Bellator 284 is primed and ready to go down later TONIGHT (Fri., Aug. 12, 2022) inside Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., featuring a Welterweight bout between submission specialist, Neiman Gracie, and Goiti Yamauchi. Co-headlining the event will be a hard-hitting Heavyweight affair between Valentin Moldavsky and Steve Mowry.
Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 6 p.m. ET with YouTube “Prelims” and then transition to Showtime at 9 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 284) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
BELLATOR 284 QUICK RESULTS:
170 lbs.: Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi
265 lbs.: Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry declared a first-round no-contest (accidental eye poke) at 0:54
125 lbs.: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Bruna Ellen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
265 lbs.: Gokhan Saricam def. Said Sowma via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
185 lbs.: Aaron Jeffery def. Austin Vanderford via first-round TKO (punches) at 1:25
135 lbs.: Marcos Breno def. Josh Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
125 lbs.: DeAnna Bennett def. Justine Kish via unanimous decision (29-28 All)
205 lbs.: Sullivan Cauley def. Tyson Jeffries via first-round knockout (knees) at 1:39
185 lbs: Pat Downey III def. Keyes Nelson via first-round submission (arm triangle) at 0:36
265 lbs.: Bailey Schoenfelder def. Mark Currier via second-round submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:35
135 lbs.: Mitchell McKee def. Tony Ortega via second-round TKO (punches) at 1:28
Amateur – 175 lbs.: M, A, Yah II def. Brett Bye via unanimous decision (30-27 All)
BELLATOR 284 PLAY-BY-PLAY
Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi
Round 1: Gracie connects with a body kick to start. Nice right hook for Gracie. Gracie pressures until they clinch and move to the center where Gracie lands some solid knees before breaking away. Inside low kick for Yamauchi slaps the calf. Two straight lefts from Yamauchi get through. Double jab from Gracie. Stiff jab drops Gracie to his knee and stuns him, Yamauchi uses the haze to get a takedown. Gracie kicks him off as they stand. Good body kick from Gracie. Three jabs sneaks through for Gracie. He continues popping it out. Stiff jab returned from Yamauchi before he throws two to the body. Hard straight lands for Gracie as he teases a takedown.
Round 2: Solid outside low kick from Gracie starts the second round. He goes for another as it gets caught and he Yamauchi trips him onto the ground on his back. Yamauchi starts kicking at the legs of the downed Gracie. Up kick lands from Gracie. Yamauchi lets him up and he takes a body kick before firing back a left hand with a head kick behind it. Gracie jabs his way into the clinch against the cage and gets tossed to the ground. Yamauchi stays standing, kicking the legs again. Another big up kick from Gracie. Gracie waves him to come into guard, Yamauchi stands him up. Big right hand from Yamauchi before he eats a flurry of jabs then a huge uppercut puts Gracie’s lights out. Over.
Final result:
Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
Round 1: Mowry gets right to work with his jab before a heavy right-hand sneaks through his guard from Moldavsky. Eye poke pauses the action at the 54-second mark. Mowry tells the doctor he’s unable to see, and the fight’s over.
Final result: Moldavsky vs. Mowry declared a first-round no-contest (accidental eye poke) at 0:54
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Bruna Ellen
Round 1: Strong right hand from Macfarlane catches Ellen coming in. Macfarlane jabs. Ellen continues seeking her shots as Macfarlane counters with the right. Macfarlane lands the left and right as Ellen looks to escape.
Round 2: Ellen’s jab finds a home before Macfarlane shoots for the takedown, pressing Ellen to the cage. Ellen manages to defend and break away. A nice left-hand connects for Ellen before an overhand. Macfarlane lands a nice right straight. Macfarlane punches to the body. Macfarlane’s right connects as she backs up Ellen to attempt a body lock takedown. The trip fails for Macfarlane, leaving Ellen somewhat on her back and side. Macfarlane maneuvers out of any danger, ending the round in Ellen’s guard before a late kick-off.
Round 3: Each trade shots instantly, Macfarlane connects with a big left, closing the distance and tripping Ellen to the ground against the fence. Ellen wall walks her way back up. Macfarlane goes for a double leg, giving up her neck as Ellen jumps on a guillotine. Macfarlane gives the thumbs up as she punches the body. Macfarlane starts to walk her feet up the cage, forcing her shoulder into Ellen’s face, releasing her from the guillotine. Macfarlane fully escapes and starts dropping elbows and punches in the guard to close out the action.
Final result: Macfarlane def. Ellen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Said Sowma vs. Gokhan Saricam
Round 1: The pair trades kicks low and high early on. Sowma eats a jab for his troubles as he continues landing stiff to the calf. Saricam jabs to the body as Sowma throws a head kick high. Sowma jabs to the body and follows it with two leg kicks. Sowman jabs in but eats a looping left high that staggers him to the floor. Saricam gets the back but attacks too aggressively, losing position and allowing Sowma into his guard. Saricam attempts to kick himself off, allowing Sowma onto his back near the cage, working knees to the thigh. Round ends.
Round 2: Kicks low land for each low to start once again. Sowma shoots in for a double leg takedown but changes it to lock up underhooks against the cage. Saricam gives up his back, allowing for knees to the thigh. Turning back around, Saricam gets picked up and dropped to the ground with Sowma in his guard, working to the back against the cage. More knees to the thigh are delivered. They separate, Sowma lands a good body kick then eats a right straight. A solid low kick from Saricam lands. Inside leg kick from Sowma then an outside. Another outside for Sowma. Saricam lands one inside and then takes another outside.
Round 3: Sowma continues to work with the outside leg kick. Saricam attacks with push kicks to the body. Saricam seeks a looping right hand before Sowma gets close, allowing Saricam to push the action to the fence. Saricam sneaks some punches to the head and gets reversed. Sowma grabs a leg and Saricam grabs the neck but isn’t threatening a submission. A knee to the groin from Saricam pauses the action with 80 seconds left. Action resumes, Saricam jabs and swings his left looking for a big shot. Sowma bounces in, landing a shot or two before a big one from Saricam off balances him. Bell sounds.
Final result: Saricam def. Sowma via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Austin Vanderford vs. Aaron Jeffery
Round 1: Vanderford opens with a jab and right leg kick. A right straight for Jeffery puts Vanderford down but he springs up quick as Jeffery keeps on him. The right-hand lands again off balancing Vanderford as he clinches and gets Jeffery to the cage briefly. Another right hand connects and Vanderford goes down, Jeffery finishes him with ground and pound.
Final result: Jeffery def. Vanderford via first-round TKO (punches) at 1:25
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