Bellator 119 Results: Daniel Weichel Wins Featherweight Tournament with Submission

Daniel Weichel earned a title shot by winning the Bellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament on Friday in Roma, Ontario, Canada via second-round submission.  He and tournament finalist Desmond Green had a competitive opening round, but Weichel took over the fight in the second frame.

The 29-year-old German staggered Green with a counter right hand in the early going of the second round.  Green drew on his wrestling background to survive the situation.  But it would only be temporary.  Weichel hurt Green moments later with another right hand.  Green desperately tried to get the fight to the ground, but Weichel sprawled and took the back.  He got his arm under Green’s chin and tightened down a rear naked choke that forced Green to tap out.

“I almost have no words.  This is a dream come true,” said Weichel following the tournament victory.  ”It’s a dream to be here on the stage with Bellator.  It’s just amazing.”

Veteran mixed martial artist John Alessio scored his first win since March 2012 in the co-main event, defeating Eric Wisely by unanimous decision in a largely uneventful fight.  Alessio pressed forward from the sound of the opening bell while Wisely circled away.  Alessio’s takedowns and ground and pound were the story of the fight.  He secured early takedowns in the first and third rounds and maintain top position while peppering Wisely with short punches and elbows.  All three judges scored the fight 30-27 for Alessio.

Marius Zaromskis dominated Vaughn Anderson after being dropped in the early going in welterweight action.  Zaromskis regularly landed straight left hands and worked a kicking assault to win by unanimous decision.  After surviving the first round knock down, Zaromskis battered Anderson’s lead leg with kicks.  Two judges scored the fight 30-27 for Zaromskis while the third judge scored the fight 29-28.

Heavyweights Raphael Butler and Nick Rossborough was scored a majority draw in the opening fight on the main card after a point was deducted from Butler for an illegal headbutt.  Rossborough landed a solid left hand and then took Butler’s back.  Butler threw a backward headbutt from the position.  The fight was restarted on the feet after the point deduction.  Rossborough landed a flurry that had Butler stunned, but the next two rounds were all Butler.

Butler secured takedowns in the final two frames and pounded away from the top position.  One judge scored the fight 28-27 for Butler while the other two judges scored the bout a 28-28 draw resulting in a majority draw.  The headbutt cost Butler the win.

Official Bellator 119 Results:

Daniel Weichel def. Desmond Green by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:07, R2
John Alessio def. Eric Wisely by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Marius Zaromskis def. Vaughn Anderson by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Raphael Butler vs. Nick Rossborough scored a Majority Draw (28-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Brian Rogers def. Adrian Miles by KO (flying knee) at 1:29, R2
Jason Meisel def. Remy Bussieres by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Malcolm Gordon def. Chris Kelades by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Behrang Yousefi def. Chad Freeman by submission (triangle choke) at 2:47, R1
Marlon Sandro def. Chris Horodecki by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Stuart Austin vs. Craig Hudson (result unknown)