Bellator 293 goes down later TONIGHT (Fri., March 31, 2023) inside Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif., featuring a Heavyweight bout between Marcelo Golm and Daniel James. Co-headlining the event will be a women’s Featherweight bout between Leah McCourt and Cat Zingano.
Many readers check in before, during, and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 7 p.m. ET with YouTube “Prelims” (watch them here) and then transition to Showtime at 10 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 293) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 293 QUICK RESULTS:
265 lbs.: Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James – James via third-round technical knockout (HIGHLIGHTS)
145 lbs.: Cat Zingano vs. Leah McCourt – Zingano via unanimous decision (HIGHLIGHTS)
185 lbs.: John Salter vs. Aaron Jeffery – Salter via unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Sullivan Cauley vs. Luke Trainer – Trainer via first-round submission(rear-naked choke)
155 lbs.: Archie Colgan vs. Justin Montalvo – Colgan via first-round TKO
155 lbs.: Mike Hamel vs. Nick Browne – Hamel via first-round TKO
145 lbs.: Lucas Brennan vs. Josh San Diego – Brennan via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
155 lbs.: Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Vladimir Tokov – Tokov via first-round knockout
135 lbs.: Pam Sorenson vs. Sara Collins – Collins via first-round submission (neck crank)
265 lbs.: Christian Edwards vs. Rakim Cleveland – Cleveland via third-round submission (front choke)
120 lbs.: Randi Field vs. Ashley Cummins – Field via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Bryce Meredith vs. Brandon Carrillo -Meredith via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
115 lbs.: Maria Henderson vs. Mackenzie Stiller – Stiller via first-round submission (armbar)
170 lbs.: Joey Davis vs. Jeff Creighton – Creighton via split-decision
155 lbs.: Mandel Nallo vs. Adam Piccolotti – Piccolotti via third-round submission (rear-naked choke)
BELLATOR 293 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
265 lbs.: Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James
Round 1: Two low kicks to the lead leg of James land for Golm. James catches Golm’s high kick and he picks him up and slams him to the canvas. Golm gets right back up and pushes James up against the cage. Battle for position up against the cage. They trade knees to the body and thighs, each refusing to let go of their position. Short right hands for Golm, James returns fire with knees. Short hand lands for Golm, right on the jaw. Not a ton of action, with no man wanting to separate. A grappling affair up against the cage, for the most part of the round. James with an overhand right, catches nothing but air. Not the most exciting round, but James ends it with a flurry of strikes. 10-9 Golm
Round 2: Low kick lands for Golm, James returns fire with a lead right hand. Huge knee to the midsection of James lands for Golm. James looks exhausted, he’s not used to fighting this long. Golm trips James and is now draped all over James on the ground. Golm landing shots to the side of the body. May not be doing a ton of damage, but it may accumulate as the round goes. Golm in side control and James shows no sign of having a chance to get up. Again, not a ton of action but Golm did enough to steal the round. 10-9 Golm
Round 3: James comes out aggressive as he starts unloading bombs. Nothing is really landing, but James is desperate here. he lands a huge uppercut, then a right and Golm is out as he hits the canvas! WOW. What a comeback for “The American Predator.”
Final result: James def. Golm via technical knockout
145 lbs.: Cat Zingano vs. Leah McCourt
Round 1: They trade low kicks. McCourt with a straight right hand. One-two combo lands for McCourt. Zingano lands a high kick then changes levels to take McCourt down. McCourt gets up but eats a knee for her troubles right on the chin. McCourt reverses position and now has Zingano up against the cage. McCourt with a couple of knees to the midsection. Zingano looking for a takedown but McCourt is strong with her defense. Huge knee to the face from McCourt. McCourt putting the pressure on Zingano and lands a right and a left. Zingano did not like that one bit. McCourt is suffocating her foe. Nice takedown from McCourt, who ends up in side control. Zingano somehow sneaks out the back and now she is looking for a rear-naked choke. Cat is trying to lock it in but she doesn’t have enough time to work. 10-9 McCourt
Round 2: Zingano lands a huge kick, but McCourt grabs a hold of her leg and slams her down to the canvas. Nicely done. Zingano once again sneaks out the back-way but McCourt scrambles and takes her down again. Impressive wrestling from McCourt. Side control for McCourt, drilling her knees to the ribs of Zingano. McCourt postures and starts pouring down the punishment. Zingano trying to escape but McCourt is relentless. McCourt looking for a rear-naked choke but Zingano somehow sneaks out again and is now in side control. Huge elbow lands for Zingano, as she looks for an armbar. McCourt defending well for now. A lot of scrambling on the ground. Zingano takes McCourt’s back and tries to flatten her out. Great scrambling from both ladies here. Zingano has a half nelson in, preventing McCourt from escaping as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Zingano
