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Bellator 261

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Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky
The poster for Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky
PromotionBellator MMA
DateJune 25, 2021 (2021-June-25)
VenueMohegan Sun Arena
CityUncasville, Connecticut, United States
Event chronology
Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz

Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on June 25, 2021, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[1][2]

Background

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With current heavyweight champion Ryan Bader moving on in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Timothy Johnson and Valentin Moldavsky competed for an Bellator Interim Heavyweight World Championship.[3]

A title eliminator women's flyweight bout between Liz Carmouche and Kana Watanabe served as the co-main of the event.[4]

A light heavyweight bout between Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish was scrapped after weigh-ins at Bellator 259 after Edwards wasn't cleared to compete by the Mohegan Sun Athletic Commission.[5] After being cleared by a commission doctor on May 26, 2021, the bout was rebooked for this event.[6]

The reigning WBC Muaythai World Featherweight champion Lena Ovchynnikova was scheduled to fight Kyra Batara in the event prelims.[7] However, the bout was cancelled the week of the event with one of Batara's corner testing positive for COVID-19.[8][9]

A featherweight bout between Keoni Diggs and two-time Bellator Featherweight title challenger Daniel Weichel was announced for the main card.[10]

A middleweight bout between Taylor Johnson and Lance Wright was to take place at Bellator 260.[11] However, a week before the event it was announced that it was moved to this event.[12]

Light heavyweight bouts between Simon Biyong and Lee Chadwick and Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish were scheduled for this show. However, Chadwick tested positive for COVID-19 and Parrish had to pull out of the bout, so Biyong and Edwards were matched with each other.[13]

Results

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Main Card (Showtime)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky def. Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 [a]
Women's Flyweight Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe TKO (punches) 1 0:35
Lightweight Sidney Outlaw def. Myles Jury Submission (rear-naked choke) 3 4:44
Featherweight Daniel Weichel def. Keoni Diggs Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Christian Edwards def. Simon Biyong Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)
Featherweight John de Jesus def. John Macapá Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Taylor Johnson def. Lance Wright Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:58
Bantamweight Jaylon Bates def. Cody Matthews Submission (armbar) 2 4:04
Lightweight Corey Samuels def. Isaiah Hokit KO (punches) 1 0:10
Lightweight Søren Bak def. Bobby Lee Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–27, 29–27) 3 5:00

[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-05-07). "Bellator 261 Adds Johnson vs. Moldavsky Interim Title Fight, Three More Bouts". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  2. ^ "Johnson, Moldavsky set June 25 interim title bout". ESPN.com. 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  3. ^ Heck, Mike (2021-05-07). "Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  4. ^ "Liz Carmouche vs. Kana Watanabe co-headines Bellator 261 on June 25". MMA Junkie. 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  5. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-05-20). "Christian Edwards vs. Ben Parrish bout at Bellator 259 cancelled, Valerie Loureda vs. Hannah Guy promoted to main card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  6. ^ "Christian Edwards receives medical clearance for heart, canceled fight rebooked for Bellator 261". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Gabriel. "Bellator 261: Kyra Batara A New Person Ahead of Return Against Lena Ovchynnikova". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  8. ^ @BellatorPR (June 22, 2021). "Lena vs. Batara scrapped" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ @KyraBatara (June 22, 2021). "Lena vs. Batara Covid" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ King, Nolan. "Bellator 261 adds Daniel Weichel vs. Keoni Diggs to lineup". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Kyle Crutchmer vs. Levan Chokheli added to Bellator 260 on June 11". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Taylor Johnson Instagram Bout Move". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25.
  13. ^ "BELLATOR Confirms Full Fight Card for BELLATOR 261". FIGHT SPORTS. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  14. ^ "Bellator MMA |Bellator 261". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2021-06-17.