Gegard Mousasi took on Johnny Eblen for the Bellator Middleweight Championship this past Friday at Bellator 282.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Johnny Eblen
Round 1
Eblen tries an oblique kick right off the bat. More kick attempts by Eblen. Mousasi calm and composed keeping his distance. He tries a front kick. Eblen’s leg kick blocked. Mousasi gets hit with a left. Eblen with a huge right that drops Mousasi. Mousasi recovers quick and shoots for a takedown. Extremely quick recovery by Mousasi who’s against the cage after a scramble. Eblen gets the takedown and has Mousasi’s legs crossed over in between his legs. Short strikes by Mousasi. Mousasi tries to get up. Eblen takes his back and hits with knees. Eblen picks Mousasi up and slams him on the mat. Eblen looking to work a submission here, still on the back and trying to go up. Mousasi frees himself with a reversal and both men back to the feet. Low kick by Eblen. Mousasi with a one-two on the guard. Mousasi hits a left.
Round 2
Eblen kicks off with strike attempts. Eblen gets hit by a sharp jab. Left hand for Eblen. Mousasi tags Eblen. Eblen shoots for a takedown and is in side control. Mousasi keeps hitting Eblen with short punches and knees. Mousasi trying to get out. Eblen and Mousasi continue trading. Reversal by Mousasi gets him to his feet momentarily before being taken down again by Eblen. Mousasi gets back up by the cage but Eblen takes him down again. Mousasi gets back to his feet while Eblen tries to keep him off the cage. Both men return to the middle. Eblen misses with a wild one. Nice inside low kick by Mousasi. Eblen hits a hard left hook. Oblique kick from Mousasi. Eblen with a combination using kicks and a right. Mousasi with an outside low kick to close the round.
Round 3
Both men go at it with the low kicks. Eblen with a combination. Jab from Mousasi lands. Another jab from Mousasi after avoiding multiple combinations. Another oblique kick by Mousasi. Exchanging body kicks in the middle of the ring. Big left blocked by Mousasi. Overhand right by Eblen lands. Eblen keeping the aggression high throughout. Mousasi maintains distance with the oblique kick. Eblen hits a lead right. Eblen with a right and another right to the face. Nice right from Mousasi.
Round 4
Eblen keeps the pressure up from the start. Multiple strike combination attempts missed or blocked by Mousasi. Eblen goes with some wild shots to get a takedown against the fence. Eblen gets his back. Eblen ties his legs across Mousasi looking for a rear-naked choke here. Eblen keeps his weight on maintaining top position. Mousasi manages to get back to his feet. Both men return to the middle. Mousasi lands a right. Eblen shoots for a takedown. Mousasi with punches as Eblen keeps him on the cage. Eblen lets Mousasi get back up and throws a flurry of punches in the final seconds.
Round 5
Eblen opens as usual with multiple combinations. A nice right lands for Eblen and he points it out to Mousasi. Mousasi with a jab. Eblen gets hit with two counter left from Mousasi. Oblique kick by Mousasi. Low kick from both. Eblen goes for a takedown and gets it. Mousasi keeps hitting Eblen who has keeps him against the cage. Eblen stays on top and hits with knees. Eblen brings Mousasi down as he tries to get up. Eblen has his back now. Mousasi gets back to his feet and another takedown by Eblen. He lets Mousasi get back up to close the fight.
Official Result: Johnny Eblen defeats Gegard Mousasi via unanimous decision (50-45, all).
Check out the highlights below:
Johnny Eblen is FEELING himself after the opening round 😤#Bellator282 | @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/cs2iC8fErM
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) June 25, 2022
.@JohnnyEblen drops the champ! #Bellator282
We are live on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/VKrXi7abHr
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
👀 @JohnnyEblen lands clean on @Mousasi_MMA in round 2.#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
💻 https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/96E6wniBlb— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
👊 @JohnnyEblen just won't let up on @Mousasi_MMA.#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
💻 https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/WwghHMKv0o— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
🗣 @JohnnyEblen: I almost didn't believe in myself#Bellator282 live NOW on @SHOsports
💻 https://t.co/Zg0a3DUrFs pic.twitter.com/FODORIGIg5— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 25, 2022
