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Bellator Results & Highlights - Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy

Bellator returned with a huge lightweight title fight in San Diego.
Drew Beaupre|
(Bellator MMA/PFL)

Bellator MMA returned on Saturday (September 7) for a loaded Champions Series card at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy

The main event saw Usman Nurmagomedov attempt to defend his Bellator lightweight belt for the second time when he took on Alexander Shabliy.

“Peresvet” is unbeaten since joining Bellator in 2021 and is currently riding a nine-fight win streak, while Nurmagomedov has yet to taste defeat in his 17-fight professional career.

The night’s co-main event was a number one contender bout in the welterweight division featuring UFC veteran and former Bellator title challenger Lorenz Larkin taking on Levan Chokheli .

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Larkin was coming off a first-round finish against Alan Domínguez in his PFL debut, and "The Monsoon" ended Chokheli's three-fight win streak when he stopped him with strikes in under two minutes.

The main card was also highlighted by Aaron Jeffery defeating former Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima in a middleweight bout, and the rest of the event also included a few impressive finishes and big wins from unbeaten prospects Bryce Meredith and Jordan Newman.

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You can check out all the highlights from Bellator Champions Series: San Diego below, followed by full results for every matchup.

Ashley Thiner def. Aysia Cortez

Josh Hokit def. Sean Rose

Bryce Meredith def. John MaCalolooy

Masayuki Kikuiri def. Herman Terrado

Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev

Jora Ayvazyan def. Yancy Medeiros

Sumiko Inaba def. Mackenzie Stiller

Aaron Jeffery def. Douglas Lima

Lorenz Larkin def. Levan Chokheli

Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexander Shabliy

Main Card (MAX, 8:00 p.m. ET)

• Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexander Shabliy via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46x2) – For the Bellator MMA Lightweight Championship

• Co-Main Event: Lorenz Larkin def. Levan Chokheli via TKO: R1, 1:53

• Aaron Jeffery def. Douglas Lima via Unanimous Decision (29-28x3)

• Sumiko Inaba def. Mackenzie Stiller via TKO: R2, 4:25

• Jora Ayvazyan def. Yancy Medeiros via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)

• Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)

• Masayuki Kikuiri def. Herman Terrado via TKO: R3, 2:54

• Bryce Meredith def. John MaCalolooy via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke): R1, 3:18

• Josh Hokit def. Sean Rose via Submission (Armbar): R1, 4:58

• Ashley Thiner def. Aysia Cortez via TKO: R2, 3:11

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Published | Modified
Drew Beaupre
DREW BEAUPRE

Drew is an MMA writer that regularly watches regional events in addition to major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and ONE Championship. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023.

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