Bellator 276: Borics Triumphs in Historic Featherweight…

Bellator 276 took place on March 12, 2022, at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri. Adam Borics defeated Mads Burnell in a five-round featherweight main event, while Phil Davis, Johnny Eblen and Gadzhi Rabadanov earned main-card decision wins. The headline fight tested two leading featherweights across the full 25-minute distance.

Borics and Burnell, both ranked no. 2 in the Bellator featherweight division, put on a show for the ages. The fight was a back-and-forth affair, with both fighters showcasing their striking skills and resilience. The opening round was closely contested, with Burnell mixing up his striking levels and Borics responding with a short, stunning shot that rocked Burnell. The fast tempo and willingness to exchange blows set the tone for the rest of the fight.

Despite the intense pace, both fighters refused to take their feet off the gas. Borics seemed one step ahead of Burnell, and when the final bell rang, it was Borics who emerged victorious. The judges awarded him a unanimous decision victory, with scores of 49-46, 50-45, and 49-46.

With this win, Borics extended his winning streak to four and made a strong case for himself as a potential No. 1 contender for the featherweight title. The loss for Burnell was his first in the promotion and ended his seven-fight winning streak.

The co-main event of the night saw former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Phil Davis return to action against Julius Anglickas. Davis emerged victorious, winning by unanimous decision.

Johnny Eblen defeated John Salter by unanimous decision, with three 30–27 scorecards. Gadzhi Rabadanov also beat Jay Jay Wilson by unanimous decision. On the preliminary card, Diana Avsaragova defeated Kyra Batara on the scorecards.

Borics’s sustained performance was the central result, but Davis and Eblen also recorded clear wins over experienced opponents. The card’s main bouts rewarded consistency across multiple rounds, providing a useful contrast to events decided by quick knockouts or submissions.

Why the Event Mattered

Five-round non-title main events give contenders experience over the same distance used in championship fights. Borics’s win strengthened his case at featherweight, while Eblen’s victory over a former middleweight challenger added substance to his own rise. Neither contest itself awarded a title.

Sources

MMA Fighting: Bellator 276 results; MMA Fighting: main-card recap; Event results record.

Article Tags

Bellator, Bellator 276, Mixed Martial Arts