Bellator 222 Results: MacDonald vs. Gracie / Caldwell vs. Horiguchi
Displaying excellent submission defence throughout the 25-minute fight, Rory MacDonald successfully retained his Bellator welterweight championship against Neiman Gracie and advanced to the final of the welterweight grand prix.
Much of the build-up to Bellator 222’s main event was dominated by MacDonald’s wavering desire to fight but ‘The Red King’ looked much improved from his last outing against Jon Fitch just seven weeks ago.
With his decision win against a spirited Gracie, MacDonald will now face off against Douglas Lima for the second time in the final bout of Bellator’s 170 lbs grand prix.
Meanwhile in the night’s other title fight, Koyji Horiguchi’s activity from the bottom allowed him to add Bellator’s bantamweight title to his collection as he earned a unanimous decision win over Darrion Caldwell. Horiguchi now holds back-to-back wins over Caldwell and as a result of their two-fight series, the Japanese fighter is now both RIZIN and Bellator 135 lbs champion.
Elsewhere at Madison Square Garden, Chael Sonnen brought the curtain down on a storied career after a second-round TKO loss to Lyoto Machida, Juan Archuleta scored a brilliant KO against former champion Eduardo Dantas and Aaron Pico suffered another KO loss as a flying knee from Adam Borics ensured a second straight defeat.
Main Card
Rory MacDonald def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
Lyoto Machida def. Chael Sonnen via TKO (Round 2, 0:22)
Dillon Danis def. Max Humphrey via submission (armbar) (Round 1, 4:28)
Juan Archuleta def. Eduardo Dantas via KO (Round 2, 4:59)
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrion Caldwell via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Preliminary Card
Taylor Turner def. Heather Hardy via TKO (Round 1, 3:53)
Adam Borics def. Aaron Pico via KO (Round 2, 3:55)
Valerie Loureda def. Larkyn Dasch via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Lindsey VanZandt def. Rena Kubota via technical submission (rear-naked choke) (Round 1, 4:04)
Haim Gozali def. Gustavo Wurlitzer via submission (triangle choke) (Round 1, 4:02)
Mike Kimbel def. Sebastian Ruiz via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Robson Gracie Jr. def. Oscar Vera via submission (armbar) (Round 1, 3:15)
Marcus Surin def. Nekruz Mirkhojaev via split decision (30-27, 27-29, 29-27)
Phil Hawes def. Michael Wilcox via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (Round 1, 5:00)
John Beneduce def. Kenny Rivera via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)