Bellator 254 Results: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez
Bellator 254 took place on December 10, 2020, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Juliana Velasquez defeated Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to win the women’s flyweight championship. Magomed Magomedov earned a successful Bellator debut, while Linton Vassell and Romero Cotton finished their main-card opponents.
Main Event: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez
Both Macfarlane and Velasquez entered the title fight unbeaten. Macfarlane was the reigning champion, while Velasquez was challenging for the belt. Their contrasting grappling and striking strengths created a five-round test that could leave only one fighter with both an unbeaten record and the championship.
Macfarlane, known for her grappling and submission skills, attempted to take the fight to the ground, but Velasquez, a formidable striker, managed to keep the fight standing for the most part.
Velasquez won a unanimous decision, with scores of 48–47, 49–46 and 48–47. The result ended Macfarlane’s championship reign and handed her a first professional defeat. Two narrow cards also show that a unanimous result can come from a competitive contest rather than complete domination.
Co-Main Event: Magomedov vs. Mattos
The co-main event featured bantamweights Magomed Magomedov and Matheus Mattos. Magomedov, a former ACB Bantamweight Champion, made his successful Bellator debut by defeating Mattos via unanimous decision. His superior striking and grappling skills were on full display as he controlled the fight from start to finish.
Other Notable Fights
Bellator 254 also featured several other exciting fights. Linton Vassell defeated Ronny Markes via TKO in the second round of their heavyweight bout. Romero Cotton, a promising middleweight, submitted Justin Sumter with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Shamil Nikaev won a unanimous decision against Kemran Lachinov in a closely contested fight.
Conclusion
Magomedov defeated Matheus Mattos on three clear scorecards. Vassell stopped Ronny Markes at 3:37 of round two, and Cotton submitted Justin Sumter with a rear-naked choke at 3:36 of round one. The supporting card combined full-distance work with both striking and grappling finishes.
Why the Event Mattered
A championship changing hands between unbeaten opponents gives the outcome two immediate consequences: a new titleholder and a first loss for the former champion. Velasquez achieved that transition through a decision over all five rounds. The event closed with the flyweight division under a new champion.
Sources
MMA Fighting: Bellator 254 results; MMA Fighting: championship recap; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 254, Mixed Martial Arts
