Sara McMann stuck with what got her to the dance Saturday, as she smothered former Bellator title challenger Arlene Blencowe for much of three rounds to win her Bellator debut.
In the Bellator 294 featured bout, McMann (14-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) defeated Blencowe (15-10 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26) at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
From the opening bell, McMann pushed the pace with a relentless wrestling attack. Whether double legs or single legs, McMann latched onto Blencowe however she could. In Round 2, McMann opened up with her striking in a vicious muay thai display of a tight plumb clinch and brutal knees. Blencowe survived.
Vicious sequence by McMann!#Bellator294 Main Card is LIVE on @Showtime NOW! pic.twitter.com/XIjD9Gyjga
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) April 22, 2023
After a dominant first two rounds, McMann nearly let the win slip away when Blencowe drilled her with a violent combination in the opening seconds of Round 3. McMann was visibly stunned as the two clashed heads, too. McMann survived and the wrestling attack started back up again.
WHAT A FIGHT! @arleneangerfist vs. @Sara_McMann is living up to the hype.#Bellator294 | LIVE NOW | @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/oy2V5m4gv3
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 22, 2023
McMann’s first Bellator fight was a successful one. After back-to-back cancellations in the UFC vs. Aspen Ladd, McMann parted ways with the promotion to test free agency. She entered Bellator with two wins in her most recent three fights with the loss in that stretch against Julianna Peña.
Blencowe, 40, has now lost back-to-back fights. Prior to Friday’s bout, Blencowe fought valiantly against in a title challenge against champion Cris Cyborg in April but lost a unanimous decision.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 294 results include:
- Sara McMann def. Arlene Blencowe via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Danny Sabatello def. Marcos Breno via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:10
- Levan Chokheli def. Michael Lombardo via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Killys Mota def. Kenneth Cross via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:14
- Tyrell Fortune def. Sergey Bilostenniy via disqualification (illegal strikes) – Round 1, 3:26
- Cris Lencioni def. Blake Smith via submission (rear triangle) – Round 2, 3:39
- Sharaf Davlatmurodov def. Anthony Adams via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 294.
