Bellator 218 Results: Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan

Bellator 218 took place on March 22, 2019, at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Emmanuel Sanchez won his rematch with Georgi Karakhanyan by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three scorecards. MMA Fighting’s event report reviews the main event. Related reports: Bellator 217 and Bellator 219.

Main Event: Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan

In the night’s main event, Emmanuel Sanchez faced Georgi Karakhanyan in a featherweight bout that was a rematch of their previous encounter at Bellator 170, where Sanchez had emerged victorious. Sanchez, coming off a loss to the champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, was looking to get back on the winning track. Karakhanyan, having competed twice under the ACB banner in Moscow since their last fight, was aiming to even the score.

The fight was a display of strategic groundwork and striking, with Sanchez ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the bout 29-28 across the board, favoring Sanchez’s ability to control the fight and his effective counter-striking. This win added another notch to Sanchez’s belt and reaffirmed his position as a top contender in the featherweight division.

Co-Main Event and Other Highlights

The co-main event saw Valentin Moldavsky take on Linton Vassell in a heavyweight clash. Moldavsky’s pressure and endurance earned him a unanimous decision win, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-27 in his favor.

Other notable fights included Anatoly Tokov’s submission victory over Gerald Harris via a guillotine choke in the second round, and Norbert Novenyi’s arm-triangle choke submission win against Will Lavine.

Preliminary Card Standouts

The preliminary card also had its share of action-packed moments. Noteworthy performances included Victoria Leonardo’s submission win over Malin Hermansson with an armbar in the first round, and Nation Gibrick’s rear-naked choke victory against Nick Page.

Conclusion

Bellator 218 delivered a night of compelling matchups and impressive finishes. The event highlighted the depth of talent within Bellator’s ranks and set the stage for future bouts that will continue to shape the landscape of the promotion’s various weight classes. Fans were treated to a blend of technical mastery and raw determination, making Bellator 218 a memorable event In mixed martial arts.

Sources

MMA Fighting’s event report; Event results record.

Article Tags

Bellator, Bellator 218, Mixed Martial Arts