Bellator London results: Melvin Manhoef survives early knockdown, outpoints Kent Kauppinen
LONDON – If you bet the over for the light heavyweight co-headliner at Bellator London, congratulations. You’re probably a big winner. And if you backed 43-year-old Melvin Manhoef to win a unanimous decision over Kent Kauppinen, the drinks are on you.
That’s because few expected knockout artists Kauppinen (11-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) and Manhoef (31-14-1 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) to throw bombs for three full rounds and both make it to the final bell. Yet, that’s exactly what happened in a bout that saw knockdowns, takedowns and plenty of attacking threat, but ultimately no knockout finish.
Kauppinen struck first in the opening round, dropping Manhoef with a slick three-punch combination that sent the Dutch veteran to the canvas. But despite competing in his first fight in two years and suffering an early setback, Manhoef showed great powers of recovery as he did well to fend off the Brit as he looked to swarm in for the finish.
When the action returned to the feet, Manhoef found his rhythm and eventually connected with a big shot of his own to drop Kauppinen, as the Brit took his turn to showcase his durability and heart under duress from the heavy-handed Dutchman.
The second round started with Kauppinen walking down Manhoef, feinting and looking to draw an opening, but it was the Dutchman who connected again as the fight went to the mat again. The exertions of the opening round were clearly starting to affect both men as the pace dropped during the second stanza.
Incredibly, the action went to a third round, where the two fatigued light heavyweights were clearly wary of both their opponent’s punch power. Kauppinen scored with some punishing calf kicks and narrowly missed with a one-two combination against the fence, while Manhoef seemed content to circle the outside reaches of the cage, waiting for his opponent to over-commit.
Remarkably, the two big-punching light heavyweights went all the way to the final bell, with Manhoef claiming the unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-28 on all three cards.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator London results include
Melvin Manhoef def Kent Kauppinen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Aaron Chalmers def. Fred Freeman via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:05Bellator 223
MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 9 p.m. ET via tape delay)
Paul Daley def. Erick Silva via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) James Gallagher def Jeremiah Labiano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Fabian Edwards def. Jonathan Bosuku via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Costello van Steenis def. Mike Shipman via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:34 Charlie Ward def. Justin Moore via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:23PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 11:30 a.m. ET)
Denise Kielholtz def Bryony Tyrell via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:48 Charlie Leary def. Chris Bungard via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25) Kate Jackson def. Lena Ovchynnikova via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 1, 4:20 Terry Brazier def. Alessandro Botti via submission (Americana) – Round 3, 2:17 Luke Ord def Nathan Rose via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-25) Alfie Davis def. Jorge Kanella via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) Justin Burlinson def. Wendle Lewis via verbal submission (injury) – Round 1, 0:09 Galore Bofando def Keith McCabe via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) Kevin Fryer def. John Redmond via split decision (29-28, 28-29 29-28) Frans Mlambo def. Nathan Greyson via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 4:22For complete coverage of Bellator Europe 3, visit the UFC Events section of the site.