Press Release – Paris, France – A sellout crowd of over 13,000 fans packed the Accor Arena tonight for Bellator 296, the promotion’s third successful event in Paris, France. Several French fighters shone for the partisan Paris crowd, including thibault gotti (17-6), who scored an emphatic knockout over cane warts (14-5) To start the main card with a bang.
The main event saw a coming of age performance for Birmingham, England fabian edwards (12-2), who defeated the MMA icon Aunt Geghard (49-9-2) en route to a unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).
Next Stop – Dublin: With his win in the main event, Edwards has earned a title shot against the undefeated Middleweight World Champion johnny ablen (13-0) in an attempt to join his brother Leon Edwards as World Champion. There will be a clash between these two in the main event of Bellator Dublin: Ablain vs. EdwardsWhich will take place on Saturday, 23 September at 3Arena. More details about this incident will emerge in the coming days.
Co-Main Feature Sees Incredible Five-Round Battle Between Former BELLATOR Lightweight World Champions Brent Primus (11-3) and the hometown favorite mansour baranoui (20-5). After 25 minutes of elite-level wrestling, Primus earned a unanimous decision victory (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) and advanced to the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix to face the current world champion. Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) Semi-finals at a date to be determined.
former welterweight world champion Douglas Lima (33-11) made a successful debut in the middleweight over costello van steinis (14-3) Scored 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.
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#2-fabian edwards (12-2) def. #1-Aunt Geghard (49-9-2) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Fabian Edwards:
A lot of people wrote me off after I lost, a lot of people thought I was over, but here I am: one more fight until I get that gold belt.
Who in MMA can say they have Machida and Mousasi on their record? I lost two of my matches and everyone forgave me. I kept my confidence, went back to the gym and kept working out, and here I am, three-fight win streak away and a world title away.
The gameplan was to go there and I had to. I wish I could have thrown a few more kicks but I hurt my leg and every time I kicked I could feel it and I didn’t want to show it [the pain] on my face.
I was landing those kicks and some caught his knees and elbows but this is the sport of fighting. My jaw aches, my body aches but it’s a fighting game. I’ve got a pocket full of cash and a world title shot.
I felt very calm there, it felt really weird because I didn’t feel nervous, I didn’t feel anxious I just felt like I’m talking to you guys now. It’s a good feeling.
I loved it [fighting in Paris], the arena was packed. I got some booze, I got some cheers. As long as the fans and everyone enjoy the fight, I’m happy with it. I think Bellator is trying to come back to Paris – I don’t know when – but if they do they can definitely give me a shoutout for that show.
boy [Eblen] Knows that he is looking forward to me. Pushing and shoving is all good but we see each other in the cage and we lock horns and exchange a few punches. I see it going the way I want it to. I think he is underestimating my wrestling. I have got the patience, I have shown that I can go five rounds. Gas tank is good. I’m here and I’m ready for it.
good to hear [to be fighting for the title in Dublin] But I’d have no problem bringing it to Birmingham. I know they said Dublin but let’s see if we can twist someone’s arm and get them back to Birmingham. Why not? Birmingham deserves it.
We come as a small gym in Birmingham but look what we make. This [winning the title] That would mean the world. One battle away – and even after that one battle there is much to be gained. It ain’t over till it’s over. he is [Leon’s] trying to go down as one of the greats – he’s already a great in England – but he wants to go down as one of the greatest ever and I want to do the same thing .
,4-Brent Primus (12-3) def, #8-mansour baranoui (20-5) via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Brent Primus:
I didn’t think he would attack me like that in the first round. Five rounds in and I thought we’d dance around and feel each other out and that wasn’t about it… He came at me like a damn bullet! After that first round I told my coach, “Damn I’m tired” and I had to dig deeper.
I think he has gills in his throat or something. He is a tough son of a gun. Hats off to Mansoor, how strict you are brother. good job man. Normally, I would have credited those guys but man… kudos to him.
He pushed me. The man didn’t stop the whole time. Luckily I have the American Top Team, everyone supports me and pushes me. I am nothing without my team. They push me so much. All the guys, they help me and push me. I would not have completed those last two tours without him.
