Bellator 199: The Heavyweight Grand Prix continues

 

15 seconds that is all it took for Ryan Darth Bader to get a victory over King Mo Lawal that will move him into the semifinal against Matt Mitrione. This display of Power from Ryan Bader might have just made him the hands down favorite to win the heavyweight grand prix even with a sleeper in Chael Sonnen still in the hunt against Fedor Emelianenko.

Ryan Bader is (5-0) in his last five fights with 3 being stoppages, at this point I look at Ryan Bader as a guy that is just hitting his prime, with momentum on his side coming out injury free is a great way for him to now get back to work to refine was has been clearly working for him in these last few fights for him.  With victories over Phil Davis, Linton Vassell and now King Mo, you can no longer pass him by if he continues the trend up.  The only knock on him is how long can he keep this momentum at 34 years old, heavyweight might end up being his permanent home in Bellator.

Matt Mitrione has a message for Ryan Bader:

 

149 Seconds is all it took for another Heavyweight that has been on the outside looking in because of a contract issue kept him away from the tourney, and only being thought about as a potential back up replacement is Cheick Kongo.  Kongo vs Javy Ayala end in a ground n pound finish of round 1. Kongo now improves his winning streak pushing it to 6 wins, granted this is was his first stoppage in 4 years back at Bellator 123. For Kongo to be looked at as a viable option he will need to continue to show the brace what he can do.  He will be requesting a title shot after the tournament is over but, he will have to keep winning to do that.

Words from Aaron Pico

Aaron Pico since starting 0-1, 11 months in since turning pro he continues to evolve as a fighter. Landing another nasty body shot that dropped Lee Morrison this can be contributed all the way back to the days where he fought in pankration where all you could do is throw body shots to win. Pico has won several awards for his boxing (PAL championship, national junior golden gloves in 2009).  Pico believes that he could be a dual champion in boxing and MMA could he become a cross over star? The is a million-dollar question but it will have to wait as he is focusing on MMA first, where he wants to get a title first.

 

Bellator 199 results

Main card (Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET)
Ryan Bader def. Muhammed Lawal by TKO (punches) at 0:15 of round 1.

Jon Fitch def. Paul Daley via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-26, 29-26)

Aaron Pico def. Lee Morrison by KO (body shot) at 1:10 of round 1.

Cheick Kongo def. Javy Ayala via KO (punch) at 2:29 of round 1.

Adam Piccolotti def. Carrington Banks via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:40 of round 3.

Preliminary Card (MMA Fighting at 7 p.m. ET)

Deron Winn def. Ahmed White via knockout at 2:32 of round 1

Justin Tenedora def. David Rivera by submission (triangle choke) at 4:27 of round 1.

Gaston Bolanos def. Malcolm Hill via TKO (leg kicks) at 2:54 of round 1.

James Terry def. Danasabe Mohammed by unanimous decision (30-26 x 3).

Amber Leibrock def. Janay Harding via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26).

Jordan Williams def. Brandon Hester by TKO (punches) 1:11 at round 2.