GOITI YAMAUCHI STARCHES NEIMAN GRACIE WITH VIRAL SECOND-ROUND KNOCKOUT TO ENTER WELTERWEIGHT RANKINGS AT No. 6, AARON JEFFERY MAKES STATEMENT ON SHORT NOTICE
BELLATOR RETURNS TO DUBLIN, IRELAND, ON SEPTEMBER 23 WITH A REMARKABLE FIGHT CARD LOADED WITH FAN FAVORITES AND EUROPEAN TALENT FOR BELLATOR 285: HENDERSON VS. QUEALLY
LOS ANGELES — This past weekend, Brazil’s Goiti Yamauchi (28-5) sent shockwaves through the MMA world with his breakout, second-round knockout victory over former BELLATOR welterweight title challenger Neiman Gracie (11-4) in the main event of BELLATOR 284. In a fight that Yamauchi declared the most meaningful of his career as his first BELLATOR main event and a matchup against the Gracie family who inspired his career, Yamauchi announced his arrival to the welterweight division and earned the No. 6 spot in the division’s rankings; Gracie fell two places to No. 7.
The SHOWTIME-televised main card also saw Canadian middleweight Aaron Jeffery (13-3) make the most of his short-notice opportunity with recent title challenger Austin Vanderford (11-2), as Jeffery needed just 85 seconds to knock out the previously-ranked No. 2 contender despite only accepting the fight eight days prior. Jeffery debuts in the rankings at No. 6, while Vanderford fell five slots to No. 7. Former BELLATOR flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (12-2) retained her position in the rankings at No. 4 with a unanimous decision win over Brazil’s Bruna Ellen (6-4), while Turkish heavyweight Gokhan Saricam (8-1) edged out Said Sowma (8-4) to move up to No. 9 in the heavyweight division; Sowma is no longer ranked.
*Catch our interview with Bellator fighter, Said Sowma*
Elsewhere, two top prospects at light heavyweight and bantamweight entered their respective rankings for the first time. Arizona State University wrestling alumnus and Ryan Bader protégé Sullivan Cauley (4-0) took the No. 10 spot at light heavyweight, while Brazil’s Marcos Breno (15-2) wowed in his promotional debut by outpointing previously-ranked No. 9 bantamweight and original BELLATOR World Bantamweight Grand Prix alternate Josh Hill (21-5) by unanimous decision to enter the rankings at No. 10. DeAnna Bennett (13-7) closed the book on her saga with Justine Kish (8-6), defeating her for a second consecutive time on the scorecards and moving up a spot to No. 5 in the flyweight rankings; Kish remains No. 7.
BELLATOR MMA returns to the spotlight on Friday, September 23 for a sensational international event headlined by MMA legend Benson Henderson (29-11) and recent lightweight title challenger Peter Queally (13-6-1). BELLATOR 285: Henderson vs. Queally will air on SHOWTIME beginning at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
The co-main event sees legendary competitors Yoel Romero (14-6) and Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1) square off at light heavyweight, and Top 5 featherweight contenders Mads Burnell (16-4) and Pedro Carvalho (12-6) clash on the main card as a featured bout. Also on the main card is budding star Leah McCourt (6-2), who faces Brazil’s Dayana Silva (10-7) in a matchup of ranked featherweights.
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OFFICIAL BELLATOR MMA™ FIGHTER RANKINGS AS OF AUGUST 14, 2022
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