Bellator 112 live results and fight recaps

HAMMOND, Ind. – They may not be without some controversy when they’re ordered up, but Bellator appears to have a handle on this rematch thing.

Daniel Straus and Pat Curran put on a fight for the ages on Friday night. With just 14 seconds left, and possibly behind on the scorecards, Curran submitted the champion to recapture Bellator’s feature weight title at Bellator 112.

Bellator 112 took place at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. The main card aired on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

Straus beat Curran this past November to take the title, and Bellator elected to go forward with a rematch – the third fight between the two, with the series knotted at 1-1 – rather than keep Patricio Freire next in line, much to the chagrin of “Pitbull.” But after nearly 25 minutes of fight time between Curran and Straus, it became evident why Bellator wanted to see them do it again.

“All I can say is mad respect for Daniel Straus,” Curran said afterward. “But I was able to push through. I had to dig deep and come out with the win. I knew it was close. But I think Daniel was up on the scorecards. So I had to just let it all on the line and get that choke in the fifth. I can’t even explain it. This is my passion, my life, and I’m just happy to have the belt back so I can go back and relax.”

Straus came forward first with a left hand as Curran danced outside before throwing a right kick up high. He then tried to get a right hand through. Straus kicked high with the left and had it blocked. But he fell, and then ate a big knee from Curran as he tried to get back to his feet. The two tied up, and Curran pushed Straus to the cage looking for the takedown. He finally got it 90 seconds into the round and went to work from guard. But while looking to land punches, he got caught in a quick triangle choke attempt from Straus, and while working free from that had to defend a brief ankle lock attempt. But once recovered, Curran kept Straus tied up while looking for a choke. Curran tried to take Straus’ back, but couldn’t get it and the champion worked back to his feet. Straus did some major work on a guillotine choke late in the round, but Curran was able to survive the attempt.

Curran landed a right hand quickly in the second, but then ate a couple punches and a kick to the body. The two landed leg kicks at the same time, but when Curran slowly spun around, he ate a massive left hand to the eye that floored him. Straus pounced on him looking for the finish, but Curran survived and got to his feet with a big cut and welt near his right eye. The two touched gloves as a sign of respect and went back to the middle. Moments later, Curran hurt Straus with a right and threatened him along the fence as the fight started to turn into a slugfest. Straus continued to look for the big left hand, but Curran was good at defending it from getting all the way through again.

Straus came out slugging in the third, but Curran worked through it and threw a pair of high kicks. Curran pushed Straus to the cage and tied him up with a clinch, where he landed several knees and kicks. But the result? Straus walked through them and stretched his hands out, letting Curran know he was still right there. Moments later, back in the same spot, Curran again backed Straus to the fence. But Straus worked through it and bullied the challenger to the canvas for a takedown. Curran left his neck exposed, and Straus looked for it before Curran got back to his feet. After another flurry in the center, Straus got Curran down again and finished the round on top.

To the surprise of no one, both fighters came out swinging to start the fourth. But then the action stalled out for a minute before the referee restarted things in the middle. Curran got a knee through and a pair of punches, and Straus tried to land a flying kick seconds later. A Straus uppercut was on the button, and another left landed right after that – but Curran wouldn’t go down in yet another close frame.

The two hugged to open the fifth, but then started slinging. Straus pushed Curran to the cage, but the challenger reversed and looked for knees. After 45 seconds there, they were put back in the middle, and Curran landed several punches and a pair of knees. Midway through the round, it was a couple clean combinations for Curran that were on the money. With 90 seconds left, after working for a takedown, Curran finally got it and took Straus’ back. He went after a rear-aked choke as the crowd cheered against a visibly tired Straus. Straus defended at first, but Curran tried to tighten it up with 40 seconds left, And finally, with just 14 seconds left in the fight, Curran got the tap.

Curran (20-5) got back in the win column after his loss to Straus in the fall and has won seven of his past eight. Straus (22-5) had his six-fight winning streak snapped.

Koreshkov makes quick work of Burrell
Andrey Koreshkov hardly had to break a sweat against Nah-Shon Burrell. Koreshkov landed a knee to the chin, then pounced on Burell to get a quick TKO finish and move into the welterweight tournament semifinals.

Koreshkov landed a kick early against the UFC veteran. But when he threw his next one, it came not just with a foot to the ribs, but with a knee to the chin. Burrell quickly fell to the canvas, and Koreshkov was on top of him just as quickly. He landed several big punches there until referee Rob Hinds jumped in to stop things – just 41 seconds into the fight.

“Don’t underestimate Russian fighters,” Koreshkov said through his interpreter.

Koreshkov (15-1) won for the second straight time since losing a welterweight title fight to former champion Ben Askren. Burrell (10-4) heads back to the loss column after a November win in his Bellator debut.

Oropeza knocks out Souza in first round
Sam Oropeza knew Cristiano Souza had some power and had the potential to throw it in unconventional ways. But he put that all to rest fairly quickly with a first-round knockout to move into the welterweight tournament semifinals.

It took only about 30 seconds for Souza to throw a capoeira attack Oropeza’s way. But it was Oropeza who tied the Brazilian up seconds later and tried to work him over in the clinch. After they broke, Oropeza landed a kick that stifled Souza, and he used it to take him to the ground, where he landed several big punches as Souza worked back to his feet. Oropeza landed another kick to the body seconds later, and Souza was stunned.

