Bellator 292 was quite the night for Linton Vassell, who got revenge – and a title shot.
Friday, Vassell (23-8 MMA, 11-5 BMMA) knocked out former Bellator title challenger Valentin Moldavsky (11-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) with big elbows. The heavyweight bout was part of the event’s main card at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
The finishing sequence began with a right hand from Vassell, who pounced on Moldavsky, a Fedor Emelianenko protege. Moldavsky could not regain himself while Vassell poured down heavy strikes. A sequence of bludgeoning elbows by Vassell from mount put Moldavsky out cold.
Following the conclusion of the bout, Bellator confirmed on the broadcast and during the in-cage decision reading that Vassell is next in line for Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. A date or location for that event was not revealed.
ELBOW!
📺 #Bellator292 | LIVE NOW | 🇺🇸 @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/kRmQZJ57Zm
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) March 11, 2023
Vassell has won five in a row with four finishes. He’s 5-1 since he moved up from light heavyweight in 2019. His only heavyweight loss came in his divisional debut – against Moldavsky by unanimous decision.
The defeat marked the first time Moldavsky has been finished in his professional career. He is 0-2 with a no contest in his most recent three outings.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 292 results include:
- Linton Vassell def. Valentin Moldavsky via knockout (elbows) – Round
- Michael Page def. Goiti Yamauchi via KO (leg kick) – Round 1, 0:26.
- Enrique Barzola def. Erik Perez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Josh Hill def. Cass Bell via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Khalid Murtazaliev def. Tony Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Julius Anglickas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Laird Anderson def. Rogelio Luna via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2;41.
- Theo Haig def. Adam Wamsley via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:01.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.
