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Welcome to the PWInsiderXtra.com live coverage of the Bellator 96 Preliminary Card, live from the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
Fight #1 – Bellator Bantamweight Division Fight
Steven Artoff (5-1-0) vs. Justin McNally (1-1-0)
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Round One
The round begins with McNally instantly looking for the takedown on Artoff, McNally eventually gets the takedown on Artoff and he gets the full guard. Artoff lands a ton of strikes on McNally while on his back, McNally tries to attack Artoff with some ground and pound as well. Artoff rolls for the omaplata and McNally escapes by moving to side control on him, Artoff scrambles to get himself on top of McNally. McNally then catches a moving Artoff in the triangle choke and arm bar, which forces a tap out.
Fight Result: Justin McNally def. Steven Artoff by submission via triangle choke (2:44, R1)
Fight #2 – Bellator Catchweight Division Fight
Derek Campos (11-3-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (8-2-0)
Referee: John McCarthy
Round One
The round begins with Girtz catcing Campos with a two punch combination, Campos responds by hitting Girtz with some leg kicks. Girtz then scores a takedown on Campos and he gets the closed guard, Girtz transitions to half guard on Campos after landing a few strikes. Girtz also mixes in a few elbow strikes on a downed Campos, Campos uses a scramble to get the fight standing again. Campos then hits a swinging Girtz with a counter right, then crushes Girtz with a spinning back kick to the rib cage. Girtz begins to attack Campos with some leg kicks, Campos charges towards Girtz while landing a right as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Girtz immediately looking for a takedown on Campos, each fighter then catches the other with a left. Girtz eventually scores a takedown on Campos and he gets leg control, Campos uses the wall walk to get back up. Girtz then scores another takedown on Campos and he gets the full guard, the referee stands up the fighters after inactivity and Girtz hits Campos with some leg kicks. Campos then clobbers Girtz with a powerful right to the noggin, Campos then drops Girtz with a right and he immediately mounts him as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Campos catching Girtz with a knee to the balls and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Girtz scoring a takedown on Campos and getting the half guard. Girtz begins to attack Campos with some ground and pound, Campos eventually forces Girtz into the full guard. Girtz briefly postures up after catching Campos with some more strikes, Girtz regains the half guard on Campos. Campos scrambles and he gets Girtz off of him to get the fight standing again, Campos then pops Girtz with a straight right. Girtz then scores another takedown on Campos and he gets the full guard, Girtz transitions to the half guard on Campos. Campos explodes to his feet and eats a few strikes from Girtz, Campos catches Girtz with a right as the round ends.
Fight Result: Derek Campos def. Brandon Girtz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #3 – Bellator Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Brandon Halsey (3-0-0) vs. Joe Yager (5-1-0)
Referee: John McCarthy
Round One
The round begins with Halsey quickly catching Yager with a right, Halsey looks for a takedown and Yager pops him with a knee strike. Halsey eventually scores a takedown on Yager and he gets side control, Halsey nearly gets the full mount on Yager. Yager holds Halsey in the half guard after eating a few strikes, Halsey begins to attack Yager with ground and pound. Yager uses the cage walk to get the fight standing again, Halsey quickly puts Yager back onto the ground and he gets the half guard. Halsey then moves to the north/south position on Yager, Halsey lands a few more strikes on Yager as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Yager nailing Halsey with a knee strike as he initiated the grapple, Yager accidentally nails Halsey with a kick to the nuts and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Yager attacking Halsey with leg kicks, Halsey looks for a takedown and Yager catches him with a knee strike and a right. Halsey then forces Yager up against the cage wall, Halsey then looks for the takedown and he winds up tangled with Yager on the ground. The referee stands up the fighters after inactivity and Halsey continuously looks for the takedown on Yager, Halsey scores a takedown on Yager and he gets side control. Halsey moves to the north/south position on Yager, Halsey attacks Yager with elbow strikes as the round ends.
(Note: Referee John McCarthy took a point from Joe Yager due to the kick to the balls.)
Round Three
The round begins with Yager nailing Halsey with some leg kicks, Yager then cracks an incoming Halsey with a knee strike and a left. Halsey again goes for the takedown and Yager controls his body, Yager drags Halsey to the ground while controlling his head. The fighters get back up and Yager clobbers Halsey with a ton of strikes, Halsey recovers to score a takedown on Yager and get side control. Halsey transitions to the north/south position on Yager while landing some strikes, Yager rolls to his stomach while eating strikes from Halsey. Yager uses the cage walk to get the fight standing again, Halsey then scores another takedown on Yager and he gets back control. Yager finds a way to get back up as the round ends.
Fight Result: Brandon Halsey def. Joe Yager by split decision (30-28, 28-30, 30-28)
Fight #4 – Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Richard Hale (21-5-1) vs. Ryan Martinez (9-2-0)
Referee: John McCarthy
Round One
The round begins with Martinez catching an incoming Hale with a short right, Hale begins to attack Martinez with some leg kicks. Martinez grabs a hold of Hale and he scores a takedown on him, Martinez postures up on Hale and he attacks him with strikes until the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: Ryan Martinez def. Richard Hale by TKO via strikes (2:19, R1)
Fight #5 – Bellator Heavyweight Division Fight
Raphael Butler (5-0-0) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (0-0-0)
Referee: John McCarthy
Round One
The round begins with O’Neal looking for the takedown on Butler, Butler makes him pay by dragging him to the ground while landing strikes. O’Neal uses a sweep to get on top of Butler and he gets back control, Butler spins to get back on top of O’Neal. Butler then gets back control on O’Neal and he clobbers him with strikes, Butler is attacking O’Neal with a lot of ground and pound until the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: Raphael Butler def. Jeremiah O’Neal by TKO via strikes (2:57, R1)
Fight #6 – Bellator Lightweight Division Fight
Damon Jackson (5-0-0) vs. Keith Miner (5-4-0)
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Round One
The round begins with Jackson attacking Miner with some leg kicks, Jackson then scores a takedown on Miner and gets the full mount right away. Jackson then advances to the side control position on Miner, Jackson begins to attack Miner with some ground and pound. Jackson turns up the heat on the strikes and the referee is forced to jump in.
Fight Result: Damon Jackson def. Keith Miner by TKO via strikes (2:00, R1)
