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![Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, reacts after knocking out Mukhamed Berkhamov,...]()
Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, reacts after knocking out Mukhamed Berkhamov, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Lorenz won the bout via first round knockout. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Lorenz Larkin watches Mukhamed Berkhamov fall to the canvas after...]()
Lorenz Larkin watches Mukhamed Berkhamov fall to the canvas after knocking him out with an elbow at Bellator 290 on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at The Forum in Inglewood. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, watches Mukhamed Berkhamov, blue gloves, fall...]()
Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, watches Mukhamed Berkhamov, blue gloves, fall to the canvas after knocking him out during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Lorenz won the bout via first round knockout. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Brennan Ward throws a head kick that led to his...]()
Brennan Ward throws a head kick that led to his second-round TKO victory over Sabah Homasi at Bellator 290 on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at The Forum in Inglewood. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator...]()
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator...]()
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Brennan Ward, blue gloves, lands a knee to the head...]()
Brennan Ward, blue gloves, lands a knee to the head of Sabah Homasi, red gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator...]()
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator...]()
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during...]()
Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Corrales won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during...]()
Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Corrales won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during...]()
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue...]()
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue...]()
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during...]()
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Steve Mowry, red gloves, vs. Ali Isaev, blue gloves, during...]()
Steve Mowry, red gloves, vs. Ali Isaev, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The pair fought to a draw. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Karl Albrektsson, blue gloves vs. Grant Neal, red gloves, during...]()
Karl Albrektsson, blue gloves vs. Grant Neal, red gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Neal won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during...]()
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during...]()
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during...]()
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during...]()
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during...]()
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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![Nikita Mikhailov vs. Darrion Caldwell during Bellator 290: Bader vs....]()
Nikita Mikhailov vs. Darrion Caldwell during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Mikhailov won the fight by judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
INGLEWOOD — With one short and legal elbow, Lorenz Larkin made a loud statement with an early entry for Knockout of the Year.
Emerging from a clinch, Larkin cracked Mukhamed Berkhamov with a thudding elbow to the temple, instantly dropping the Russian for a first-round knockout in their rematch on the Bellator 290 preliminary card Saturday at The Forum.
The Riverside welterweight immediately celebrated, sitting atop the fence to the fans’ delight as Berkhamov (14-1, 1 NC) lay face down in the middle of the cage at 1:41 of the first round.
Even 𝘾𝙍𝘼𝙕𝙄𝙀𝙍 in slow-motion. What a KO by @da_MONSOON!
💻 @MonsterEnergy Prelims fueled by @NorthgateGlzMrk | Bellator YouTube
📺 #Bellator290 | 𝑪𝑩𝑺 & 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕+ | 9pm ET / 6pm PT pic.twitter.com/h3fAauR4Ge
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) February 5, 2023
“It feels so good,” Larkin said of the thunderous walk-off, which became a signature style of win for former UFC star Mark Hunt. “Just watching it you know and then the walk-off is just like homage to Mark Hunt, you know? It is not getting much better. My son, my fiancée, my daughter’s in the crowd.”
Larkin, who said he hopes to fight again at Bellator 293 on March 31 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, called it one of the most satisfying finishes of his career.
“He had this hype behind him. A lot of guys didn’t want to fight him. 14-0,” Larkin said.
Now undefeated in eight consecutive fights, Larkin (25-7, 2 NC) was looking for revenge after the two fought to a no contest at Bellator 283 in July. That fight was also halted midway through the opening round due to an elbow deemed to be a foul.
While fighting a takedown, Larkin connected with an illegal elbow to the back of Berkhamov’s head. Larkin believed Berkhamov’s reaction to the elbow, and saying he couldn’t continue, was delayed after the referee jumped in.
But Saturday night, Larkin landed a clean elbow to put to rest any doubts. Once he saw the left side of Berkhamov’s head exposed, instinct kicked in.
“It’s kind of like a slow motion, but it’s also like second nature because we work these movements in camp and even in the back room before I came out,” Larkin said. “It’s just if the opportunity presents itself, and I think maybe just from drilling and embedding that in my body. It’s just second nature
Corrales wins third straight: Henry Corrales rallied to win the last two rounds for a unanimous-decision victory and hand Akhmed Magomedov his first defeat.
All three judges gave the former La Mirada resident the last two rounds over Magomedov (10-1, 1 NC) for a 29-28 victory on all cards. Corrales has won three in a row to improve to 21-6.
Drama ends in draw: Undefeated heavyweights Steve Mowry and Ali Isaev stayed that way, fighting to a draw despite a resoundingly dominant second round by Mowry.
All three judges scored it 28-28, giving Isaev the first and final rounds by 10-9 scores. Mowry (10-0-1, 1 NC) almost finished Isaev (9-0-1) in a 10-8 second round, taking him down and delivering massive punishment as referee Herb Dean appeared close to stopping it.
Gonzalez flattens Rohskopf: Coming off a loss to eventual lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, Chris Gonzalez proved he is still a threat at 155 pounds with a TKO victory over Max Rohskopf.
Gonzalez (8-2), fighting out of Sacramento, floored Rohskopf (7-2) with a right to the forehead and followed with several rights before the fight was stopped at 1:22 of the second round.
Neal gets the split: Grant Neal improved to 8-1 with a split-decision victory over Karl Albrektsson.
The judges scored it 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 for the Denver light heavyweight. Albrektsson dropped his second in a row to fall to 13-5.
Avsaragova edges Lara: Diana Avsaragova remained perfect with a split-decision victory over (6-0) defeated Alejandra Lara (9-7) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Avsaragova won the fight 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 to improve to 6-0. Lara (9-7), who outstruck the Russian flyweight 99-57 and outkicked her 38-7, lost her fourth consecutive fight to drop to 9-7.
Mikhailov outpoints Caldwell: In the opening bout, Nikita Mikhailov (10-2) defeated Darrion Caldwell (15-7) via unanimous decision.
All three judges scored it 29-28 for the Russian bantamweight, who improved to 1-0. Caldwell (15-7), the former 135-pound champ who fights out of Redlands, has now lost four in a row.
