Bellator 221 results: Patricio Freire KOs Michael Chandler to become dual champ

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Bellator has its second simultaneous two-division champion: Patricio Freire.

Featherweight champion Freire settled his grudge with lightweight champ Michael Chandler – sort of. But it’s a safe bet this rivalry may be run back in short order. Freire picked up a knockout win at the 1:01 mark of the first round – but Chandler immediately protested the stoppage.

Freire (29-4 MMA, 17-4 BMMA), who moved up 10 pounds for the fight, took the 155-pound title from Chandler (19-5 MMA, 16-5 BMMA). And in his post-fight interview with John McCarthy, Freire made sure to tell the booing fans “(Expletive) you. I’m the champ-champ.”

Freire joins light heavyweight and heavyweight champ Ryan Bader as the only simultaneous two-division titleholders in Bellator history.

The lightweight title fight was the main event of Bellator 221 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Freire rushed to the center of the cage immediately, but was met by Chandler before he could strike quickly. He threw a combo 15 seconds in, then another with a right hand that glanced off the side of Chandler’s head.

Freire landed an overhand right and put Chandler on the canvas. The Brazilian jumped in quickly and landed punches on the ground until referee Rob Madrigal stopped the fight.

Chandler only mildly protested the loss with McCarthy afterward. He said, “‘Pitbull’ put me down. … I wasn’t really taking much damage down there. But as I was getting up, the referee was stopping the fight.”

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 221 results include:

• Patricio Freire def. Michael Chandler via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:01 – to win lightweight title
• Douglas Lima def. Michael Page via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:35 – welterweight grand prix semifinal
• A.J. McKee def. Pat Curran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jake Hager def. T.J. Jones via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:36
• Tywan Claxton def. James Bennett via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:09/li>
• Rob Fenicle def. Bryan Bautista via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:42
• Khuukhenkhuu Amartuvshin def. Adam Ward via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Christian Rodriguez def. Jose Leon via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:35
• Robert Morrow def. James Bochnovic via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:18
• Chris Gonzalez def. Charlie Radtke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cris Lencioni def. Adil Benjilany via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:55
• Jason Belyew vs. Dave Latoria ruled no-contest (unintentional low blow) – Round 1
• Jesse Bazzi def. Joey Diehl via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Josh Streacker def. Scott Writz via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:33

For complete coverage of Bellator 221, check out the MMA Events section of the site.