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It was a night of big knockouts and big controversy at Bellator 221. In the main event, Patricio Freire became only the second champ-champ in promotional history, controversially knocking out Michael Chandler in just over a minute, despite Chandler not appearing to be out of it when the referee stepped in. In the co-main event, Douglas Lima punched his ticket to the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix finals with much less controversy, putting Michael Page to sleep with a vicious uppercut. Plus, former WWE champion Jake Hager reverted to his Jack Swagger roots, holding his submission on T.J. Jones far longer than was necessary and then antagonizing the booing crowd afterwards.
Check out the responses to the marquee action from inside the All-State Arena in Chicago, Ill.
Patricio “Pitbull” Freire def. Michael Chandler
It's time... #Bellator221 pic.twitter.com/mVb5JyX49l
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) May 12, 2019
If you’re not pumped for this fight you’re not a real fan. Looking forward to this lightweight title scrap. #ChandlerPitbull #Bellator221
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) May 12, 2019
Was telling wife how excited I am for the Chandler vs Pitbull fight, as well as the MVP vs Lima fight
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 11, 2019
She looks at me she says " damn. 75% of those guys beat you up
BOOM. ROASTED
Jokes on her it was only 50%
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 11, 2019
Champ, champ! #Bellator221 pic.twitter.com/ltDTxBRWIO
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) May 12, 2019
IMO, terrible stoppage chandler vs pit bull.... thoughts? #Bellator
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 12, 2019
If your brother dont look at you like Patricky pitbull does when you become champ champ, are you really family?
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 12, 2019
❤️❤️❤️ @PatricioPitbull https://t.co/bpYCGeoJUk
— CRIS CYBORG (@criscyborg) May 12, 2019
Put those belts up Patricio. Let’s do it again. @BellatorMMA @ScottCoker @rich_chou @DAZN_USA #bellator221
— Emmanuel Sanchez (@ElMatador145) May 12, 2019
Wow @JasonHerzogMMA should of reffed that fight. He lets fighters fight! @BellatorMMA #bellator221
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) May 12, 2019
Douglas Lima def. Michael “Venom” Page
Bora @PhenomLima e sua!!!
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) May 12, 2019
Let’s go brother Lima.
BOOM!!! Congrats to @phenomlima on an amazing KO win! @bellatormma dazn_usa #bellator221 @ Allstate Arena https://t.co/qCBaJX9ZO1
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) May 12, 2019
.@PhenomLima is a bad man
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) May 12, 2019
Douglas Lima derailed the hype train
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) May 12, 2019
Lima is the real deal
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) May 12, 2019
DOUGLAS F'N LIMA!!!! K.O. by the hair on his chinny chin chin!! Congrats @PhenomLima !! #Bellator221 #fightnight #freakknockouy
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) May 12, 2019
Holy shit that knock out by Lima #bellator
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) May 12, 2019
How could you ever dislike @PhenomLima
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 12, 2019
Damn Lima just murdered MVP!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) May 12, 2019
Holy shit!! Man @PhenomLima is a monster disguised as a regular human
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) May 12, 2019
I can't say I'm surprised Lima KO'd MVP. To quote Rogan: "you can't play games in the Octagon." #bellator https://t.co/fdJIEOcKqp
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) May 12, 2019
Jake Hager def. T.J. Jones
Come on man...you can’t hold the choke like that. Commission is probably gonna get in his ass! #Bellator
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) May 12, 2019
Mike Beltran is about to fuck this whippersnapper up. Shoulda dropped some elbows on him when he didn’t let go. #Bellator221 #WWEFight
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) May 12, 2019
... and now his watch is ended.#GameofThrones
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) May 12, 2019
Thank you TJ Jones for bringing it all week pic.twitter.com/A9EJposEBZ
T.J. Jones has spirit! Who wants to see @TjTombstone get a second shot inside the @BellatorMMA cage? #Bellator221
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) May 12, 2019
God damn I love TJ jones he's a goofball he's been in the midwest scene for a long time
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) May 12, 2019
Jake Hager just said “I have a boner”! One of the weirdest post fight speeches ever
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) May 12, 2019
Jack Swagger: pic.twitter.com/2UbjmAlDDe
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) May 12, 2019
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