Bellator 98: Middleweight Tournament (Parlo versus Rogers)
by Brian Woodman Jr. on 09/07/13
The final bout in the tournament featured Mikkel Parlo of Copenhagen, Denmark against Brian Rogers of Kent, Ohio. Following this would be the main event; Brett Cooper versus Alexander Shlemenko for the Middleweight Championship.
The first round began with punches and kicks exchanged. It ended with Parlo kneeing Rogers in the face. In between included Rogers being knocked down twice and stuffing a take down attempt by Parlo.
During the second round, Rogers landed some kicks and both fighters attempted Mauy Thai plums and flying knees to the face. They wound up on the ground and Parlo mounted Rogers twice trying for ground-and-pound. Parlo remained on top as the fight ended.
The two fighters clinched more in the third. Both used knees, although Rogers seemed to favor dirty boxing. Parlo wound up on top and in Rogers' full guard. The two scrambled on the ground with Parlo maintaining dominance. The two stood up and clinched, but wound up on the ground again. Parlo kneed Rogers several times as he tried to stand up while against the fence, catching him in the face and sending him to the ground. Rogers remained conscious as Parlo dropped bombs. The round appeared to end before referee Kevin MacDonald could end the fight. Parlo wins by unanimous decision.
