Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for Bellator 178. We'll be bringing you full, round by round coverage of every fight on the card. You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
You can see the full results below.
(Note: Rankings are provided by Fightful’s David Tees.)
Main Card (9pm EST., Spike TV)
#1 Patricio Freire def. Daniel Straus by submission via guillotine choke (0:37, R2) to win the Bellator MMA Featherweight Title
#1 Ilima-Lei MacFarlane def. #10 Jessica Middleton by submission via arm bar (2:15, R1)
#10 Saad Awad def. Ryan Quinn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#4 AJ McKee def. Dominic Mazzotta by KO via head kick (1:15, R1)
Preliminary Card (7pm EST., Bellator.com)
#9 Ed Ruth def. David Mundell by TKO via knee strike (3:13, R2)
Kastriot Xhema def. Nick Alley by TKO via strikes (3:19, R1)
Blair Tugman def. Thomas English by submission via rear naked choke (4:54, R3)
Jordan Young def. Tim Caron by submission via d’arce choke (3:55, R1)
Tyrell Fortune def. Branko Busick by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Round By Round Recap
Tyrell Fortune vs. Branko Busick
Round One: The round begins with Fortune attacking Busick with some leg kicks, Fortune also cracks Busick with a few jabs as well. Fortune grabs Busick and he holds him against the cage wall, Fortune nails Busick with some knee strikes while in the clinch. The fighters separate and Busick holds Fortune against the cage wall, Busick catches Fortune with a few rights to the midsection. The fighters separate again and Fortune attacks Busick with more kicks, Fortune grabs Busick and he attacks him with more knee strikes. Fortune again puts Busick up against the cage wall, Fortune starts using some dirty boxing while clinching with Busick. Fortune attacks Busick with a series of knee strikes to the midsection until Busick spins him as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Fortune
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Fortune grabs Busick and he nails him with more knee strikes. Fortune accidentally nails Busick low and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Fortune cracking Busick with some jabs. The fighters clinch and Busick puts Fortune against the cage wall again, Fortune nails Busick low again with a knee strike and the fight is halted. The referee takes a point from the fighter for the second illegal knee strike, the action resumes with Busick nailing a swinging Fortune with a counter left. Fortune looks for the takedown and Busick puts him against the cage wall, Busick catches Fortune with a few rights to the midsection. Fortune recovers and he cracks Busick with more knee strikes to the midsection, the fighters break away from each other and Fortune takes a few swings at Busick. Fortune also goes back to attacking Busick with some leg kicks, Fortune goes for the takedown again and Busick winds up putting him against the cage wall as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 9-9 for Fortune (Overall Score: 19-18 for Fortune)
Round Three: The round begins with Fortune attacking Busick with a few rights, Busick comes forward while throwing a combination at Fortune. Busick grabs Fortune and he holds him against the cage wall, Busick attacks Fortune with some rights to the midsection. The fighters separate and Busick puts Fortune against the cage wall again, Fortune separates from Busick and pops him with a right. Fortune starts attacking Busick with knee strikes to the midsection again until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Fortune (Final Score: 29-27 for Fortune)
Official Result: Tyrell Fortune def. Branko Busick by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
#9 Ed Ruth vs. David Mundell
Round One: The round begins with Ruth grabbing Mundell and he holds him against the cage wall, Ruth scores a takedown on Mundell and he gets back control. Mundell scrambles to his feet and Ruth drags him back to the ground, Ruth transitions to the half guard on Mundell. Ruth starts attacking Mundell with some ground and pound, Ruth briefly gets the full mount position on Mundell. Ruth gains the full mount and then back control on Mundell, Ruth attacks Mundell with lots of ground and pound. Mundell scrambles to his feet and Ruth drags him back to the ground, Ruth attacks Mundell with more ground and pound. Mundell scrambles back to his feet and Ruth scores another takedown as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ruth
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some jabs, Ruth comes forward while cracking Mundell with a few rights. Ruth scores a takedown on Mundell and he gets the full mount, Ruth attacks Mundell with ground and pound. Mundell scrambles to his feet and he separates from Ruth, Ruth scores another takedown on Mundell and he gets the full mount. Ruth attacks Mundell with some more ground and pound as he gains back control, Mundell scrambles to his feet as Ruth nails him with a bunch of rights. Ruth drops Mundell with a knee strike to the midsection and the referee jumps in.
Official Result: #9 Ed Ruth def. David Mundell by TKO via knee strike (3:13, R2)
Jordan Young vs. Tim Caron
Round One: The round begins with Caron attacking Young with some leg kicks, Young comes forward attacking Caron with a punching combination. Young backs up Caron after nailing him with a few rights, Caron eventually attacks Young with a high kick that gets blocked. Young continues attacking Caron with some punching combinations, Young rocks Caron with a right and he locks him in the d’arce choke to force a tap out.
Official Result: Jordan Young def. Tim Caron by submission via d’arce choke (3:55, R1)
Action continues on Page Two...
