Bellator 143 ‘Warren vs. Davis’ Results, Updates & Play-by-Play

Gleristone Santos vs. John Teixeira da Conceicao

Round 1

Santos opens with a leg kick and gets pushed backward by Teixeira, who reaches out with a long overhand right. A few more leg kicks score for “Toninho Furia” before he catches Teixeira with a kick on the cup. Referee “Big” John McCarthy pauses the action, Teixeira composes himself and action resumes after 30 seconds. Teixeira counters a Santos leg kick with a hard right hook. Teixeira feints and fakes, trying to control the range and the center of the cage. Santos presses forward now, and the Brazilians continue to trade low kicks. Teixeira complains of another low blow, but McCarthy tells him to fight on. Santos misses with a flying knee, gets caught with a right high kick but slugs back with a pair of punches. He catches Teixeira’s leg and tries to trip him agaisnt the fence halfway through a busy opening round. Teixeira avoids the takedown, ducks under a punch and trips Santos to the ground but cannot hold him there. Teixeira puts up his shell to block a flurry of punches and then slugs Santos with a counter right hand which backs up the striker. Another counter right clips Santos inside the final minute, and Teixeira finishes the round holding Santos in a rear waistlock on the fence. An extremely close five minutes, but Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 Teixeira.

Round 2

Teixeira touches the body of Santos with a front kick and then backs up as “Toninho” comes forward firing punches. Santos returns the favor with a switch kick to the gut, then another. A pair of leg kicks score for Teixeira, but the pace has slowed here early in round two. Santos tries a trip takedown, can’t get it, and when he resets, he’s winding up his arm, leaning in on the shorter Teixeira, trying to bait him into an exchange. Teixeira tries to grab a kick but can’t keep hold of Santos’ foot. A lunging, looping right from Teixeira swipes the face of Santos, who tries to come back with a capoeira kick and misses. A short left hook and a leg kick from Teixeira, then a short right from Santos. Down to the final 90 seconds now, Teixeira has a spinning backfist deflected as he continues to walk after his opponent. Santos waves him on, then shoves Teixeira to the ground when he tries for a late takedown. Santos socks “Macapa” on the way up and regains some ground with a hard knee and a pair of punches at the end of another very tight round. 10-9 Santos.

Round 3

Teixeira ducks under a combination and clips Santos with a counter right hand. A long left and another right hook backs up Santos, but he steps right back to the center and hits Teixeira with a straight right. Teixeira is controlling the center of the cage, moving Santos around the outside. They trade leg kicks, then Santos catches a flying knee from Teixeira. Thirty seconds later, Santos catches another knee and clinches Teixeira against the cage for a moment. Teixeira circles out and continues to control the positioning in the cage, keeping Santos near the fence. Santos slips throwing a kick and has to fight out of another rear waistlock midway through the round. With two minutes left, Teixeira catches a kick on the shoulder and runs Santos to the ground, but Santos escapes to his feet in a scramble. Ninety seconds to go now, and both men’s punches are coming much slower. Teixeira still pressing forward, picking at Santos with leg kicks, then launching into the air with a leaping knee and a slashing hammerfist, all of which are deflected by some degree. Both men swing and miss with big overhand rights, then Santos misses with one last burst of punches and a flying knee before the bell. How the judges will score this one is anybody’s guess. 10-9 Teixeira (29-28 Teixeira).

The Official Result

John Teixeira def. Gleristone Santos via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Chase Gormley vs. Dan Charles

Round 1

Gormley stakes out the center and pushes Charles backward toward the fence with a kick and an overhand right, but it’s Gormley who comes away from the exchange with a cut on the left side of his hairline due to a headbutt. Charles throws a body kick, caught by Gormley and converted into a takedown at the foot of the fence. Charles posts and stands, escapes another single-leg attempt from Gormley and circles away. Charles knocks Gormley backward with a right cross, then Gormley slips throwing a kick. Charles allows him to stand, then covers up and blocks as Gormley throws a pair of high spinning back-kicks. The next spinning kick, aimed at Charles’ legs, connects. Now it’s Charles who slips throwing a kick, but Gormley lets him get up. Blood is leaking down the left side of Gormley’s face but not into his eye, and it does not appear to be affecting his performance. Charles catches a kick and pushes Gormley against the cage but can’t do anything with the position. A pair of hard right crosses from Charles connect in the last minute, and “Dan the Man” stuffs a shot from Gormley as well. 10-9 Gormley.

