A tale of two fight cards scheduled for this weekend was something like this: In one corner, you had UFC 282 ravaged by injuries and without 205lb champion Jiri Prochazka forced to vacate his title after dislocating his shoulder in training.
The other featured Bellator 289, headlined by interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots in a Grand Prix semifinal against Danny Sabatello. Despite lacking an undisputed champion at the top of the card, the stakes at Bellator 289 were much higher – and the card brought with it a second title fight, a rematch between Liz Carmouche and Juliana Velasquez, in the co-main event slot.
Not to mention the second semifinal of the Grand Prix bantamweight, between Patchy Mix and Magomed Magomedov.
Fortunately, since the events were scheduled on different days, fight fans were able to watch both. And Friday’s Bellator 289 card, at least on paper, was worth watching and the overall better card.
For Stotts, the big question heading into Friday’s Connecticut clash was whether the bike that was Sabatello got under his skin. Sabatello certainly believed he did, telling Cageside Press as much earlier this week.
The co-feature, meanwhile, saw Juliana Velasquez with a chance to redeem herself. After losing a fourth-round TKO in a fight she won earlier this year and failing to appeal the result, Velasquez had the chance to get revenge against the only fighter to ever beat her in Carmouche.
Bellator 289 takes place on Friday, December 9, 2022 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Unvasville, CT. Full results from the event can be found below; A live stream of the preliminary action is above. Where available, the base map can also be viewed below.
Bellator 289: Stots vs. Sabatello results
Base map
Raufeon Stots (ic) vs Danny Sabatello – for the Bellator Interim World Bantamweight Championship / Grand Prix Semi-Final
Liz Carmouche (c) vs. Juliana Velasquez – for the Bellator Women’s World Flyweight Championship
Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov – semi-final of the Grand Prix in the rooster category
Dalton Rosta vs. Anthony Adams
Advance card
Denise Kielholtz vs. Ilara Joanne
Cody Law vs. Cris Lencioni
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Jaleel Willis
Kai Kamaka III vs. Kevin Boehm
Mark Lemminger vs. Michael Lombardo
Pat Downey vs. Christian Echols
Cass Bell vs. Jared Scoggins