Bellator 83 Results and Play by Play

Bellator 83’s Season 7 Squares Off at the Jersey Shore

Jessica Eye joins ranks of the standing submitters; Leone victorious over former champ Makovsky

By: John Peter Daly

Dec. 7— Hailing from in one of the greatest fight capitals–Atlantic City, NJ—Bellator Season 7 continued at Caesars Palace. The Featherweight championship fight featuringRad Martinez against Shahbulat Shamhalaev is being postponed until next Friday on Bellator 84 due to Shamhalaev coming down with food poisoning.

Women’s Feature Fight

The women’s feature fight was taken by Jessica “Evil” Eye against Zoila Gurgel. Both women weighed in at 124 ½ lbs, both have overcome severe injuries—Eye recovered from a broken back before her fighting career and Gurgel more recently with torn knee ligaments (ACL), broken hand and a foot injury. Eye joins the few who have pulled off a standing arm triangle

In the biggest fight of her career, Eye at 58 seconds won by technical submission against Gurgel. The stronger Eye knocked Grugel down after Gurgel came out flying at the sound of the bell. Both standing at this point, Eye got her arms around Gurgel from behind and as she put it, tightened up “like an anaconda” until Gurgel went limp from the arm triangle.

Their pronounced hatred for each other ended with great sportswomenship and respect after Eye’s quick triumph.

Bantamweight Feature Fight

In a close, very active bout with both fighters showing a great deal of fortitude, Bantamweight Anthony Leone won by split decision against Zach Makovsky. Leone, definitely the stronger of the two, dropping from 145 lbs., could not be kept down by Makovsky in the first and second rounds. Leone tried for the guillotine, but from half guard was not able to submit the former Bantamweight champion. Makovsky who made his first appearance since he lost the title against Eduardo Dantas in Bellator 65 in April.

Several preliminary fights were also available on spike.com and MTV2.

Jersey’s Bantamweight Jimmie Rivera took Jesse Brock 30 to 27 by two judges call and 29 to 28 by one judge. Rivera closed the distance with a fury of his imposing striking ending one such series with a knee pushing Brock up against the cage. A closer second round, Brock could not get Rivera down with his single leg attempts except with one low grab where Brock powered up.

Heavyweight Mike Wessel won by unanimous decision (29-28) against Alexei Kudin—his 13^th career win. Wessel’s tactics kept most of the fight on the ground preventing Kudin from demonstrating his kickboxing skills. Even standing up, Wessel had Kudin up against the cage landing a knee into Kudin’s torso. Kudin stayed in the game even after a heavy cross by the 263 lbs. Wessel, but was only able to land a series of low kicks often moving back in the last few minutes.

Lightweight Southpaw Darrell Horcher won by unanimous decision (29-28) against home-state tough guy Chris Liguori who stayed in the fight after taking a great deal of punches by Horcher. Horcher brought Ligouri to the ground with a body slam, effectively counter punched in the second part of the bout, and held up against Ligouri’s attempts to finish the fight on the ground. Ligouri dedicated the fight to the people of the Jersey Shore recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Catchweight Tuan Pham (129 lbs) was successful by unanimous decision (29-28) against Matthew Lozano. At 3:07 of round 1, Featherweight Terrell Hobbs overcame Brylan Van Artsdalen by a rear naked choke submission. Bantamweight Claudio Ledesma defeated Bo Harris by unanimous judges’ decision (30-27).

DONATE TO THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE SANDY :  www.redcross.org/donate