Bellator 233 Results: Salter vs. van Steenis
Bellator 233 took place on November 8, 2019, at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. John Salter defeated Costello van Steenis by unanimous decision in the middleweight main event. Andrew Kapel knocked out Muhammed Lawal in his announced retirement fight, while Arlene Blencowe and Tyrell Fortune also recorded main-card wins.
The co-main event of the evening was the retirement fight of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, who faced Andrew Kapel. Despite Lawal’s hopes of ending his career on a high note, Kapel emerged victorious, knocking out Lawal in the first round.
The event also saw impressive performances from fighters like Arlene Blencowe, Tyrell Fortune, and Amanda Bell. Blencowe defeated Leslie Smith via unanimous decision, while Fortune secured a TKO victory over Zu Anyanwu. Bell, on the other hand, defeated Janay Harding via TKO.
The preliminary card was equally exciting, with fighters like Tyree Fortune, Logan Storley, and Julius Anglickas securing victories. Fortune won a split decision against Chuck Campbell, Storley defeated E.J. Brooks via TKO due to injury, and Anglickas won a unanimous decision against Jordan Young.
Aaron McKenzie submitted Sean Clements with a rear-naked choke. Lucas Brennan defeated Jacob Landin with a forearm choke, a variation of the rear-naked choke, in round one.
Salter won on three 29–28 scorecards after van Steenis mounted a strong late challenge. His early wrestling success created the lead, and a final-round takedown helped him preserve it. The result was competitive despite the judges’ unanimous agreement.
Blencowe defeated Leslie Smith by unanimous decision, Fortune stopped Zu Anyanwu, and Amanda Bell finished Janay Harding. The supporting card also included Tyree Fortune’s split decision over Chuck Campbell and Julius Anglickas’s unanimous decision against Jordan Young.
Why the Event Mattered
The main event rewarded Salter’s accumulated work across the first two rounds even as van Steenis threatened a comeback. Kapel’s knockout supplied a different kind of conclusion in Lawal’s farewell appearance. Beneath them, the card combined heavyweight finishes with decisions and distinctive submission methods.
Sources
Sherdog: Bellator 233 recap; Sherdog: event statistics and submission details; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 233, Mixed Martial Arts