Round 2

Charles continues to find the mark with his right hand through the first 90 seconds of round two, though the action has slowed as the big men begin to tire. Two minutes into the round, Gormley catches a kick and hits a takedown, but after a slow minute of peppering ground-and-pound on top, referee Kerry Hatley stands them up. Gormley hits Charles with a slashing elbow on the feet; Charles responds with a few leg kicks and another right cross. Just when it looks like Charles is fading fast, Gormley walks into a huge right hand. Gormley gets back to his feet, but Charles is waiting with another blasting right, then another. Gormley staggers backward to the fence, where Charles lands a few more shots before a massive right hand knocks the veteran out cold.

The Official Result

Dan Charles def. Chase Gormley via KO (Punches) R2 4:35

Darrion Caldwell vs. Shawn Bunch

Round 1

The southpaw Caldwell lunges forward with a long left hand and shoots for a single-leg on his fellow wrestler. Bunch hops up against the fence, where Caldwell releases the leg and moves to take Bunch’s back. Bunch explodes out of the bad position, and now the bantamweights reset in the center of the cage. A leaping kick from Caldwell lands to the body of Bunch, then “The Wolf” changes levels and picks Bunch’s ankle for a fast takedown in the center of the cage. Landing in cross side control, Caldwell leans from right to left across Bunch’s body, seemingly interested in a kimura on the far arm. Caldwell gives up on the kimura and mashes Bunch’s face into the ground with his hand, setting him up for an elbow. Bunch tries to explode out and instead gives up his back, and with one hook in, Caldwell begins working for the rear-naked choke. Bunch tries to roll and escape, but he has nowhere to go and is forced to tap out. Caldwell’s post-fight celebration is not so slick, as he does a backflip off the top of the cage and lands on top of a camera operator.

The Official Result

Darrion Caldwell def. Shawn Bunch via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 2:35

Steve Garcia vs. Eduardo Bustillos

Round 1

Garcia’s first punch of the fight, a long left hand, smacks Bustillos in the face and knocks him backward. Bustillos responds by charging forward with a flurry of punches, but the taller Garcia backpedals out of danger. Bustillos catches up with him and initiates a clinch against the fence where both men land short strikes. Bustillos drops levels to try a takedown and winds up with a standing rear-waistlock. Garcia throws about half a dozen good elbows over his shoulder, sending Bustillos back to working for the takedown. Garcia stays standing until Bustillos switches to a single-leg. Garcia is back on his feet quickly, but Bustillos takes the back again. Garcia peels him off with a whizzer, and they’re back to the center of the cage midway through the round. Bustillos wants the fight back on the fence and tries for another single-leg takedown. Garcia withstands it, though Bustillos scores with a few knees to the body as they fight in the clinch. Garcia reverses with 70 seconds on the clock, only to be reversed again. Bustillos is still clinging to the single-leg until the 20-second mark, when he releases to try and mount some offense. Garcia stuns him with a counter left hook, then connects with three or four hard uppercuts until Bustillos collapses face-first to the canvas. As Garcia pounces to land more shots, referee Kerry Hatley steps in and waves off the bout.

The Official Result

Steve Garcia def. Eduardo Bustillos via TKO (Punches) R1 4:59

Saul Elizondo vs. Amador Ramirez

Round 1

Elizondo catches a kick and trips Ramirez to the ground just moments into the fight. Ramirez winds up belly-down on the canvas, and Elizondo wastes no time securing back-mount with a body triangle. Elizondo postures up, lands a few punches and receives a warning from referee John McCarthy to avoid punching the back of Ramirez’s head. Instead, Elizondo focuses on working for the rear-naked choke. He can’t get under the chin, so Elizondo twists Ramirez’s head sideways, trying to force the neck crank submission. Ramirez toughs it out and peels away Elizondo’s hands, but he’s still in a very bad position with three minutes left in the round. Elizondo nearly switches to an arm-triangle choke on the topside, but instead he resets the body triangle and continues squeezing the air out of Ramirez from the back. Ramirez tries to punch over his shoulder, tries to kick off the fence to free himself, but Elizondo keeps the position as they hit the last 90 seconds of the round. Still working for the RNC, Elizondo is being stymied at every turn by Ramirez’s wrist control. Ramirez rolls to his knees, where Elizondo switches to hooks. Ramirez stands up, Elizondo still on his back, still working for the choke. Ramirez just buries his chin and punches over his shoulder, and he survives to see round two. 10-8 Elizondo.

