Full Recap of Boxing and MMA’s Huge Night!

As previewed earlier this evening on NEOSI, today was a huge day and night in the world of combat sports both in the cage and squared circle.

Here below, is a brief recap of the 3 big main events from all over the world.

In Las Vegas, it was Andre Ward winning a very controversial and disputed decision over IBF, WBO WBC Lightweight Champion Sergey Kovalev. I firmly believe, and so do many others that witnessed the fight that it was clear Kovalev did enough to win, but the judges saw it otherwise. There will be money to be made on a rematch in the near future.

In Brazil, it was Ryan Bader dominating Antonio Nogueira “lil Nog” in a fight that was never close. Lil Nog landed one good shot at the start, and then that was it for his night as Bader took over from there. Bader landed 83 significant strikes while LIL Nog landed 2. Referee Mario Yamaski mercifully put an end to the mugging in the third round by stopping the fight with Bader once again on top, pounding away. This was the last fight on the contract for Nogueira with the UFC, and more than likely he will not be resigned.

The best fight of night took place in Sacramento California under the Bellator banner. Lightweight champion Michael Chandler hung on to beat Benson Henderson in a split decision victory. Chandler rocked Henderson several times early and seemed to get the better of the exchanges in each of the first four rounds. Henderson did rally late with several great submission attempts, but in the end, couldn’t do enough to unseat the champ. NEOSI scored it 49-46 for Chandler.

All in all, there were no premier college football games, and no big basketball games of any kind going on to steal the spotlight, so the fight game had center stage and took full advantage with three solid main events.