Fighting for the first time in 11 months, Brandon Girtz (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) picked up a thrilling decision win over a durable Saad Awad (23-11 MMA, 11-8 BMMA).
The contest served as the main event of Friday’s Bellator 219, which took place at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
The fight was wild from the start, with Girtz coming out at full speed and dropping Awad in the opening seconds with a huge right hand that saw his legs fold as he fell. But Awad wasn’t willing to go away that easy, crawling back to his feet and looking to brawl. The action was hectic to open, the pair eventually settled into a more manageable rhythm. Once at a reasonable pace, a patient Awad started finding success of his own, though Girtz was always looking to answer with a homerun shot of his own.
Awad took the center to open the second and tried to strike from range. Girstz landed a big left hand that sent Awad briefly to the floor, but he popped immediately back to his feet and resumed his disciplined attack. Girtz continued to have success in spots, with his power evident with every blow. However, Awad responded with combinations, shrugging off the big shots and returning fire at every turn.
Girtz looked for a takedown early in the third, but Awad pushed it aside with relative ease. Awad remained the busier fighter in terms of movement, but it was clear the torrid pace was beginning to wear on both men. Awad pressed forward, presumably for a takedown, but he was clipped by a big right hand as he changed levels. Stunned, Awad tried to grab the leg and cover, while Girtz fired away with strikes. With referee Jason Herzog watching closely, Awad was able to duck and turn and escape to his feet, though he was clearly shaky. Still, both men continued their brawl.
Awad took a deep breath with a little less than a minute, and the two just teed off until the final bell, bringing an end to an action-packed affair. With judges tasked to pick a winner, they leaned toward Girtz, 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28.
Straus impresses in emotional win
Fighting for the first time since a motorcycle accident left it uncertain whether he would ever walk again, Daniel Straus (25-8 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) picked up an impressive and emotional submission win over Shane Kruchten (12-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in the night’s lightweight co-main event.
Straus took the center to start the contest, with Kruchten circling on the outside and looking to dart in and out of range. Straus was patient, eventually pressing into the clinch, but Kruchten was able to slip to the outside with relative ease. Still, Straus stayed engaged and was able to counter with a takedown, though he backed away relatively quickly.
Back on the feet, Straus stalked intently, tracking down a very mobile Kruchten. Straus eventually found range with a big left hand that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas, then rushed forward with a barrage of punches that looked destined to end the fight. With Kruchten trying desperately to recover and survive, Straus turned his attention to a submission, instead, wrapping his arm around the neck as he tried to sink hooks in, as well. Kruchten couldn’t defend as the squeeze came from his opponent, and the tap came at the 3:50 mark of the first.
Koreshkov cruises past gritty Jasper
In welterweight action, former champ Andrey Koreshkov (22-3 MMA, 13-3 BMMA) rebounded from a disappointing September loss with a clear decision win over replacement opponent Mike Jasper (13-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), who stepped in with a little less than a month’s notice when Lorenz Larkin withdrew from the contest.
Jasper certainly proved his danger early, coming out and firing heavy punches on the feet. However, Koreshkov was able to patiently study him from range and fire back with his crisp spinning techniques and technical attacks. Still, Jasper did prove he wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment.
Jasper continued to move forward in the second, but Koreshkov continued to measure his range and avoid the big bombs coming his way. A relentless Jasper did find the mark with a few straight punches as the round unfolded, but Koreshkov instantly responded by turning up the aggression and starting to drive home a few power strikes, as well. Koreshkov briefly stunned Jasper with a big right hand late in the frame and then drove forward and took the action to the canvas. Jasper crawled to the feet in the final seconds of the round, but Koreshkov was in control.
Jasper came out swinging in the third, but he struggled to find the mark. Instead, Koreshkov simply evaded the power punches and countered back with precision. With Jasper clearly tiring, Koreshkov drove inside and took the fight to the floor, looking to attack from the top. To his credit, Jasper refused to stay on the floor, moving up to his feet repeatedly, but Koreshkov was always there to answer with another takedown, controlling the positioning until the very end, taking home a decision win with scores of 30-27 on all three cards.
Schilling grinds way past Berry
In the night’s first main-card matchup, Joe Schilling (4-5 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) showed improved grappling to go along with his vaunted striking, outworking Keith Berry (15-15-1 MMA, 2-4-1 BMMA) over the course of three rounds and earning a clear decision win.
Schilling appeared ready to end the fight in the opening seconds, using a heavy leg kick and a big right hand to send his opponent crashing to the canvas. But Berry showed his grit, slowing things down while on his back before returning to his feet, scooping up Schilling and slamming him to the floor. However, he couldn’t keep the fight there, and Schilling was able to turn, work to his knees and then his feet.
As the round unfolded, Schilling chopped at the leg with great success, and Berry was forced to wipe away streaming blood on the right side of his face from a cut on his cheek. but Berry never backed down and actually scored a takedown at the bell.
Schilling was patient to open the second, looking to strike but not overcommitting to the effort. However, Berry was able to time a level change to perfection, slipping inside and driving the action to the canvas, where he set up his opponent’s guard. Still, Schilling did well to tie things up underneath, and Berry eventually backed away to his feet.
Berry was willing to engage on the feet, trading punch for punch, but Schilling’s kicks continued to tear at his opponent’s legs. Schilling also landed a beautiful right hand late in the frame, as well as a knee up the middle, claiming momentum at the close of the round.
Schilling continued to stick and move to open the third, but Berry countered by moving to the clinch and scoring an outside trip, falling immediately to mount. Schilling again did his best to tie things up on the bottom, eventually bucking up and powering over for a sweep to the top. Once in his opponent’s guard, Schilling was able to start dropping in short elbows and punches, slicing open Berry and smearing blood on the canvas.
Schilling controlled the position until the final bell, ending with a flurry of big shots to seal the result, taking home a unanimous decision with scores of 30-26 across the board.
Complete Bellator 219 results include:
MAIN CARD
- Brandon Girtz def. Saad Awad via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
- Daniel Straus def. Shane Kruchten via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:53
- Andrey Koreshkov def. Mike Jasper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Joe Schilling def. Keith Berry via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Sunni Imhotep def. Eugene Correa via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:44
- Ricky Furar def. Roman Puga via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
- John Mercurio def. Johnny Cisneros via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28
- Darren Smith Jr. def. Joshua Jones via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:34
- Janay Harding def. Marina Mokhnatkina via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
- David Rickels def. A.J. Matthews via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:24
- Shawn Bunch def. Dominic Mazzotta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
- Joey Davis def. Marcus Anthony via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:21
- Dalton Rosta def. Cody Vidal via verbal submission (injury) – Round 1, 1:06
For complete coverage of Bellator 219, check out the MMA Events section of the site.
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