Round 2

Ramirez emerges for round two looking like the fresher fighter, staying on the outside and picking at Elizondo with rangy kicks and punches. Elizondo is offering very little in return through the first 90 seconds, mostly plodding forward while Ramirez jogs and bounces around him. A right hand near the fence appears to hurt Elizondo as the tide continues to turn in Ramirez’s favor. Elizondo is landing a counterpunch here and here, but Ramirez is overwhelming him with volume, constantly forcing him to move backward. With 90 seconds left in the round, Elizondo slugs Ramirez with a big overhand right, but Ramirez just eats it and keeps pressing forward. Elizondo tries to pull guard with a guillotine in the final 20 seconds, but there’s nothing to the choke and Ramirez finishes the round on top. 10-9 Ramirez.

Round 3

Ramirez keeps the tired Elizondo on the end of his kicks through the first minute of round three, jogging backward whenever Elizondo threatens to strike. Elizondo misses with an overhand right, gets caught with a counter right hook on the other side. Ramirez charges into the pocket to land a pair of punches, but Elizondo changes levels and plows him to the ground with a double-leg takedown. Elizondo is on top, working from Ramirez’s open guard with three minutes on the clock. Ramirez scrambles to his feet, Elizondo still clung to his waist, and this time Ramirez is able to separate himself. Elizondo eats a right cross and sprawls on a long shot from Ramirez, who quickly gives up on the takedown and jumps back up. Elizondo’s offense at this point consists of arm punches and slow-motion leg kicks; Ramirez still has some steam behind his shots, but his accuracy is falling off here in the final minutes. Elizondo sprawls on another long shot and the 135ers reset with 30 seconds to go. Elizondo whiffs on a lazy spinning kick, then drives forward to hit one last takedown. 10-9 Ramirez (28-28 Draw).

The Official Result

Amador Ramirez def. Saul Elizondo via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Bryce Shepard-Mejia vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan

Round 1

Alhassan comes out swinging, slips to the ground and bounces back to his feet. Again, he comes charging at Mejia, missing with his punches but clinching once he gets inside. Not much action in the clinch, and soon the welterweights split apart. Alhassan chases after Mejia at the edge of the cage and floors him with a right hand behind the ear. Mejia stays alive on the ground and tries to catch the standing Alhassan with a leg lock. Alhassan yanks the limb free, allows Mejia to stand and sends him back to the mat with a massive overhand right to the jaw. Mejia hits the ground in a daze, prompting referee Kerry Hatley to call an end to the fight.

The Official Result

Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Bryce Shepard-Mejia via KO (Punch) R1 1:26

Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz vs. Ewerton Teixeira

Round 1

The striker Teixeira starts off with a few inside leg kicks before Queiroz rushes inside to connect with a short left hand. “Spartan” pushes Teixeira against the fence in the Thai clinch and delivers a couple knees to the gut. Queiroz trips Teixeira to the canvas and lands in side control on Teixeira’s left side. Bearing down on Teixeira’s upper body, Spartan slugs his Brazilian countryman with a few hard right hands. Teixeira tries to bump and roll, can’t get to his feet but manages to reclaim half guard. Scooting backward to the fence, Teixeira hits a sweep, but it looks like a trap from Queiroz to fish for a triangle. Teixeira recognizes the danger in Queiroz’s guard and quickly gets back to his feet. Queiroz avoids a clinch from Teixeira, takes a jab to the face and a kick to his lead leg. Teixeira whips a hard kick into Queiroz’s body and has to cover up as Spartan bombs with an overhand right. Queiroz locks up and trips Teixeira to the ground, but Teixeira uses the whizzer to get right back up.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Queiroz
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Queiroz
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Queiroz

Round 2

Queiroz takes a leg kick to step inside and connect with another overhand right. A close-quarters exchange ends with Teixeira landing a right hand behind Queiroz’s ear. “Spartan” hides it well but appears to have been hurt by the shot. Queiroz ducks under a right hook and hits an outside trip to land in Teixeira’s half guard. Teixeira tries to escape, but Queiroz puts a forearm across his throat and tries to grab a keylock. Halfway through the round, Queiroz lands a pair of thumping left hands as he continues to press Teixeira into the ground in the center of the cage. Spartan briefly considers a brabo choke before releasing to elbow and punch Teixeira some more. Queiroz is starting to ramp up his ground-and-pound now, hitting Teixeira with solid elbow strikes to the mouth. The strikes leave an opening for Queiroz to frame up an arm-triangle choke from half guard. The 6-foot-7 Brazilian stretches out and bears down on the choke, forcing Teixeira to tap out.

