Bellator 259

Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 was a mixed martial arts event that was produced by Bellator MMA at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2
The poster for Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2
Information
PromotionBellator MMA
DateMay 21, 2021 (2021-May-21)
VenueMohegan Sun Arena
CityUncasville, Connecticut, United States
Event chronology
Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov

Background

The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship bout between the champion Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith. They previously met at UFC 198, which was Cyborg's UFC debut, where she won by TKO in the first round.[1]

A bantamweight bout between Brett Johns and Matheus Mattos was announced as part of the event.[2] On May 13, it was announced that Mattos had pulled out from the bout after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by former Titan FC Bantamweight Champion Danny Sabatello.[3]

A middleweight contest between the #3 ranked Austin Vanderford and #4 ranked Fabian Edwards also took place at the event.[4]

Former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Darrion Caldwell made his return to bantamweight against Leandro Higo on the main card.[5]

A women's flyweight bout between Valerie Loureda and Hannah Guy was set for Bellator 258, but was moved to this event.[6]

A lightweight bout between Alfie Davis and Alexandr Shabliy took place at the event as part of the undercard.[7]

Two additional lightweight bouts were added to the preliminary portion of the card, as Saad Awad took on Nate Andrews,[8] while Aviv Gozali faced Sean Felton.[9]

A women's featherweight bout between Leah McCourt and Janay Harding also took place during the preliminary fights.[10]

Two ranked light heavyweights, the #8 ranked Tyree Fortune and #6 ranked Grant Neal, faced off on the prelims.[11]

A lightweight bout between Georgi Karakhanyan and Adam Piccolotti was expected to take place at this event.[12] However, Piccolotti pulled out due to injury and the bout was canceled.[13]

At the weigh-ins, Leandro Higo and Leah McCourt missed weight for their respective bouts. Higo weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. McCourt weighed in at 149.4 pounds, three and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. Both their bouts proceeded at catchweight and they were fined a percentage of their purses, which went to their respective opponents, Darrion Caldwell and Janay Harding.[14]

A light heavyweight bout between Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish was scrapped after weigh-ins after Edwards wasn't cleared to compete by the Mohegan Sun Athletic Commission. As a result, Valerie Loureda vs. Hannah Guy was promoted to the main card.[15] After being cleared by a commission doctor on May 26, the bout was rebooked for Bellator 261.[16]

Results
Main Card (Showtime)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Leslie Smith TKO (punches) 5 4:51 [lower-alpha 1]
Catchweight (137.5 lb) Leandro Higo def. Darrion Caldwell Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 2]
Middleweight Austin Vanderford def. Fabian Edwards Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Jaleel Willis def. Maycon Mendonça Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) 3 5:00
Women's Flyweight Hannah Guy def. Valerie Loureda Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)
Lightweight Saad Awad def. Nate Andrews TKO (punches) 1 3:16
Light Heavyweight Grant Neal def. Tyree Fortune Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 4:20
Women's Flyweight Sumiko Inaba def. Kristina Katsikis TKO (punches) 3 3:35
Lightweight Aviv Gozali def. Sean Felton Submission (heel hook) 1 1:17
Heavyweight Davion Franklin def. Tyler King KO (punches) 1 2:02
Catchweight (149.4 lb) Leah McCourt def. Janay Harding Submission (triangle choke) 2 2:42 [lower-alpha 3]
Bantamweight Danny Sabatello def. Brett Johns Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Alexandr Shabliy def. Alfie Davis Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
  1. For the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship.
  2. Higo missed weight and was fined 20% of his purse.
  3. McCourt missed weight and was fined 20% of her purse.

[17]

See also

References
  1. Anderson, Jay (2 April 2021). "Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2 Announced for Bellator 259". Cageside Press. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  2. Williams, Dion. "Brett Johns Set to Face Matheus Mattos in His Bellator Debut on May 21st". overtimeheroics.net. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. "With Matheus Mattos out, Brett Johns faces Titan FC champ Danny Sabatello at Bellator 259". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  4. "Austin Vanderford vs. Fabian Edwards targeted for Bellator 259". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  5. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-04-27). "Darrion Caldwell returns to bantamweight for Leandro Higo rematch at Bellator 259". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  6. Marrocco, Steven (20 April 2021). "Valerie Loureda vs. Hannah Guy moved to Bellator 259". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  7. Head, Simon. "Bellator 259: British lightweight Alfie Davis set for Russian test on May 21". express.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  8. Hannoun, Farah; King, Nolan. "Saad Awad vs. Nate Andrews booked for Bellator 259 on May 21,". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  9. Dawson, Alan. "Record-breaking 20-year-old Aviv Gozali returns to Bellator MMA for a lightweight scrap in May". businessinsider.in. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  10. "Leah McCourt will return to action in rescheduled fight against Janay Harding in USA in May". bbc.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  11. McDonagh, Joe. "Bellator 259 Adds Top 10 LHW Battle Between Tyree Fortune and Grant Neal". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  12. "Cris Cyborg headlines Bellator 259 in rematch with Leslie Smith". MMA Junkie. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. "Bellator tells Georgi Karakhanyan to "stay ready" after opponent forced out". MyMMANews.com. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  14. "Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  15. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-05-20). "Christian Edwards vs. Ben Parrish bout at Bellator 259 cancelled, Valerie Loureda vs. Hannah Guy promoted to main card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  16. "Christian Edwards receives medical clearance for heart, canceled fight rebooked for Bellator 261". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  17. "Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2". Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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