Bellator: Patricio Pitbull KOs and retains the featherweight belt

Last Friday (22nd) Bellator’s first event in 2024 since it was acquired by the PFL took place, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and had among the highlights the presence of Patrício Pitbull.

The Brazilian defended the organization’s featherweight belt in one of the main fights of the event, facing Jeremy Kennedy and achieving a great knockout in a duel in which he brutalized his rival practically throughout the fight to remain champion.

Fight

The first round did not see much offensive effort from the two fighters, but Patrício’s leg kicks hurt the Canadian and forced the Brazilian to dictate the pace of the fight during the first round, without giving Kennedy much chance to respond to the initiative of a native of Rio Grande do Norte.

The title challenger started to gain more space in the second round, although he couldn’t handle the Brazilian’s kicks. The duel began to become more and more balanced between the parties and with Kennedy trying to find a way to surprise Pitbull

In the third round, a powerful blow from the Canadian knocked Patrício Pitbull to the ground and he began to dominate the fight, managing to impose himself and causing great discomfort to the Brazilian. But, when the fight seemed to be heading towards Kennedy in search of victory, a “kick” from the Rio Grande do Norte native was precise and ended up knocking down his rival to secure the victory and retain his status as Bellator champion.

Corey Anderson is the new light heavyweight champion

The headline bout of the night at Bellator in Belfast featured a fight for the vacant light heavyweight belt between Corey Anderson and Karl Moore. The home fighter, Moore, started out in front, picking up well with strikes from him, including high kicks on the former UFC fighter and even updated defensive takedowns. But as soon as the American started to find his game, the fight went to his side.

Anderson began using takedowns at all costs and fighting on the ground, especially in the second round. In the third, Moore almost used one of the moments when he was on the bottom to get an armbar, which ultimately produced no results.

The fight became “broken” and also required the intervention of the referee, who called for more activity. In the final laps, Moore tried to be more precise on his feet and also managed to land some good shots, but succumbed to the pressure on the ground from the American, who managed to dominate and keep the belt with him.

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More fighting

In other fights at Bellator Belfast, Fabian Edwards fought hard against Aaron Jeffery, but achieved the victory that guaranteed him the chance to fight for the organization’s middleweight belt against Johnny Eblen.

Two other Brazilians, Leandro Higo and Manoel Souza, also entered the cage and emerged victorious. Higo faced James Gallagher and won the judges’ unanimous decision while Manoel Souza knocked out Tim Wilde in the first round