Right after that, as the Brazilian backed up, Oropeza dropped a massive right hand on his chin. Souza fell to the canvas, where Oropeza dropped several more punches on him to get the stoppage. When Souza brought his head up, he protested the stoppage – but he was clearly unsure of exactly what had happened.

“I felt his power, and it didn’t really hurt me,” Oropeza said. “That’s when I knew I could walk in and finish this fight. I’m showing up to fight. I’m here to put on exciting fights for the fans.”

Oropeza (11-2) won for the sixth straight time. Souza (7-1) lost for the first time in his professional career.

McDonough outlasts Juarez to move into semifinals
Adam McDonough battled back and forth against Jesse Juarez, but ultimately did just enough to move into the welterweight tournament semifinals. After two competitive rounds with chances for each fighter, to work for finishes, it was McDonough who took control in the third round. He took Juarez’s back and spent a good share of the round working for a rear-naked choke. Juarez fought it off, though, and got back to his feet with two minutes left to bring the fight back to standing before taking McDonough down along the fence. Moments later, he took McDonough down a second time, then went after a choke of his own. McDonough fought it off, but left himself open to eat some shots before a reveresal had him on top to close the frame – which may have been enough to get him the nod from all three judges with 29-28 scores. McDonough (10-0) stayed unbeaten, while Juarez (21-9) had a four-fight winning streak snapped.

Coy outstrikes Bradley to reach Bellator tourney semis
In a battle of Division I wrestlers, Nathan Coy punched his ticket into the semifinals of Bellator’s Season 10 featherweight tournament with a unanimous decision win over Paul Bradley. Coy bloodied Bradley in the first round and got the best of the striking game. When Bradley started to find success striking in the second, Coy shot for a takedown, but couldn’t get the fight to the canvas. The fight was contested almost entirely on the feet, and though Coy seemed to land the bigger strikes, Bradley stayed in the pocket and even knocked Coy down in the third round. But Coy took home all three rounds from all three judges. Coy (14-4) won for the sixth straight time. Bradley (21-6) returns to the loss column after a win over Karl Amoussou.

Caldwell dominant on preliminary card
In a close fight contested largely in the kickboxing realm, Belal Muhammad took a unanimous decision from A.J. Matthews, likely thanks to well-timed takedowns in the second and third rounds. Muhammad (4-0) stayed unbeaten and won for the second time under the Bellator banner. Matthews (6-2) had a two-fight winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in Bellator.

In his highly anticipated Bellator debut, NCAA national champion wrestler Darrion Caldwell did not disappoint. He stormed Lance Surma early, then spun him around on the cage and wrapped up a guillotine choke in short order. Surma was forced to tap just 50 seconds into the fight. Caldwell (4-0) stayed unbeaten with his quickest win yet. Surma (2-1), fighting for the first time in 17 months, suffered the first loss of his pro career.

Derek Loffer spent three rounds beating up local fighter Bobby Reardanz, and had a few instances in which he had to ask him to come forward and engage. In the third, with Reardanz bloodied, he mounted a bit of a rally. But it was short-lived and Loffer had a unanimous decision sweep. Loffer (7-2) won for the second straight time, while Reardanz (8-13) lost his third straight, all for Bellator.

Anthony Gomez, with former WEC champ Miguel Torres in his corner, was just too much for Jason Guida, the brother of UFC featherweight standout Clay Guida. Gomez worked Guida over in the clinch and on the ground en route to a unanimous decision, picking up a 30-26 and a pair of 30-27 scores. Gomez (8-2) won for the third straight time, all under the Bellator banner fighting in his home area of Hammond. Guida (19-28) lost for the sixth time in seven fights, and for the 11th time in his past 13.

In the night’s opening bout, the Shonie Carter-trained Daniel James and Pat Curran-trained Erick Correa spent plenty of time clinched up exchanging short shots. But in the second, James got on top and started landing punches until Correa had to verbally submit. James (1-0) was victorious in his pro debut, while Correa (2-1) lost for the first time as a pro.

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Erick Correa vs. Daniel James
Result: Daniel James def. Erick Correa via submission (strikes) – Round 2, 4:30

Jason Guida vs. Anthony Gomez
Result: Anthony Gomez def. Jason Guida via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Derek Loffer vs. Bobby Reardanz
Result: Derek Loffer def. Bobby Reradanz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Darrion Caldwell vs. Lance Surma
Result: Darrion Caldwell def. Lance Surma via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:50

A.J. Matthews vs. Belal Muhammad
Result: Belal Muhammad def. A.J. Matthews via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Paul Bradley vs. Nathan Coy – welterweight tournament opening round
Result: Nathan Coy def. Paul Bradley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Jesse Juarez vs. Adam McDonough – welterweight tournament opening round
Result: Adam McDonough def. Jesse Juarez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Cristiano Souza vs. Sam Oropeza – welterweight tournament opening round
Result: Sam Oropeza def. Cristiano Souza via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:07

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Andrey Koreshkov – welterweight tournament opening round
Result: Andrey Koreshkov def. Nah-Shon Burrell via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 0:41

Daniel Straus vs. Pat Curran – for featherweight title
Result: Pat Curran def. Daniel Straus via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 5, 4:46

Lloyd Carter vs. Diego Marlon
Result: Diego Marlon def. Lloyd Carter via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:10