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ARCHIVED STORY FALL 2014
Main card results for Bellator 123
Connecticut’s Ward loses to McCrory in quick KO
Brennan Ward in the cage on Sept. 5 at Mohegan Sun
Photo by Erin Callnan
By Brian Woodman Jr.
Waterford-based fighter Brennan Ward (9-3) was among those who shared the main card at Bellator 123 on Sept. 5; an evening marked by a championship belt changing hands.
That card included “King” Mo Lawal (13-4) coming off a recent loss by decision to “rampage” Jackson, Bobby Lashley (11-2) in his Bellator debut and UFC veteran Cheick Kingo (22-9).
The highlight of the evening was a five-round championship fight between featherweight champion Pat Curran (20-6) and Patricio Pitbull (22-2). The cautiously-fought bout, which included spurts of fast action, ended with Pitbull, who the fourth and ninth season featherweight tournaments for Bellator, winning the belt by decision.
They fought previously at Bellator 85 lost. Pitbull lost by split decision.
Pat Curran, left versus Patricio Pitbull during a featherweight championship fight at
Bellator 123.
Photo by Erin Callnan
Both fighters approached each other warily during the first round, visibly frustrating the crowd. But the pace quickened during the subsequent rounds with Curran throwing several knees during the fight and both fighters swinging for the fences by the end of the fifth round.
Ward, who won Bellator’s Season Nine Middleweight Tournament, made his entrance with flourish to wild applause from a supportive Connecticut crowd. But Tamdan McCrery (11-3), Ward’s more reserved opponent, knocked him out approximately 20 seconds into the first round.
Lawal used wrestling to dominate Dustin Jacoby (10-4), whose has fought for Glory Kickboxing in addition to MMA. Jacoby was visibly tired by the second round of the light heavyweight bout as Lawal focused more on stand-up, initially landing a few isolated but powerful shots to the face. Lawal eventually knocked Jacoby down and hit him with a punching combination as he tried to rise, eventually winning by knock out.
Kongo won by submission at 1:35 in the first round of his heavyweight bout with Strikeforce veteran Lavar Johnson (18-10). A vocal group of Kongo supporters shouted their approval in French as Kongo took Johnson‘s back to secure a choke.
Lashley, who is now on a four-fight winning streak, submitted three-time Golden Gloves champion and former kickboxer Josh Burns (8-8) by rear naked choke at about 3:54 in the second round of their heavyweight bout. Lashley’s dominated Burns with wrestling and tried several times to submit him by kimura.
"King Mo," at left, grapples with Dustin Jacoby at Bellator 123.
Photo by Erin Callnan
