Michael Chandler lands knockout of the year contender against Patricky Freire at Bellator 157
BRUTAL doesn’t do Bellator fighter Michael Chandler’s knockout blow any justice.
The new lightweight champion’s monstrous right-hander delivered him his second Bellator championship belt — and a new legion of fans.
The 30-year-old American wowed the Bellator 157 crowd at the Scottrade Centre in St Louis when he finished Patricky Freire 2 minutes and 14 seconds inside the first round.
“It feels so great,” Chandler said after the fight.
“I had a great opportunity here. I can’t wait to defend this thing. I’m getting better every single day. I want to be the best in the world. I would love to step in here and be his Huckleberry. I do have some unfinished business with Josh Thomson, but those are both fights I want.”
It only took one punch.
MMA stars went nuts on social media after seeing the strike, but not as crazy as how Freire’s brother reacted to seeing his sibling get whacked.
Freire’s brother and grappling coach Patricio Freire appeared to take issue with Chandler’s victory celebrations on top of the stage and had a confrontation with the new champion just seconds after his brother was knocked out.
Not everyone was as shocked by the result as Patricio appeared to be.
Chandler’s win followed former UFC fighter Matt Mitrione’s thrilling start to his career in Bellator after coming back from getting knocked down to knockout Carl Seumanutafa in the first round.
Mitrione was rocked by a jab early in the first round and had to wear several blows to the head as he tried to defend himself on the canvas.
Moments later he ended the fight in dramatic fashion with a brutal right hand punch that collected Seumanutafa as he was lying on the deck.
Mitrione said after the fight he didn’t remember getting knocked down.
“I feel great,” he said.
“It was a lot of fun, it was a great scrap, and I really look forward to getting back in the cage. I passed all my medicals. Everything is good, and it looks like I’ll be getting another opportunity in a couple of weeks.”
Despite concussion concerns, Mitrione has been scheduled to fight heavyweight Oli Thompson at Bellator 158 on July 16.
In the Bellator 157 main event, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson won a split decision over 2008 Olympic judo gold medallist Satoshi Ishii.
In his first fight in more than a year, Jackson showed superior striking ability to convince two of the three judges he dominated the fight.
“I think it was very close and it could have gone either way,” Jackson said.
“Ring rust is a real thing.
“He’s a gold medalist in judo, and he judoed me. I had to adjust and make some changes as the fight went on.”