With a controversial interruption, Juliana Velasquez is defeated by Liz Carmouche and loses her belt at Bellator 278

L. Carmouche defeated J. Velasquez and won the flyweight belt (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram)

The Bellator flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg) has a new owner. In the main fight of the 278th edition of the event, this Friday (22), Juliana Velasquez faced Liz Carmouche and ended up defeated by technical knockout in the fourth round after a controversial interruption by referee Mike Beltran.

In the final stretch of the fourth round, Carmouche managed to put the fight down, lock the Brazilian's arms in a crucifix position and deliver blows without much force on the ground and pound. For Mike Beltran, the North American's attack was enough to stop the fight and consecrate the North American as the new division champion.

Outraged, Juliana Velasquez complained a lot about the result while still on top of the cage, stating that Liz Carmouche hadn't even hit her. The Brazilian loses the belt after a successful defense.

THE FIGHT

Without touching gloves with Juliana Velasquez, Liz Carmouche started the fight looking to put pressure on the champion, who remained focused. The first clean blow came from the Brazilian: a straight shot to the North American's face. Carmouche threw two low kicks and closed the distance, but received a counterattack from Velasquez. In yet another attack from the North American, the champion managed to land a good cross before being hit by a combination from the challenger. Liz Carmouche continued to invest in kicks to Juliana's base until the end of the first round.

In the first moments of the second round, Juliana Velasquez connected with a great straight left to Liz Carmouche's face, which was a knockdown, but she quickly got up. After feeling the champion's hand, the American attacked with a takedown and managed to put Juliana down. Sitting with her back against the railing, Juliana Velasquez had difficulty getting up, but at the same time she neutralized the North American's actions, who simply maintained her position. After two minutes on the ground, the Brazilian managed to get up, but Carmouche maintained pressure in the clinch and landed a few stomps on the Brazilian's foot. In the final stretch of the round, it was Juliana Velasquez who managed to put Liz Carmouche down and end the round in a superior position.

At the beginning of the third round, Liz Carmouche returned to exploit Juliana Velasquez's leg kicks. The North American launched a sequence of five blows, but all of them empty, while the Brazilian counterattacked with another good left blow. Carmouche tried a kick to the champion's waistline, who managed to block her rival's leg and responded with a cross. The Brazilian connected with two more clean left rights. Carmouche again managed to put the fight down, but received hard elbows from below from Juliana.

Juliana Velasquez started the fourth round by putting pressure on Liz Carmouche. Still in the first few seconds, the champion connected with another straight left and once again took the challenger to the canvas. Carmouche recovered quickly, got up and took the Brazilian into the clinch. Back in the center of the cage, Ju Velasquez connected with a straight left to the American's waistline. Carmouche tried a casual attack and received a good counterattack from the champion. In the final minute, the North American managed a nice takedown, locked the Brazilian's arms in a crucifix position and applied the “ground and pound”, until the referee interrupted.

In a busy fight, Enrique Barzola beats Nikita Mikhailov and qualifies in the bantamweight tournament

E. Barzola defeated N. Mikhailov at Bellator 278 (Photo: Instagram/Bellator)

In the second fight valid for the bantamweight tournament (up to 61,2 kg) at Bellator 278, Enrique Barzola beat Nikita Mikhailov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). In an extremely busy and dynamic duel, the Peruvian demonstrated a lot of technique and physical vigor to overcome the Russian, who in turn also had a good performance and demonstrated great ability to escape well-placed submissions.

With the second victory in his second fight in the Bellator cage, Enrique Barzola guarantees a place in the quarterfinals of the bantamweight GP, when he faces another Russian: Magomed Magomedov.

Nikita Mikhailov suffered his first defeat in the organization. The Russian, who had not been defeated since July 2017, had won five consecutive victories in his career, two of them in the circular cage.

Danny Sabatello takes no notice of Jornel Lugo and advances in the bantamweight GP

D. Sabatello (right) dominated J. Lugo at Bellator 278 (Photo: Instagram/Bellator)

The first fight of Bellator's new bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg) tournament featured Danny Sabatello taking on Jornel Lugo. Irreverent, the “Italian Gangster” took no notice of his opponent, dominated the three rounds and emerged victorious in the judges' unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26). With the victory, Sabatello advances to the quarterfinals of the division tournament and faces the Brazilian Leandro Higo.

The victory over Jornel Lugo was the sixth in a row for Danny Sabatello, who has not lost since December 2019. The American of Italian descent now has 12 wins and just one loss in his career.

On the other side, Jornel Lugo lost his unbeaten record in his career. “A1” entered the circular cage with a perfect record of eight wins.

Grant Neal dominates and overcomes Christian Edwards in the judges' decision

G. Neal surpassed C. Edwards at Bellator 278 (Photo: Instagram/Bellator)

In the second fight of the main card, Grant Neal overcame Christian Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). The ninth-ranked light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) used and abused his takedown game to dominate the fight and emerge victorious.

Grant Neal He recovered from the only defeat of his career, suffered in his last fight, against Alex Polizzi, in September 2021, and now has seven victories in his career, six of them in the Bellator cage.

After winning the first five fights of his career (all in Bellator), Christian Edwards now suffers his second consecutive defeat.

Luis Muro beats Nate Andrews in a warm fight to open the main card

L. Muro (left) defeated N. Andrews (right) at Bellator 278 (Photo: Instagram/Bellator)

In the opening of the main card of Bellator 278, contested at catchweight (up to 72,5 kg), Luis Muro defeated Nate Andrews in a split decision by the judges (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). After receiving a good blow in the first round, Muro went for a strategic fight and did enough to emerge with victory in the eyes of two of the three judges.

With the triumph, “Manny” Muro recovers from the defeat he suffered against Usman Nurmagomedov, in July 2021, and achieves his third victory in four fights in Bellator.

On the other side, Nate Andrews is still looking for his first victory in the circular cage. “The Cobra”, as the American is known, suffered the third consecutive defeat in his career.