Bellator light-heavyweight champion Liam McGeary found himself on his back early against Tito Ortiz at Bellator 142: Dynamite tonight, but showed why he’s the title holder by making the best of the situation, producing an inverted triangle submission late in the opening round to retain his belt.
Round One:
The main event title fight is underway. McGeary feels out with his rangey jab to start. He fires out an uppercut as Ortiz moves forward.
McGeary continues to pop out the jab rapid-fire. Ortiz in on a takedown. McGeary stuffs it initially, but Ortiz continues working it and McGeary goes down looking for a guillotine choke. Nothing doing with that though and so Ortiz is on top with time to work.
McGeary pressed up agains the cage anD Ortiz starts landing some gound and pound from inside his guard.
Half the round remaining and this is right where Ortiz wanted this fight. A series of left hands land to the face of the champion. McGeary with is back up against the cage hoping to stand, but Ortiz ensures that’s not going to happen and has him with his back flat to the mat again.
McGeary looking for a possible submission, but Ortiz brushes that aside and moves to side control. Undeterred McGeary tries for an armbar, but it’s shaken off. However McGeary immediately switches to an inverted trangle attempt and that’s it, Ortiz taps almost instantly!
So, McGeary gets the biggest win of his career in some style and will now look ahead to another major title defense against tonight’s tournament winner Phil Davis, while Ortiz misses out on his dream of once again becoming a world champion.