Thomas English vs. Blair Tugman
Round One: The round begins with Tugman attacking English with some leg kicks, English nails a kicking Tugman with a counter strike combination. English continues catching Tugman with striking combinations, Tugman cracks English with a kick to the midsection. The fighters continue taking wild swings at each other, Tugman then nails English with a kick to the midsection. English pops a kicking Tugman with a counter uppercut, Tugman grabs English and he holds him against the cage wall. Tugman scores a takedown on English as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Tugman
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters jabbing away at each other, English catches Tugman with a kick to the midsection. Tugman looks for the takedown and he holds English against the cage wall, Tugman scores a takedown on English and he gets the half guard. Tugman starts attacking English with some ground and pound, Tugman transitions to side control on English. Tugman then transitions to the north/south position on English, English scrambles to his feet and Tugman drags him back to the ground while getting the full mount. Tugman attacks English with a few strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Tugman (Overall Score: 20-18 for Tugman)
Round Three: The round begins with English attacking Tugman with a jumping crane kick, Tugman scores a takedown on English and he gets the full guard. Tugman transitions to the side control position on English, Tugman starts attacking English with some ground and pound. Tugman eventually gains the full mount position on English, Tugman then moves to back control on English. Tugman locks in the rear naked choke to force a tap out.
Official Result: Blair Tugman def. Thomas English by submission via rear naked choke (4:54, R3)
Nick Alley vs. Kastriot Xhema
Round One: The round begins with Xhema attacking Alley with some leg kicks and a high kick, Alley responds by attempting a high kick of his own. Xhema then cracks a swinging Alley with a few left hooks, Xhema attacks Alley with more high kicks and lefts. Xhema rocks Alley with a multiple strike combination, Alley grabs Xhema and he holds him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Xhema nails Alley with a few more left hooks, Xhema drops Alley with a left and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Kastriot Xhema def. Nick Alley by TKO via strikes (3:19, R1)
#4 AJ McKee vs. Dominic Mazzotta
Round One: The round begins with Mazzotta nailing McKee with a kick to the midsection, McKee responds by nailing Mazzotta with a few side kicks. McKee levels Mazzotta with a head kick and Mazzotta goes out cold.
Official Result: #4 AJ McKee def. Dominic Mazzotta by KO via head kick (1:15, R1)
Final fights are on Page Three...
#10 Saad Awad vs. Ryan Quinn
Round One: The round begins with Awad attacking Quinn with a variety of kicks, Quinn looks for the takedown after eating a right from Awad. Awad then cracks a ducking Quinn with a knee strike to the head, Quinn goes for another takedown and Awad winds up getting back control on him. Quinn scrambles to his feet and the fighters separate, Quinn scores a takedown on Awad and he gets him in the seated position. Awad scrambles to get back to his feet, Quinn drops Awad with a knee strike and he locks in the guillotine choke. Awad escapes the choke and the fighters get back to their feet, Quinn goes back to hunting for the takedown against Awad. Quinn goes for the takedown and Awad assaults him with strikes, Awad nails Quinn with a kick to the midsection. Quinn scores a takedown on Awad and he gets him in the seated position again as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Quinn
Round Two: The round begins with Quinn nailing Awad with a kick to the midsection before scoring a takedown, Quinn transitions to back control on Awad. Awad causes a scramble and Quinn winds up in his full guard, Quinn regains back control on a scrambling Awad. Awad spins at the right time and he gets top position on Quinn, Awad starts attacking Quinn with some ground and pound. Quinn scrambles at the right time to get top position again on Awad, Quinn transitions to the half guard on Awad. Awad sweeps Quinn and he regains top position again, Awad advances to the half guard position on Quinn. Awad then transitions to the side control position on Quinn, Awad gains back control on Quinn as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Awad (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Quinn attacking Awad with leg kicks, Quinn scores a takedown on Awad and he gets side control. Quinn transitions to back control on Awad, Awad scrambles and that causes both fighters to stand up. Awad then cracks a swinging Quinn with a counter right hook, Quinn scores a takedown on Awad and he gets him to his knees. Awad sweeps Quinn and he winds up gaining top position, Awad starts attacking Quinn with some ground and pound. Quinn scrambles to his feet with Awad holding onto him, the fighters separate and Quinn puts Awad against the cage wall. Quinn looks for a takedown and Awad winds up with top position, Awad gains side control position on Quinn. Awad scrambles to get back control on Quinn and he goes for the rear naked choke as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Awad (Final Score: 29-28 for Awad)
Official Result: #10 Saad Awad def. Ryan Quinn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#1 Ilima-Lei MacFarlane vs. #10 Jessica Middleton
Round One: The round begins with Middleton attacking MacFarlane with leg kicks, Middleton then cracks a swinging MacFarlane with a counter right. MacFarlane grabs Middleton and she holds her against the cage wall, MacFarlane scores the takedown on Middleton and she gets the half guard. MacFarlane attacks Middleton with a lot of ground and pound, MacFarlane rolls for the arm bar and a tap out follows.
Official Result: #1 Ilima-Lei MacFarlane def. #10 Jessica Middleton by submission via arm bar (2:15, R1)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Title Fight: Daniel Straus (Champion) vs. #1 Patricio Freire
Round One: The round begins with Freire and Straus exchanging blows, Straus starts attacking Freire with some leg kicks. Freire then pops Straus with a short right hook, Freire also attacks Straus with a high kick that gets blocked. The fighters also start exchanging a variety of kicks, Straus pops Freire with a straight left before he holds Freire against the cage wall. Freire spins Straus into the cage wall while landing a few knee strikes, the referee separates the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Freire kicking Straus in the midsection as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Freire
Round Two: The round begins with Freire nailing a swinging Straus with a knee strike to the midsection, Straus looks for a takedown and Freire goes for the guillotine choke to force a submission.
Official Result: #1 Patricio Freire def. Daniel Straus by submission via guillotine choke (0:37, R2) to win the Bellator MMA Featherweight Title
