestler, caught Magomedov during a scramble, forcing the tap despite the Russian's reputation for resilience and knockout power. This quick finish propelled Mix into the final, highlighting his 16-fight win streak and positioning him as a favorite against Stots. Magomedov's debut loss ended his perfect professional record.[5][28] Opening the main card, Rosta (8-0) defeated Adams (5-1) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in a middleweight bout, using his length and kickboxing to outpoint the shorter Adams over three rounds. Rosta landed 78 significant strikes to Adams' 45, while avoiding significant damage in clinch exchanges. The win kept Rosta's undefeated streak alive, underscoring his potential in the division.[9][26]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method/Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello | Bantamweight (Grand Prix Semifinal) | Stots def. Sabatello | Split Decision (45-50, 48-47, 48-47) | 5 |
| Liz Carmouche (c) vs. Juliana Velasquez | Women's Flyweight (Title) | Carmouche def. Velasquez | Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) | 5 |
| Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov | Bantamweight (Grand Prix Semifinal) | Mix def. Magomedov | Submission (Guillotine Choke) / 2:39 | 2 |
| Dalton Rosta vs. Anthony Adams | Middleweight | Rosta def. Adams | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 |
Preliminary Card
The preliminary card for Bellator 289 featured seven bouts streamed live on YouTube and Pluto TV, showcasing a mix of established prospects and newcomers across multiple weight classes. These fights highlighted competitive decisions and quick finishes, setting the tone for the evening's action at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[7] The card opened with a bantamweight clash where Cass Bell earned a hard-fought split decision victory over Jared Scoggins (29–28, 28–29, 29–28), rebounding from a prior loss with effective grappling and striking exchanges over three rounds. In the next welterweight bout, Michael Lombardo secured a stunning first-round knockout against Mark Lemminger at 4:23 with a left hook followed by ground strikes, marking a breakout performance for the undefeated prospect.[29] Featherweight action saw Kai Kamaka III dominate Kevin Boehm, finishing the fight via TKO (punches) in the third round at 2:23 after wearing down his opponent with pressure and volume striking.[30] Another middleweight upset followed as Christian Echols knocked out heavily favored Pat Downey with a devastating uppercut at 2:27 of the first round, ending the bout as Downey collapsed against the cage.[31] In a closely contested featherweight matchup, Cris Lencioni upset Cody Law via split decision (30–27, 28–29, 30–27), relying on aggressive takedowns and control to edge out the decision despite Law's striking advantage.[32] Welterweight veteran Jaleel Willis controlled Kyle Crutchmer en route to a unanimous decision win (30–27, 30–27, 30–27), using superior wrestling to neutralize Crutchmer's offense throughout the fight.[33] The preliminary card concluded with a women's flyweight bout where Ilara Joanne defeated Denise Kielholtz by split decision (27–30, 29–28, 30–27), overcoming early adversity with effective counter-striking and clinch work to claim the win.[34]| Bout | Weight Class | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cass Bell vs. Jared Scoggins | Bantamweight | Bell def. Scoggins via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28), 3 rounds |
| Michael Lombardo vs. Mark Lemminger | Welterweight | Lombardo def. Lemminger via KO (punch), 1st round (4:23)[29] |
| Kai Kamaka III vs. Kevin Boehm | Featherweight | Kamaka III def. Boehm via TKO (punches), 3rd round (2:23)[30] |
| Christian Echols vs. Pat Downey | Middleweight | Echols def. Downey via KO (uppercut), 1st round (2:27)[31] |
| Cris Lencioni vs. Cody Law | Featherweight | Lencioni def. Law via split decision (30–27, 28–29, 30–27), 3 rounds[32] |
| Jaleel Willis vs. Kyle Crutchmer | Welterweight | Willis def. Crutchmer via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27), 3 rounds[33] |
| Ilara Joanne vs. Denise Kielholtz | Women's Flyweight | Joanne def. Kielholtz via split decision (27–30, 29–28, 30–27), 3 rounds[34] |