Bellator 234 returns to Tel Aviv, showcasing top Israeli MMA talents
On Thursday night, major Mixed Martial Arts promotion Bellator returned to Israel for Bellator 234, with 15 undercard bouts coupled with a much anticipated home crowd main event, showcasing some of the best Israeli mixed martial artists across the country, throughout the slate.
The event, taking place in Menorah Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, featured a series of over 20 combined undercard and main-card bouts – including Israeli mixed martial artists such as Haim Gozali, his son, up-and-coming undefeated jujitsu specialist Aviv Gozali, Simon “The Assassin” Smotrisky, Raz Bring, Adam Keresh and Olga Rubin, to name just a few.
While the hometown crowd vigorously cheered on their Israeli representatives in the cage – with the arena erupting into cheers every time an Israeli fighter gained the upper hand – the main event saw a heavyweight bout featuring former English Ultimate Challenge MMA heavyweight champion Linton Vassell (19-8-0) against Russian kickboxing specialist Sergei Kharitonov (30-7-0).
Kharitonov – who headlined Bellator 225 two months prior, winning by TKO in a fight against Matt Mitrione – had his six-fight winning streak snapped by Vassell. Kharitonov lunged throughout the fight hoping to land a big shot on Vassell, however his strategy did not prove worthy. Eventually, at around the two-minute mark of the first round, Vassell took Khartinov to the ground and gained control, forcing Khartinov to absorb strikes for the rest of the round as Vassell’s ground control was relentless.
The second round proved to be the same, Vassell took Khartinov to the ground again, gained side control and then moved to full mount and put Khartinov away when referee Todd Anderson finally stopped the fight – revitalizing Vassell’s career by showing sheer dominance over his opponent.
“I think that just spoke for itself,” said Vassell during the post-fight interview. Top boy in Sergei. He was probably No. 1 contender if he had won this fight. Give me two fights and get that Bader fight back. You can see what I do on my good day. Nothing against the people who beat me in my last three fights. I think I needed that to bring me back.”
In the lightweight division, Roger “El Matador” Huerta (24-11-1) faced off against Sidney “Da Gun” Outlaw (12-30) in what proved to be a grappling match dominated by Outlaw in his Bellator debut. Huerta regularly threw a kick to the body that Outlaw would catch and then eventually take Huerta to the ground with, over and over. Outlaw won the match by unanimous decision.
Austin “The Gentleman” Vanderford (8-0-0) took on Grachik Bozinyan (9-30) in the first bout of the main event.
Vanderford hammered his opponent with leg kicks throughout the match, wearing down Bozinyan second by second.
Vanderford was able to take down Bozinyan in the second round as well as the third and used his positioning to get some amazing strikes in from top position.
Ultimately, Vanderford won by unanimous decision, 29-28.
Three out of the final six fights featured Israeli fighters.
On the women’s side, the feature featherweight fight spotlighted Sinead “KO” Kavanagh (5-4-0) against Israeli Olga “Big Bad” Rubin (6-1-0). Kavanagh proved to be too much for Rubin to handle; after wasting much of her gas within the first round wrestling and going strike for strike with Kavanagh, in the second round Rubin was lit up with a barrage of strikes from her opponent.
The most anticipated and emotional match for the Israeli crowd pitted veteran Israeli welterweight Haim Gozali (116-0) from Bat Yam – known as the “Israeli Batman,” who at 46 years old and the only Israeli to ever fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden – against 31-year-old Russian fighter Artur “The Predator” Pronin (16-3-0).
Gozali, who was on a three-fight winning streak, put his Brazilian jujitsu skills on display for the home crowd and the world to see, winning by a heel hook submission in the first minute of the first round.
He announced his retirement after the fight, lauding the Israeli crowd and the MMA world for all of their support throughout the years.
“That’s it guys,” said Gozali. “That’s the best feeling in the world to fight in Israel. I love you all. I want to say thank you for making the MMA grow like this in Israel. We have a full arena because of all of you. Thank you everybody. There’s no Haim without jujitsu. My master Renzo Gracie. Everything I know everything I do is because of this guy.”
Competing directly after his father was Gozali’s son, rising star Aviv Gonzali (3-00), who recently recorded the fastest submission in Bellator history by defeating his opponent in just 11 seconds.
Aviv faced off against Zaka Fatullazade, putting his undefeated record on the line and the Israeli impressively did not disappoint. The junior Gonzali lunged forward landing strikes, moved to the clinch and threw a few knees into Fatullazade’s chest, then brought his opponent to the ground and quickly positioned his way by anaconda choke, just 56 seconds into the first round.
“Yo Israel, give me some noise!” Aviv shouted to the crowd. “Your king is here. Soon you’re going to have your first Israeli world champion, so get ready for that. It’s the best experience that I can get [training] with A.J. McKee, he’s going to be the next featherweight champion. I want to fight Ryan Couture next. He beat my father twice. I want revenge.”