Bellator 278: Liz Carmouche’s Historic Victory and Event…
Bellator 278 took place on April 22, 2022, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. Liz Carmouche captured the women’s flyweight championship by stopping Juliana Velasquez in a disputed fourth-round finish. Two bantamweight grand prix qualifiers and supporting welterweight bouts completed a card dedicated to military personnel and first responders.
The main event of the evening was a Bellator Women’s Flyweight Title Bout between the undefeated champion, Juliana Velasquez, and challenger Liz Carmouche. Carmouche, a veteran of the sport, managed to secure a victory over Velasquez, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Carmouche’s Historic Win
Liz Carmouche, more than 12 years into her professional career, captured a championship for the first time. She defeated Juliana Velasquez via a fourth-round TKO at 4:47, a result that was disputed by Velasquez and her team. The victory extended Carmouche’s winning streak to four and marked the first loss in Velasquez’s professional career.
The fight was not without controversy. Velasquez had taken over the fight after the first round, only for Carmouche to score a takedown and secure a crucifix position that led to the fight-ending elbows. The official scorecards had Carmouche down before the turnaround, adding to the drama of the finish.
Other Notable Fights
The event also featured two wild card qualifier bouts for the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. Enrique Barzola faced Nikita Mikhailov, with Barzola securing a unanimous decision victory. In the second qualifier, Danny Sabatello defeated Jornel Lugo via unanimous decision.
In the welterweight division, Dante Schiro defeated Scotty Hao via TKO in the third round, and Blake Perry submitted Makoa Cooper with an anaconda choke in the second round.
A Night to Remember
Bellator 278 was a memorable event, not just for the thrilling fights, but also for the unique dedication to military and first responders. The night was marked by Liz Carmouche’s historic victory, evidence of her perseverance and skill in the sport of MMA. Her win, along with the other exciting bouts, made Bellator 278 a night to remember for MMA fans.
Why the Event Mattered
Carmouche’s win changed the flyweight championship picture, while Barzola and Sabatello advanced into the bantamweight tournament. The controversy concerned the timing of the referee’s intervention, rather than a change to the official winner. That distinction preserves both the recorded result and the reason the finish became a major topic of discussion.
Sources
MMA Fighting; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 278, Mixed Martial Arts