My ground game is better than his. I knew that if the fight went to the ground, it would be my fight. I felt great, I felt so confident in my submission defense. I knew he was not going to make me submit. I believe in my stand-up. I think it’s starting to show a little. But I knew that if the fight went to the ground, I would prevail.
I heard him gargle a couple of times. I knew she was tough and I knew this fight meant a lot to her – and to me – so I knew I had to get her to sleep. I knew he wasn’t going to tap. I think I had a rear-naked choke in the last round and it was high on his chin, before the last five or six seconds I managed to slip my left hand under his chin. I think if I had more time I would have strangled him but Mansoor is an anti sport, he is really tough. It was a do or die situation for both of us there so I knew I had to put her to sleep.
It’s crazy out there. The French crowd is crazy, it was very noisy and crazy. I’ve fought in Ireland, in London and I think it was the loudest here. They get behind their fighters and they booed me pretty good and it felt good to go out there, win and upset everybody.
I was asking Bellator for that fight [against Usman Nurmagomedov], since about a year and a half ago. If you work hard and you believe in yourself, things will happen. Here we go, man! I get a shot at the title and I couldn’t be happier. I respect him, I respect his entire camp. He’s a great champion, he comes from a really good camp and trains with really good guys but I’m going to win that fight and I’m going to be champion again. He is a great champion but I have faith in myself and I will go out there and win the title.
Everyone says I’m getting old, I’m 38. Damn it, it’s crazy to say I’m 38, but I feel young, I feel really good in the gym. I train so hard, I feel like I’m training harder than all the little kids in the gym and I feel like I’m beating all the little kids. I Don’t Feel 38 Sure, I keep hearing that I’m old, but I don’t feel like… fuck, I’m young!
Douglas Lima (33-11) def. #10-costello van steinis (14-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Douglas Lima:
On his win tonight: It’s a huge weight off the shoulders of anyone who has won. It is not easy to come back after such a big defeat. I came here and executed.
On fighting at 185 lbs: Difference of night and day. I wasn’t able to put a lot of weight back on, but I felt amazing and great. My entire team gave me the energy and support that I needed. France is very happy to be here. I’m not going away
thibault gotti (15-6) def. cane warts (14-5) by KO of R1
Thibault Gautie:
On Ken Warts: I knew he was a good striker. I knew we would stand. I caught him in the first round but that’s the game and he recovered well after that. In the second round he caught me when he was in the southpaw, so I changed my stance and I caught him in return. I think he was out (when I hit him), he later told me he was fine, I’m not the referee, but I think he was out.
How did the fight go: I knew I won the first round, so that was already a good thing. In the second round he was changing stance and he caught me, and he caught me in the chest. He didn’t plan to come to me after that, he’s a fighter, I knew that. I am very happy. I don’t think the fight was about power. I think it was more about being more technical and smarter and using a gameplan. I knew he was coming. He was throwing big hooks. I tried to get to him, and I was waiting for him. I threw my hook, and I caught it.
Who does he want to fight next: You know what man and what I love to see fight and I have a lot of respect for Tim Wilde. Tim Wilde, he won tonight, and he fought last time, and he won. He’s always winning. He has a good style and I would love to see and fight with him. that is very good. I respect him. I want her next.
I’m fine, my nose is a bit runny. I did this in training. I want to fight again in 3-4 months. If I can fight in Europe and come to Dublin and fight, I will.
on fighting in paris: Wonderful. I like Paris, of course it’s the capital but in Marseille, we have different people. They are real fanatics. Every French is crazy.
- #6-dennis kilholtz (6-5) def. Paula Cristina (6-1) Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Luca Poklit (9-1) def. oliver encamp (11-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- dewy gallon (21-8-2, 1 NC) Vs. Saul Rogers (15-5, 1 NC) resulted in a no contest
- yves landau (19-9) def. Piotr Nidzielski (17-6) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sarvarjon Khamidov (15-0) def. kevin petshee (18-6) via submission (RNC) at 1:33 or R3
- Tim Wilde (16-4-1) def. chris gonzalez (8-3) Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Fabkari Dutta (9-1) def. keir harvey (5-3-2) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Asal Adjoudj (6-1) def. George Sasu (4-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Romain Debien (10-4) def. Bourama Camera (5-3) by KO of R2 at 1:04
- jose augusto (8-4, 1 NC) def. Simon Byong (9-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
