Bellator 234 Results: Kharitonov vs. Vassell

Bellator 234 took place on November 14, 2019, at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. Linton Vassell stopped Sergei Kharitonov in the heavyweight main event. Haim and Aviv Gozali both won by first-round submission, while Sidney Outlaw and Austin Vanderford earned unanimous decisions.

Vassell’s Dominance

Vassell defeated Kharitonov by technical knockout at 3:15 of round two. His ground control and punches produced the stoppage, ending a three-fight losing streak. This was his first Bellator heavyweight win after moving up from light heavyweight, rather than his first appearance in the division.

Father-Son Duo: The Gozalis

Haim Gozali submitted Artur Pronin with a heel hook at 4:12 of round one in his announced retirement bout. Aviv Gozali defeated Zaka Fatullazade with an anaconda choke at 0:56 of the first round. Their shared success was a notable family storyline, with each contest ending through a different submission.

Other Highlights

Vanderford defeated Grachik Bozinyan by unanimous decision on three 29–28 cards. Outlaw also won unanimously against Roger Huerta, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28. These longer contests contrasted with the headline technical knockout and the Gozalis’ quick submissions.

Conclusion

The completed card supplied three different types of result: striking stoppage, submission and unanimous decision. Vassell’s heavyweight win and the Gozalis’ finishes were its most immediate highlights. Vanderford and Outlaw added successful performances that depended on sustained work across all three rounds.

Why the Event Mattered

Vassell’s move to heavyweight had required an adjustment before this breakthrough result. Stopping an experienced opponent gave that transition a concrete success. The two first-round Gozali submissions added a separate local storyline, while the decision wins gave the event competitive variety beneath its finishes.

The card’s results reflected distinct career moments. Vassell secured a heavyweight win after moving up from light heavyweight, while the Gozalis both won by submission on the same night. Haim’s bout had been announced as his retirement fight, and the unanimous decisions for Vanderford and Outlaw gave the event two additional full-distance outcomes.

Sources

Combat Press: Bellator 234 results; Sherdog: event recap; Event results record.

Article Tags

Bellator, Bellator 234, Mixed Martial Arts