The Official Result

Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz def. Ewerton Teixeira via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R2 4:00

Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Henry Corrales

Round 1

Corrales blocks a few left high kicks in the opening minute, but Sanchez is able to get through with a long punching combination. A short, straight right from Corrales knocks Sanchez backward momentarily. Corrales takes another kick on his right arm before Sanchez clinches up and they fight to the fence. The featherweights separate, and now Sanchez is sporting a cut near his right eye from a Corrales standing elbow. Suddenly, Sanchez jumps guard and catches Corrales in a flying triangle choke on the way to the ground. After they hit the ground, Sanchez is not committing to the choke, instead wailing on Corrales with punches using both hands. After a bit of punching, Sanchez tries to finish with the choke, then works to turn it into a triangle armbar, but Corrales stays postured up and breaks loose of the choke with about 90 seconds on the clock. Now it’s Corrales’ turn on top, but he’s not able to accomplish much before Sanchez jumps back up to his feet. Sanchez connects with an uppercut but gets swept out of the pocket with a counter right hook by Corrales at the end of a back-and-forth opening round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sanchez

Round 2

Sanchez pushes the pace early in round two, finding the range with jabs before sticking Corrales with a hard right hand down the center. Corrales eats a partially blocked head kick and a knee, then Sanchez tries to run him down with a trip takedown. Corrales turns around and Sanchez tries to jump on his back, but it’s a poorly timed move as Corrales is able to shake him off and land in top position. Sanchez stands up quickly, still held against the fence by Corrales. Sanchez turns him around with over-unders and knees Corrales’ thighs midway through the round and the fight. Corrales lands another standing elbow to Sanchez’s damaged side, but they clash heads in the ensuing exchange. Referee Jacob Montalvo pauses the action to check on Sanchez’s cut, and action resumes with blood streaming into Sanchez’s left eye. Nonetheless, it’s Sanchez pushing forward, landing low kicks on Corrales and moving him back toward the fence. Corrales ducks under a punch and connects with a thumping right hook. Sanchez comes back with a clinch knee to the body and Corrales starts swinging wildly. Sanchez finishes the round by tripping Corrales to the mat and moving to the back for a rear-naked choke, but time runs out.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sanchez

Round 3

Sanchez’s corner has stopped the bleeding ahead of round three, and he emerges sporting only a lumped up left cheek. Corrales tags him with an uppercut and a right hook in the first exchange, but Sanchez gets him back with a body kick. One minute in, the blood is leaking down Sanchez’s face again, causing him to blink and wince. He fires a few high kicks to back up Corrales, who steps back into the pocket to land an uppercut. Corrales is mostly on his back foot through the first 90 seconds, not looking like a man likely down two rounds to none on the scorecards. Sanchez tries a trip takedown, gets denied and stood up by Corrales, who whiffs on a combination. Corrales connects with a slapping right hand and turns away another Sanchez takedown attempt as the fight enters its final two minutes. Not many clean strikes landing down the stretch, and now Corrales sprawls on another shot. Sanchez attacks the legs of Corrales with kicks in the final minute, tries one last single-leg shot and gets stuffed. Sanchez jumps on Corrales’ back and rides him to the ground just as time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sanchez (30-27 Sanchez)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sanchez (30-27 Sanchez)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sanchez (30-27 Sanchez)

The Official Result

Emmanuel Sanchez def. Henry Corrales via Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30) R3 5:00

Kendall Grove vs. Joey Beltran

Round 1

The middleweights circle and probe their way through a slow opening minute, though Grove gets through with a few leg kicks. Beltran is looking for the overhand right early, but Grove’s five-inch height advantage could make it hard for “The Mexecutioner” to connect with his weapon of choice. Grove is fighting off his back foot midway through the round as Beltran pushes forward, trying to close the distance. Grove shoots a high double-leg against the fence, can’t get Beltran to the ground and exits with a clinch knee to the body. Beltran traps Grove near the fence and tries to unload with right hands and uppercuts, but Grove covers up and circles out. Beltran is still coming forward in the final minute, but his punches look like shadowboxing as they continually pull up short of the rangy Hawaiian. Grove fights behind his long jab in the final minute before both men graze with overhand rights at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Grove
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Grove
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Grove

Round 2

Beltran is using an unorthodox stance, bouncing on the balls of his feet and trying to find a way inside, but Grove continues to keep him on the end of a long, long jab. Grove connects with an extended one-two that slows Beltran’s roll, then shoots for another high-crotch takedown. Beltran stuffs the shot and tries to run Grove agains the fence with punches and elbows, but the height disparity is making it hard for Beltran to find angles. As they clinch on the fence, Grove drops to guard, but Beltran wants none of it and invites him to stand. Beltran sticks a jab of his own and evades Grove’s counterfire. Two minutes left in the middle frame and both men are starting to tire, missing with punches as they continue to circle the cage. Grove has begun to check Beltran’s leg kicks, which only makes Beltran throw more of them. Beltran puts a jab on the mouth of Grove, which is leaking blood now. More chops land on the lead leg of Grove down the stretch, and the fight looks to be turning in Beltran’s favor as they head to the third.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Beltran
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Grove
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Beltran

