For the second time, Bellator MMA and Rizin came together, hosting a joint event in Saitama, Japan. The card featured action inside both the Bellator cage and Rizin ring, including Patricky Pitbull vs. Roberto de Souza in the lightweight grand prix. Check out the latest Bellator results below.
Bellator Results: Bellator MMA, Rizin Hold Joint Event
The second installment of Bellator x Rizin took place from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The main card of the Bellator action aired live on Showtime, with Patricky Pitbull and Roberto de Souza battling in the quarterfinals of the ongoing lightweight grand prix.
A reigning Rizin champion, de Souza stepped in on short notice after an infection forced AJ McKee out of the bout.
Less than a minute into the third round, and the Bellator veteran figured out his opponent, stopping the fight and advancing to the semifinals.
No Inaugural Flyweight Champion Crowned
Due to an accidental eye poke just 25 seconds into the co-main event, no flyweight champion was crowned.
Kyoji Horiguchi and Makoto Takahashi will have to give it a go again at a later date after the referee stopped the bout because of the eye poke. Horiguchi caught Takahashi as they were in an exchange.
Kana Watanabe picked up a decision victory over Veta Arteaga, as the flyweight moved to 12-2-1 overall. She has been right there in terms of competing for gold, losing via split decision to former champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and by TKO to current titleholder Liz Carmouche since 2021.
Magomed Magomedov had no trouble getting back into the win column, submitting Danny Sabatello in the first round. He was bested by Patchy Mix last December in the bantamweight grand prix, but is now 20-3 overall.
In the opener, Andre Koreshkov scored a split decision over Lorenz Larkin in a key welterweight fight. Koreshkov, a former Bellator champion, has now won his last five fights since a split decision defeat to Larkin in 2019.
Bellator Results
Bellator x Rizin 2 (from Saitama, Japan)
Patricky Pitbull def. Roberto de Souza via TKO (strikes) at :49 of Round 3 in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix quarterfinals
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Takahashi declared a no-contest (accidental eye poke) at :25 of Round 1 for the inaugural flyweight championship
Kana Watanabe def. Veta Arteaga via unanimous decision
Magomed Magomedov def. Danny Sabatello via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:55 of Round 1
Andrey Koreshkov def. Lorenz Larkin via split decision