Round 3: McCourt drops Zingano with a huge left hand and goes straight into side control. McCourt landing elbows to the side of the head. Frank Trigg calls a timeout and separates the fighters. He gives McCourt a warning for hitting Zingano in the back of the head, will take a point next time. McCourt rushes in and Zingano gets a hold of her, pushes her against the cage. McCourt reverses position and lands a nice judo throw. McCourt in half guard. McCourt dropping elbows from the top position. Both women look spent in this final round. McCourt gives up her back, but she somehow manages to reverse it…again. The former UFC title contender is now in half guard. Zingano lands shots to the side of the head as McCourt gets up. Zingano goes for the takedown but McCourt manages to reverse position as she is going down, amazing! McCourt is leaking blood after she was opened up by a knee. McCourt has Zingano’s back and Zingano reverses one more time. Wow, that was a great fight. 10-9 Zingano
Final result: Zingano via unanimous decision
185 lbs.: John Salter vs. Aaron Jeffery
Round 1: Jeffery takes the center of the cage and land a jab. Salter with a low kick and Jeffery eats it. It already looks like Jeffery is looking for an early finish with his pressure. Salter goes in and lands a takedown. Half guard for Salter. Salter pushes Jeffery up against the cage. Side control for Salter. Crowd getting restless. They have been spoiled with all of the crazy finishes tonight. Salter trying to stay busy to avoid the standup. Jeffery trying to get up back Salter is too strong right now. Jeffery manages to get up and he reverses position and takes Salter down. Nicely done. Jeffery now in guard as time runs out, but I think Salter did enough to steal the round. 10-9 Salter
Round 2: Salter is sweating a ton, used up a lot of energy in that first round. Hook lands for Jeffery and he clinches Salter up against the cage. Knees to the inner-thigh from Salter. Jeffery gets taken down again, but he pops right back up. Salter trying another takedown and Jeffery reverses position up against the cage. Jeffery lands an elbow on the break. Salter changes levels and drives him all the way down to the canvas. Salter in great position to take this round, as well, as he peppers Jeffery with body shots, enough to prevent a standup from the referee. Jeffery is in a real bad spot here. Not taking damage, but losing the round. Elbows from Salter to Jeffery’s ribs. Jeffery is breathing very, very hard, almost grasping for air with Salter all over him. Salter searching for an arm triangle. Salter ends the round on top, steals this one, too. 10-9 Salter
Round 3: Jeffery needs a finish here, or some very bad judging, to get the win. Salter shoots in and lands one more takedown. Jeffery manages to get up but Salter isn’t letting go of him. Salter working hard for the takedown. Salter jumps all over Jeffery’s back, slaps on a body triangle as he looks for a rear-naked choke. Jeffery has had no answer for Salter’s grappling. Jeffery is trying to shake Salter off, but it’s not happening for him. Crowd is booing, for no reason whatsoever. Salter is content with riding out the round, literally, to get the win. Jeffery driving his elbow into Salter’s thigh, but it’s not doing much. One minute remaining. Salter is like human velcro, he isn’t separating from his foe one bit. It may not have been the most appealing performance in a night full of finishes, but Salter did enough to get the victory. 10-9 Salter
Final result: Salter def. Jeffery via unanimous decision, then retires
205 lbs.: Sullivan Cauley vs. Luke Trainer
Round 1: Jab from Trainer to open things up. Cauley goes in for the early takedown, and he gets it. Trainer back up to his feet and he gets taken back down. Cauley driving knees to Trainer’s behind and thigh, that looks like it hurts. Trainer works his way back up. Cauley working the clinch and Trainer reverses position and he takes Cauley down. Nice reversal. Trainer is looking for a rear-naked choke. He has it and Cauley taps! WOW! Trainer with an explosive performance to hand Cauley his first-ever loss. Trainer then proposes to his girlfriend inside the cage, and she said yes! Winner all the way around!
Final result: Trainer def. Cauley via first-round submission
155 lbs.: Archie Colgan vs. Justin Montalvo
Round 1: Colgan with a low kick to start things off. Jab to the stomach from Colgan. Double jabs from Montalvo. Huge body shot from Colgan. Low kick from Colgan again. Big overhand right from Colgan lands flush. He cracks Montalvo with an elbow and he has him reeling. Colgan putting it on him, lands a nice uppercut that rocks Montalvo, who is hanging in there. What a chin. Another uppercut from Colgan, who shoots in and lands a ferocious takedown. Montalvo works his way back up to his feet and they separate. Montalvo with a nice-three-punch combo. Nice jab rocks Montalvo. This is an action-packed first round. Another sharp right hand from Colgan. Colgan drops Montalvo with a right hand. He tries to get back up and Colgan rocks him with an uppercut and he goes back down. Colgan jumps in and finishes him off with relentless ground and pound. What is in the water tonight in Temecula?
Final result: Colgan def. Montalvo via first-round technical knockout (TKO)
For more Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.