Bellator 255 Results: Pitbull vs. Sanchez 2
Bellator 255 took place on April 2, 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Patricio Freire submitted Emmanuel Sanchez to retain the featherweight championship and reach the grand prix final. Jason Jackson won the welterweight co-main event as Bellator began its 2021 schedule and its Showtime broadcast run.
Main Event: Pitbull vs. Sanchez 2
The main event featured a featherweight title rematch between two-division champ Patricio Pitbull and Emmanuel Sanchez. The bout served as a semi-final bout in the Bellator featherweight grand prix. Patricio Freire, also known as Pitbull, defeated Emmanuel Sanchez via submission (guillotine choke) in the first round, just 3 minutes and 35 seconds into the fight.
Pitbull finished Sanchez with a guillotine choke at 3:35 of the first round. He also demonstrated his underrated wrestling ability and dangerous guillotine choke, which ultimately led to his victory.
On the other hand, Emmanuel Sanchez, also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, is known for his relentless pace and pressure, high-volume striking, and solid scrambling. Despite his efforts, Sanchez was unable to overcome Pitbull’s dominance in the rematch.
Co-Main Event: Jason Jackson vs. Neiman Gracie
The co-main event was a welterweight bout between Jason Jackson and Neiman Gracie. Jackson overcame an eye injury and defeated Gracie through a unanimous decision after three full rounds. Jackson’s repeated calf kicks and sharp stand-up game were significant factors in his victory. Despite Gracie’s expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he was unable to leverage his ground game effectively against Jackson.
Other Notable Fights
Other notable fights included Tyrell Fortune defeating Jack May via TKO (strikes) in the first round, Usman Nurmagomedov defeating Mike Hamel via unanimous decision, and Kana Watanabe defeating Alejandra Lara via split decision.
Conclusion
Freire’s guillotine at 3:35 of round one ended both a championship rematch and a tournament semifinal. Jackson defeated Neiman Gracie by unanimous decision, with three 29–28 scorecards. Fortune stopped Jack May in round one, Nurmagomedov outpointed Mike Hamel, and Watanabe took a split decision against Alejandra Lara.
Why the Event Mattered
The featherweight title remained with Freire, and his tournament victory established a final against A.J. McKee. Jackson’s three-round decision had no championship at stake but supplied an important welterweight result. The event combined those competitive outcomes with the start of a new broadcast period for the promotion.
Sources
MMA Fighting: Bellator 255 results; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 255, Mixed Martial Arts
