Bellator Kickboxing 12: Varga Keeps Gold
Gabriel Varga made another successful defense of the Bellator Kickboxing featherweight championship in the main event of Bellator Kickboxing 12 in Milan, Italy. The event served as the first of a three-part kickboxing and MMA Bellator card.
Varga got off to a strong start, consistently moving around the ring and moving in and out, throwing flurries and making sure to aim for the body. Faustino brought his own pressure to Varga, however, coming out and trying to force Varga back.
👊💥 @GVargaOfficial and Cristian Faustino are going back and forth in round one!#BellatorKB12 pic.twitter.com/Ob5y6ZfjdE
— Bellator Kickboxing (@BellatorKB) October 12, 2019
Varga continued to attack the body in the second, but in the third, Faustino amped up his pressure, and it appeared to trouble Varga. Faustino pressed forward once more in the fourth, but Varga managed to land several punch-punch-kick combinations.
Varga managed to handle and answer all Faustino could bring, as he went on to sweep the judges’ scorecards.
The champ is showing his mettle in the championship rounds here at #BellatorKB12.
The fifth and final round between @GVargaOfficial and Cristian Faustino is LIVE NOW on The Bellator App.
📲 https://t.co/YlhwPbWX98 pic.twitter.com/jIqDVxESbr— Bellator Kickboxing (@BellatorKB) October 12, 2019
Other noted performances came from former title challenger Chingiz Allazov, who defeated Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee in the co-main event; Shan Cangelosi, who defeated former title challenger Kevin Ross; and Jade Jorand, who knocked out 60-plus fight veteran Silvia La Notte in her professional debut.
What a finish by Jade Jorand! pic.twitter.com/1bGQjL1ocY
— Bellator Kickboxing (@BellatorKB) October 12, 2019
Bellator Kickboxing featherweight world title: Gabriel Varga def. Cristian Faustino via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Chingiz Allazov def. Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Luca Cecchetti def. Alex Avogadro via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (Rd. 1, 2:09)
Shan Cangelosi def. Kevin Ross via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Yuri Bessmertny def. Giuseppe De Domenico via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jade Jorand def. Silvia La Notte via KO (Rd. 2, 0:12)
Endy Bonat vs. Kebrom Neguse goes to a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Taras Hnatchuk def. Giacomo Licheri via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Luca Memeli def. Pawel Szymanski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)