Bellator San Diego took place at the Pechanga Arena in what was a loaded fight card from beginning to end. Five fights ended by finish on the prelims, with the main card delivering in its top three fights. The Main event of Bellator San Diego saw Usman Nurmagomedov take on fellow Russian countryman Alexandr Shabliy.

Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) vs Alexandr Shabliy (24-3)

In the main event, the title of the Lightweight World was on the line between undefeated Russian phenom Usman Nurmagomedov and fellow countryman Alexandr Shabliy. Nurmagomedov trains with one of the best teams in the world at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. At AKA Nurmagomedov receives top-of-the-line coaching from Javier Mendez and his cousin the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov. Shabliy had not lost since 2016 and defeated respected contenders Patricky Pitbull, Brent Primus, and Tofiq Musayev in his last three fights.

This was a very technical battle over 25 minutes that saw Nurmagomedov showcase his well-rounded style. Usman was one step ahead from the opening bell utilizing dynamic leg kicks at a distance while mixing in takedown attempts throughout. Shabliy was loading up for big shots on the feet, but none found a home in any significant manner. In the corner of Usman, his cousin Khabib and brother Umar helped give him instructions during the fight. After a hard-fought five rounds, Nurmagomedov retained his title and won unanimously on the judge’s scorecards (50-45, 49-46, 49-46).

Many fight fans want to see Nurmagomedov take on A.J. McKee in a blockbuster matchup.

Lorenz Larkin (26-8) vs. Levan Chokheli (13-2)

The Co-Main event featured a title eliminator bout between surging contenders. Lorenz Larkin is a Bellator and UFC vet who has seen it all in the fight game. Levan Chokheli is known for his heavy hands and had 10 wins by knockout entering this fight. Larkin is 38 years old and making his last run at championship gold. The first round started fast and wild, Chokheli came out strong and landed a big punch that dropped Larkin early. Larkin worked back to his feet and turned the tide of this fight. “The Monsoon” landed a vicious punch that stumbled Chokheli and sent him staggering around the cage.

The MMA veteran then showed his experience and stopped the Georgian contender with strikes. Larkin has consistently turned back young rising contenders and will now face undefeated Russian champion Ramazan Kuramagomedov. The San Diego crowd was deafening for their local standout who put on a classic performance.

Douglas Lima (33-11) vs. Aaron Jeffery (13-2)

One of the most interesting fights on the Main card featured the return of Bellator Welterweight champion Douglas Lima against Canadian standout Aaron Jeffery. Lima was returning to competition for the first time in over a year, moving up to the 185-pound division. Round one was controlled by Jeffery who found a takedown early, but was leaking blood from the top position. Jeffery would have to overcome a cut for a large portion of the fight. The second round was closer, with Lima landing big elbows against the cage which was the most damaging moment of the round. With the fight tied at one round apiece Jeffery was able to take Lima down again and secure himself the biggest win of his career. All three judges scored the fight for Jeffery, who racked up over eight minutes of control time in the fight.

Jeffery overcame adversity to stay in contention at 185 pounds and will have many opportunities on the horizon. This fight showcased a new wrinkle in Jeffery’s game that we hadn’t seen before. His grappling looked tremendous for a fighter known for his athletic striking style.

Rest of Bellator San Diego Fight Card Results:

Ashley Thiner Def. Alysia Cortez by TKO (Punches) in round two.

Josh Hokit Def. Sean Rose by Submision (Armbar) in the first round.

Bryce Meredith Def. Jon Macalolooy by Submission (Rear Naked Choke).

Masayuki Kikuiri Def. Herman Terrado by TKO (Body Kick and Ground and Pound) in the third round.

Jordan Newman Def. Imamshafi Aliev by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Sumiko Inaba Def. Mackenzie Stiller by TKO (Ground and Pound) in round two.

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