Bellator 82: Koreshkov turns away Good in entertaining back-and-forth, claims Season 7 Tournament Crown and $100,000

Bellator 82: Season 7 Welterweight Tournament Finals
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Main Card fights: MTV2
Preliminary Fights: Spike.com

Season 7 Tournament Finals
Welterweight (170 lbs)

Andrey “The Spartan” Koreshkov vs. Lyman “The Cyborg” Good
It all came down to the wire as undefeated Russian prospect Andrey “The Spartan” Koreshkov met former Bellator champion Lyman Good in the coronation fight. Koreshkov showcased stout takedown defense and a powerful uppercut while Good relentlessly attempted to work his wrestling in getting the fight to the ground. The endeavor proved unsucessful, as Koreshkov continuously counterpunched, even dropping Good facefirst with a mean right hand. Despite the wicked knockdown, Good survived, but the first round was easily Koreshkov’s.

In the second round, Koreshkov continued to rely on his well-honed uppercuts until Good landed his first takedown of the fight, and immediately transitioned into back-control to work for the choke. Koreshkov stayed cool under pressure, showcased good hand-fighting and hook-fighting technique, and eventually worked his way back to his feet. A strong round for Lyman Good.

It was tied one apiece going into the third. Koreshkov’s boxing stayed pinpoint as he proceeded to land hooks and uppercuts on the former champion, while continuing to fight off takedown attempts. Good continued to work his wrestling, but Koreshkov’s boxing proved to be too precise. Koreshkov even landed a takedown of his own, and although Good attempted to work armbars, they would not come to be, and the fight, a hundred thousand dollars, the right to challenge current Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (or current #1 contender Karl Amoussou), and the Season 7 Welterweight Tournament crown went home to the still-undefeated Andrey Koreshkov.

Andrey Koreshkov def. Lyman Good via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Catchweight (160 lbs)
“The Caveman” David Rickels vs. Jason “The Finisher” Fischer
This catchweight affair started with an exchange in kicks from both fighters as Fischer attempted takedowns. But it was Rickels who would be the first to get dominant position, and although Fischer threatened with armbars, Rickels would close out the round remaining in dominant position.

The second stanza opened with Rickels turning up the volume on his striking, but Fischer fired back with kicks and a backfist. They clinched, and Rickels landed a beautiful transition to back control before transitioning again to mount. Fischer threatened with an ankle lock, and gained control, but Rickels would regain the momentum and finished the round in dominant position yet again.

Knowing he was down two rounds, Fischer attempted to chain together combinations, before “The Caveman” brought the fight to the floor yet again. Rickels attempted a kimura, but Fischer nailed a key reversal and ended up in dominant position. Rickels then worked an armbar, and Fischer responded creatively by stepping on his face and applying weight until Rickels released the hold. Rickels continued to stay active from bottom, but Fischer would finish the round on top. It was a solid third round for Fischer, but it would not be enough to overcome the two round deficit. Rickels took home the unanimous decision in what proved to be a catchweight war, and announced his arrival in Bellator’s Lightweight Division. Despite his game effort, Fischer faces his first professional loss.

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David Rickels def. Jason Fischer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Middleweight (185 lbs)
Doug “The Rhino” Marshall vs. Kala “Kolohe” Hose
Kala Hose opened his first fight in two years as the aggressor as he attempted to work a flying knee and put on the pressure. But “The Rhino” sent Hose’s head bouncing off the canvas with a left hook that could have been shot out of a cannon, The fight was waved off in 22 seconds. Marshall had an eloquent summary of the fight in store for the Bellator faithful. “I had nothing but pure pain and violence for Kala Hose.”  Former WEC Champion Marshall has won two of his last three fights and makes his Bellator debut in style, while the Hawaiian Hose has lost four straight.

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Doug Marshall def. Kala Hose via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:22

Lightweight (155 lbs)
Alexander “Tiger” Sarnavskiy vs. Tony Hervey

Alexander Sarnavskiy was hungry to avenge the loss to Rich Clementi that snapped his undefeated streak, and he did so, as he constantly kept pressure on the veteran Hervey for all three rounds. Hervey would work for escapes at every turn, but throughout all three rounds, the powerful Russian would keep Hervey in his control. Hervey even attempted walking the cage in the third round, but Sarnavskiy resisted the creative attempted and dumped Hervey to the floor. The result was academic, as all three judges scored all three rounds in favor of Alexander Sarnavskiy.

Alexander Sarnavskiy def. Tony Hervey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)


OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
John Schulz def. Hector Garcia via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:45
Jeremy Czarnecki def. Justin Houghton via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Terry Davinney def. Matt Van Buren via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:15
Giva Santana def. Brendan Seguin via submission (kneebar) – Round 2, 2:33
Shawn Bunch def. Chad Coon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mario Navarro def. Anthony Bain via submission (triangle) – Round 2, 3:18