Round 3

The final frame begins with Beltran on the offensive, again hopping around in front of Grove and chasing the “Spyder” around the cage. Grove keeps throwing his jab while Beltran continues to score with outside leg kicks. Grove stumbles after one kick but doesn’t go down, instead catching Beltran with more jabs and a kick of his own. Beltran catches him agains the fence and rips a right to the body, but Grove answers back with a right hook and a leg kick. Beltran is back to winging wild combinations which miss Grove completely, while Grove is keeping consistent with his jabs and counters. They step back to the center of the cage, where Beltran lands another leg kick. Beltran chases after the backpedaling Grove, who uncorks an overhand right to the jaw of Beltran out of nowhere. Beltran drops to all fours and then crumbles after another right hand to the side of the head. Grove finishes with a punch to the back of the already-finished Beltran’s head, and referee Kerry Hatley jumps in to halt the bout.

The Official Result

Kendall Grove def. Joey Beltran via TKO (Punches) R3 2:27

Joe Warren vs. L.C. Davis

Round 1

John McCarthy is the referee for tonight’s bantamweight main event. There’s no touch of gloves between the fighters, who were jawing at one another before the opening bell. Warren pushes forward early, slips throwing a kick but gets back to his feet. The former champ is looking for a big right hand when he steps inside on the taller Davis, but after missing with a couple punches, Warren changes tactics. Warren drops levels and floors Davis with a takedown against the fence, then works to flatten out the veteran. Davis maintains guard until two minutes into the round, when Warren passes to his left. Davis reclaims guard 30 seconds later, so Warren tries to pass on the other side but gets trapped in half. Back to closed guard for Davis with two minutes left in the first stanza. Warren is grinding here late in round one, roughing up Davis with forearms and a head under his chin. Davis tries to kick Warren away and scramble up, but Warren is all over him and keeps the fight on the canvas by controlling the legs. Warren briefly looks to frame up an arm-triangle choke but Davis gets his other arm inside to break it up. More forearms and elbows from Warren finish the round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Warren
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Warren
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Warren

Round 2

Davis starts round two with a long jab from the southpaw stance, but when he goes to fire a follow-up left, Warren’s outstretched hand catches him with a finger to the right eye. Referee McCarthy pauses the action and Davis collects himself, but the inside of his eye is bloodshot and swollen as the fight resumes. Warren apologizes for the foul before landing an overhand right, a clinch knee and driving into another takedown. Davis gets up with Warren still wrapped around his waist, but he separates Warren’s hands to escape. Davis scores with an uppercut in the clinch, resets and knocks Warren backward with a long left hand. Warren shoots for the hips, winds up clinching with Davis on the fence and gets turned around. They split, but it’s only a matter of moments before Warren is looking for the clinch again. He shoves Davis against the cage, drops to his knees but can’t produce the takedown. Midway through the round, the bantamweights split, and it’s Davis who comes away looking like the fresher man. It’s his turn to put Warren on the fence, but the Greco-Roman specialist turns it to his advantage and spins Davis to the canvas. Davis uses butterfly guard to try and escape, but Warren steps over into half guard. Back to butterfly guard for Davis, who now stands and tries to post. Warren looks to jump on his back in the transition, cannot and instead drags him back to the ground. Warren nearly steps over to full mount as they hit the ground but gets caught in half guard again to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Warren
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Warren
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Warren

Round 3

Warren spends 30 seconds evading Davis’ punches before changing directions and shooting for a takedown. He gets Davis to the mat and jumps on his back, but his left hook is blocked by the fence and Davis is able to stand. As soon as the bantamweights are back up, Warren hits another takedown and tries to press into position for an arm-triangle choke. Again, Davis is aided by the fence, which blocks Warren from jumping off to finish the choke. Davis powers back to his feet with three minutes left in the bout, takes a few steps forward and gets taken down again. Warren works from Davis’ guard with 2:30 on the clock, shoving him against the base of the fence. Davis sits up and Warren tries to slip around to take his back, but again the cage stops him. Davis stands inside the two-minute mark, only to be taken down again 20 seconds later. He tries to hit the switch but Warren is tenacious and stays attached to Davis’ legs. Down to the final minute now, it’s looking like a lost cause for Davis. Warren takes full mount, tries the arm-triangle choke one more time but can’t get it. Davis kicks him back to full guard and that’s where this one ends.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Warren (30-27 Warren)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Warren (30-27 Warren)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Warren (30-27 Warren)

The Official Result

Joe Warren def. L.C. Davis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00