Bellator 172 live results: Josh Thomson vs. Patricky Pitbull; Fedor fight scrapped

By Dave Meltzer
Published: 18 Feb 2017, 17:55

Bellator 172 returns to the SAP Center in San Jose, CA, Saturday, but not with the main event everyone expected.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione was scrapped late in the day due to Mitrione suffering from kidney stones. There were fighters who offered to take his place but at such late notice Bellator was unable to put a new fight together. The co-main event of Josh Thomson vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire has been elevated to main event status — a fight that could determine the next challenger to lightweight champ Michael Chandler.

Also on the undercard, former UFC welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck finally makes his promotional debut as he’s set to fight journeyman Mauricio Alonso.

Cheick Kongo will step into a Bellator cage for the tenth time on Saturday as he takes on ex-UFC fighter and Englishman Oli Thompson. Rounding out the main card is a women’s flyweight fight as Veta Arteaga goes up against Brooke Mayo, who will be making her pro debut.

Dave Meltzer will be live at cageside with the main card coverage starting at 9 p.m. on Spike TV.

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There will be five fights on Spike. The new fight will be Anatoly Tokov, one of Fedor’s fighters, against Francisco France, which was scheduled to be on the streaming undercard.

JOSH KOSCHECK (17-10) VS. MAURICIO ALONSO (12-7), WELTERWEIGHTS

First round: Koscheck looks in great shape for his age. Koscheck was mostly cheered, not thunderously loud or anything. Koscheck landed a nice uppercut. Alonso with a left jab. Alonso with a few punches and then missed. Both trading punches, Alonso landed more. Low kick by Alonso. Both trading again. Alonso rocked him with a punch. Alonso with an uppercut and put Koscheck down and landed punches on the ground and it was stopped. Josh’s chin has been gone for some time and unfortunately that doesn’t turn around.

A right cross hurt him. , then an uppercut, a right cross and punches on the ground. 4:42

VETA ARTEAGA (2-1) VS. BROOKE MAYO (0-0), WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT

First round: Mayo is from Concord, CA so and she’s got fans here. Nice reaction. Mayo with a knee to the head. Arteaga shoved her down. Mayo back up. Mayo took her down, and has her back. She’s working for a choke but doesn’t have it. Arteaga landing punches. Arteaga out of trouble and on top after escaping and on top after escaping. Arteaga with punches. Mayo back up. Arteaga is cut from a collision of heads. The doctor was called in. Head kick by Mayo. Mayo 10-9

Second round: Both trading and Mayo with a head kick. Takedown by Mayo. Arteaga reversed to the top. Both throwing. Arteaga with some body punches. Close round, Arteaga so 19-19 after two.

Third round: Arteaga with punches and knees. Spinning punch by Arteaga. Arteaga with punches. Mayo throwing knees form the clinch. Arteaga landing a lot. Mayo took her down. She moved to mount and got her back. Mayo again working for a choke. Arteaga reversed to the top. Crowd is super hot for this. Left by Mayo. They stopped the fight. Mayo was begging for it to continue. Her left eye was swollen and she was bleeding from the nose. It didn’t look like something that would stop a fight but John McCarthy was right there. The crowd was loving the third round. I can’t say either fighter looked impressive but the third round was exciting. The stoppage was from her swollen left eye. 4:04

They pushed Arteaga against Anastasia Yannikova, they had a controversial split decision last year that Arteaga lost.

ANATOLY TOKOV (24-2) VS. FRANCISCO FRANCE (13-4), MIDDLEWEIGHT

First round: Tokov in with punches. Tokov took him down into side control. France working for an armbar. Now France has a triangle. Great escape by Tokov. France 10-9

Second round: France tried a takedown and Tokov easily evaded it. Uppercut by Tokov. France went for a takedown. Tokov land a nice punch. France is on his back. A time out was ordered as Tokov kicked him in the groin as France was on his back. Tokov landed a counter punch and is on top. Tokov landed hard punches from the top and it was stopped. 2:24

Fedor Emelianenko did an interview. They strongly indicated that Fedor vs. Mitrione would be taking place as soon as they can arrange a date.

CHEICK KONGO (25-10-2) VS. OLI THOMPSON (17-9), HEAVYWEIGHTS

First round: Kongo landing good punches and now Thompson back with punches. Kongo with a knee to the groin from close range causing a time out. Kongo with a punch and takedown. Hard punches on the ground. Knee by Kongo. Lots of knees by Kongo, a right and a ton of more knees by Kongo until the round ended. Thompson was in trouble. 10-9 Kongo, almost a 10-8

Second round: Thompson landed a right. Knee by Kongo. Takedown by Kongo. Hard right on the ground by Kongo. Kongo with body and head punches. Now Kongo landing elbows. He’s bouncing Thompson’s head all over the place. Kongo was landing more hard punches on the ground. For sure a 10-8 for Kongo so 20-17 after two.

Third round: Thompson went for a takedown but blocked. Kongo throwing knees to the body again. Kongo with a takedown. Kongo with a mount. Kongo is continuing to land punches. Kongo with elbows from the top. Another for sure 10-8 round, 30-25 overall.

Scores were 30-26, 30-25 and 30-25 for Kongo

JOSH THOMSON (22-8) VS. PATRICKY PITBULL FREIRE (16-8), LIGHTWEIGHTS

First round: Of course Thomson got by far the best reaction of the night. This is the 11th anniversary of his first fight in this arena. Body kick by Pitbull. Pitbull landed a right. Low kick by Pitbull. Low kicks by Pitbull. Pitbull threw a few punches. Pitbull landed a punch. Thomson with a low kick. Another low kick by Pitbull and another. Pitbull knocked him down with a right. Thomson back up and tried a takedown and didn’t get it. Thomson threw a head kick. Pitbull 10-9

Second round: Pitbull dropped him although they may have bonked heads. He then cracked Thomson with an uppercut and that was it. Nice knockout. Not a good night for this area’s original stars. :40