Bellator 225 results: Sergei Kharitonov takes out mouthpiece-less Matt Mitrione
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Matt Mitrione struggled with his mouthpiece in the first round. In the second, that struggle cost him.
Sergei Kharitonov (30-7 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) stopped Mitrione (13-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) with a second-round TKO after Mitrione lost his mouthpiece for a fourth time in the fight. Kharitonov put Mitrione away with an uppercut, knee and a pair of hammerfists in their rematch from a February bout that was a no contest after 15 seconds due to an accidental groin strike from Mitrione.
The heavyweight bout was the Bellator 225 main event at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. It aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Mitrione landed a left immediately, then a kick up the middle. He charged forward seconds later for another combo, then kicked up high. Thirty seconds in, he wasn’t afraid to kick toward Kharitonov’s midsection, either. After a brief clinch 90 seconds in, they went bcak to the middle and Kharitonov tried to get his jab woking.
He narrowly ducked away from another high kick, but found himself being backed up by the American. Kharitonov got a couple jabs off, then threw a left hook and a body shot. But Mitrione stayed right on him. With 90 seconds left, they clinched and Mitrione lost his mouthpiece. It fell out again a few seconds later. Kharitonov tried to take advantage immediately after Mitrione put it back in and landed his best punch of the fight. When Mitrione lost his mouthpiece a third time, referee Dan Miragliotta gave him a stern warning to make sure it stayed in.
Mitrione kicked to the body to open the second, then tried to find a home for his jab. Kharitonov kept after him with his jabs and body kicks, and a minute in both landed hard punches.
When Mitrione’s mouthpiece fell out a fourth time, it was a bad omen. While Miragliotta was bending down to retrieve the mouthpiece and almost certainly preparing to take a point, Kharitonov landed a right uppercut, then a perfectly placed right knee that put Mitrione on the canvas. Kharitonov dropped down and landed two massive hammerfists to put Mitrione out.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 225 results include:
- Sergei Kharitonov def. Matt Mitrione via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 2, 1:24
- Vitaly Minakov def. Tim Johnson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:45
- Alejandra Lara def. Taylor Turner via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:44
- Yaroslav Amosov def. David Rickels – via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 4:05
- Tyrell Fortune def. Rudy Schaffroth via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:08
- Nick Newell def. Corey Browning via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:15
- Connor Dixon def. Kastriot Xhema via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 2:08
- Jon Manley def. Thiago Rela via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:47
- Chris Disonell def. Mike Kimbel via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:54
- Ricky Bandejas def. Ahmet Kayretli via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:21
- Austin Vanderford def. Joseph Creer via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
- Sabah Homasi def. Micah Terrill via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:17
- Aviv Gozali def. Eduard Muravitskiy via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 0:11
- Khonry Gracie def. Oscar Vera via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:50