Recapping Bellator 84: The Close of Season Seven
The seventh season for Bellator Fighting Championship and final one on MTV2 has been interesting to say the least and tonight’s Bellator 84 was no different. Bellator 84 closed out the season with yet another bout getting cancelled at the last-minute and the promotion will need to tighten things up before their move in 2013 over to Spike TV.
Louis Taylor vs. Joe Vedepo: Our first round saw a back and forth match between the two wrestlers, with Taylor hitting the first takedown but Vedepo finishing the first skirmish on top before the fight found its way to the feet. Taylor would land another takedown and certainly appeared to be the physically stronger man of the two as he worked from top half guard. If you didn’t believe in Taylor’s power before this, you’d believe it now, as a short right hand while on top completely knocked Vedepo out, giving Taylor another impressive Bellator win.
Louis Taylor wins via 1st round KO (punch)
Felice Herrig vs. Patricia Vidonic: Vidonic came out looking for revenge but found nothing but leg kicks and fade-away punches from Herrig early. While it was Vidonic looking to make this a ground battle, Herrig was able to hit a takedown midway through the first round, leaving Vidonic a stationary target for ground and pound. While the fight made it back to the feet, Herrig was simply having her way with her opponent right up to the bell, leaving Vidonic to go back to her corner and regroup.
Round two started much as the first, with Herrig landing whatever she cared to throw and hitting a takedown on her wrestling-centric foe. A surprise triangle by Vidonic looked close for a moment, but Herrig bailed on the ground and went back to her bread and butter to great effect. While Vidonic managed to get back to the clinch, she did it at the cost of eating a dozen power punches from Herrig. Once again, the clinch didn’t help Vidonic, as Herrig hit a trip and finished out the round on top.
Rinse and repeat for the third round with another trip from Herrig right away. A slick armbar from Vidonic found her mounted but a heel hook would turn the tables for the flagging female as she swept Herrig as she escaped the leg lock. A cruel stand-up by the referee did Vidonic no favors as Herrig hit another takedown to finish a dominant, if not lackluster fight.
Felice Herrig wins via Unanimous Decision (30-27×3)
Jack Hermansson vs. Daniel Vizcaya: A quick takedown saw Hermansson put Vizcaya on the mat, but the position did little for him as Vizcaya found his way to the feet, where both men fires punches from outside range. This time, it was Vizcaya that got a takedown at the midway point of the round. Working an old-school can opener, Vizcaya closed out the round on positioning, but didn’t get anything done other than that.
A double leg by Vizcaya started us off for the second round, followed by a clinch takedown into half guard. Working a d’arce choke and elbows, Vizcaya controlled from the top easily with his constant threats, while Hermansson looked to scoot out from the position, eventually working to the fence. While Hermansson was able to stand up with a great deal of effort, Vizcaya was on him like glue and hit a waist lock takedown with a minute left in the round. A kimura that wound up working as a sweep gave Hermansson some precious time to work his game from top, but Vizcaya was able to work his way to standings, where a few punches from Hermansson was all the offense he could manage this round.
With Hermansson down two rounds, he came out looking to blast Vizcaya, whom appeared winded early. Some slow-paced clinch work by Vizcaya didn’t have the same devastating effect as earlier in the fight, as a monstrous trip and slam by Hermansson breathed some life into his chances of winning this fight before the bell. Knees on the ground prompted Vizcaya to stand up, but a big belly to back suplex put him in his place again as Hermansson worked him over with sporadic ground and pound. A volley of elbows came close to finishing the fight, but Vizcaya held on till the bell and appeared to grab an unpopular decision over his opponent.
Daniel Vizcaya via Split Decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Alexander Volkov vs. Richard Hale (Bellator HW Championship, 5×5 Rounds): Our final bout of the evening started off with a feeling out process, as it seemed each man was used to having a reach advantage. A clinch takedown by Volkov put him into Hale’s deadly guard but little happened between the lax ground and pound of Volkov and Hale’s upkicks. Back to standing, Volkov seemed to have found his range as he worked mid kicks and punches on the retreat against Hale, popping him in the jaw repeatedly. The slow pace seemed to suit Hale as Volkov appeared to lull himself into false confidence. A giant overhand right by Hale dropped Volkov to his knees, but with only seconds left in the round and Volkov having recovered his marbles, Hale couldn’t capitalize on the tight round.
Trading tight punches early, Volkov looked to change tactics and work on the inside against Hale, pressing into the clinch. Working a slow-paced, Volkov used knees to his opponent’s lower body before hitting a takedown, but not willing to play inside Hale’s guard and chose to stand over Hale and attack the legs until the ref forced a stand-up. A flush head kick by Volkov was the highlight of the last two minutes of the round, as both guys headhunted from the outside with the Russian having the better of the exchanges.
Third round and the two fighters exchange violently in the center of the cage with both getting their licks in. A flush head kick by Volkov got a smile from Hale which didn’t seem to deflate Volkov so much as he worked from the outside with rangy shots. A series of hard counters by Hale found their mark as time ticked away in the round, yet Volkov remained in control, closing distance on Hale and working the clinch til the bell.
Championship round number one started with Hale showing some desperation in a fight he appeared to be losing on the cards, but Volkov floated away from the offense and kept his range with a swift jab. Working methodically from the outside, Volkov continued to out land Hale while staying relatively safe from the American’s heavy hands. The round closed at a plodding pace, with Hale at a loss and Volkov content to do what has worked so far; Sticking and moving.
Fifth and final round and Hale comes out with such intensity, he was literally shaking as he walked forward. Some of the hardest shots of the fight found their mark as Hale’s looping punches connected as Volkov planted his straight punches and kick attacks on his foe. Each fighter had their moments as the round proved to be the best of the fight, closing out a decent match-up and giving the judges an easy decision.
Alexander Volkov wins via Unanimous Decision (49-46×3)
The lightweight tournament final between Marcin Held and Dave Jansen was scheduled to take place in the Bellator 84 co-main event but in Indiana you must be 21-years old in MMA and Held has yet to hit that mark yet.
About the Author (Author Profile)
I'm a 20+ year veteran of martial arts and a fan of MMA since UFC 1, when my world was thrown on its head by the budding sport. I'm obsessive in the pursuit of martial abilities and have competed across the country in everything from Vale Tudo to archery to Scottish broadsword. Once my body broke down, I picked up a pen and went in the direction of writing. I specialize in betting advice, predictions, and I'm a walking encyclopedia of MMA trivia. I own a cafe in Exeter, NH called Hammersmith Sandwich Company and write out of my office between customers.Subscribe
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