Bellator 244 Results: Bader vs. Nemkov
Bellator 244 took place on August 21, 2020, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Vadim Nemkov stopped Ryan Bader to win the light heavyweight championship. Julia Budd and Valentin Moldavsky earned main-card decisions, while John Salter secured a third-round submission.
Vadim Nemkov Dethrones Ryan Bader
The main event of the night was the light heavyweight title fight between Ryan Bader and Vadim Nemkov. Bader, a two-division champion, was defending his light heavyweight title against the Russian challenger. However, the night ended in an upset as Nemkov claimed victory, dethroning Bader and becoming the new light heavyweight champion.
The fight was a close one in the first round, with Bader utilizing his wrestling skills to take Nemkov down. However, Nemkov defended well and managed to get back on his feet. The second round saw Nemkov take control of the fight, landing a head kick that hurt Bader. He then followed up with a series of ground and pound strikes, leading to a TKO at 3:02 of the second round.
Nemkov’s victory ended Bader’s light heavyweight reign. Bader also held the heavyweight championship, but that belt was not at stake in this 205-pound contest. The result therefore changed one division’s titleholder without transferring both of Bader’s championships.
Other Notable Fights
The co-main event saw Julia Budd face off against Jessy Miele in a featherweight bout. Budd emerged victorious, winning by unanimous decision. This was a significant win for Budd, who demonstrated her dominance in the featherweight division.
Another notable fight was between Valentin Moldavsky and Roy Nelson. Moldavsky defeated Roy Nelson by unanimous decision.
John Salter also had a successful night, defeating Andrew Kapel via a third-round submission. This win further solidified Salter’s position in the middleweight division.
Conclusion
Nemkov’s head kick and follow-up strikes produced a technical knockout at 3:02 of round two. Budd outpointed Jessy Miele, Moldavsky defeated Roy Nelson unanimously, and Salter submitted Andrew Kapel with an arm-triangle choke at 3:11 of round three. These results combined a title change with supporting contender victories.
Why the Event Mattered
The championship finish began a new light heavyweight reign, while Bader remained connected to a separate heavyweight title. Yaroslav Amosov’s doctor-stoppage win over Mark Lemminger and Sidney Outlaw’s split decision over Adam Piccolotti added preliminary results. The headline achievement was Nemkov’s completed victory over the incumbent champion.
Sources
MMA Fighting: Bellator 244 results; MMA Fighting: championship recap; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 244, Mixed Martial Arts
