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Bellator Champions Series: San Diego live updates, results, round-by-round coverage of every fight

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy - Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Cooper Neill / Bellator)
Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy - Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Cooper Neill / Bellator)

Bellator Champions Series: San Diego took place Saturday, and here are official results from the event, which went down at Pechanga Arena in California.

Lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov put his belt on the line against Alexander Shabliy in the main event title fight. In the co-feature, Levan Chokheli clashed with Lorenz Larkin at welterweight

Check out full Bellator Champions Series: San Diego results, round-by-round coverage, highlights, and fight information below.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy

Round 1 - Both men exhibited excellent speed and timing in the early going, with Usman throwing a complete arsenal of strikes in the form of knees, kicks, punches and elbows. Usman had a nice takedown and took Shabliy's back, but he was able to shuck him. Shabliy showed some nice counters, timing things up pretty well. Shabliy wasn't shy about firing his right hand whenever Usman tried to close distance. Very competitive round, tough to score, but we'll slightly go with Shabliy. Timing of counters was the difference.

Round 2 - Neither guy came out firing. In fact, both men proceeded with caution, but Shabliy did manage to catch Usman on the way in of a flying knee. Punch to the chest dropped him ever so briefly. Another tough round to score, but Shabliy gets it ever so slightly 10-9. Usman is doing a lot, but he's not been executing.

Round 3 - Not an exciting round at all. Neither guy putting themselves at risk. Usman did close in and land a nice uppercut, though. He'll get this round 10-9.

Round 4 - Khabib was complaining to referee Mike Beltran about something before the round began. Worth noting! Anyway, the round continued and Shabliy landed a nice combination but then ruined his momentum when he eye-poked Usman while throwing a flying knee that missed. The bout was briefly stopped, and Beltran warned him that a point will be deducted next time. As the fight played on, a lot of the same quick exchanges between both men, but then Usman had the best moment of the fight landing a head kick that definitely stunned Shabliy. It allowed Usman to follow up and take him down as he controlled the rest of the fight. This was the most decisive round to score 10-9 Usman.

Round 5 - A total lack of activity in this final round, perhaps because Usman thought he was ahead and Shabliy not used to having to be the aggressor. Not much to consider except for the fact that Usman was a little more "active." That's about it. He gets the round 10-9. I score it for the champ to retain 48-47, but we'll see.

Result: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexander Shabliy via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) – to retain lightweight titleRecords: Nurmagomedov (18-0), Shabliy (24-4)Division: LightweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Mike Beltran

Levan Chokheli vs. Lorenz Larkin

Round 1 - Chokheli had a nice moment in the early going when he caught a Larkin kick and fired an overhand right that sent Larkin to the canvas. Chokheli let him back up. That was a mistake, though. Moments later, Larkin finished Chokheli by staggering him with a straight right hand and after that a flurry of punches for the TKO. Larkin is the No. 1 contender at welterweight.

Result: Lorenz Larkin def. Levan Chokheli via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:53Records: Chokheli (13-3), Larkin (27-7)Division: WelterweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Jason Herzog

Aaron Jeffery vs. Douglas Lima

Round 1 - Jeffery didn't waste time shooting in for a takedown and worked hard to secure it, but not without eating some side elbows from Lima, who cut him open. The blood was leaking right from the start. To Jeffery's credit, though, he remained tenacious with his wrestling and gave Lima no room to escape as he continuously landed short punches that weren't strong but certainly scored. This round goes to Jeffery 10-9 easy. But let's see what's up with that cut.

Round 2 - Great jab from Lima in the opening seconds, which nearly sat Jeffery down. As the round progressed, Jeffery continued to work for takedowns, but he paid the price as Lima stuffed it and attacked with some elbows to the temple and short punches. Lima did all the damage in this round, which goes to him 10-9 for me. Jeffery had more control but did little damage.

Round 3 - Jefferey shot for a single leg in the first minute and secures it, but again not after he took some damage in the form of short punches. This ended up with Jeffery inside of Lima's guard near the cage, not the best position for the former champion. For the next 4-plus minutes, Jeffery just refused to let the fight stand and controlled Lima the entire time, landing some occasional ground-and-pound. Round should be his 10-9 and fight also Jeffery's 29-28.

Result: Aaron Jeffery def. Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Records: Jeffery (15-5), Lima (33-12)Division: MiddleweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Frank Trigg

Sumiko Inaba vs. Mackenzie Stiller

Round 1 - Stiller consistently landed the right hand and was pretty clearly winning the round, until Inaba landed a hard head kick that staggered Stiller as she closed in for a takedown with about 90 seconds remaining. It was perfectly timed by Inaba. Stiller managed to recover by clinging to Inaba. That was the best moment of the round, but Stiller was more consistent throughout and even took Inaba down a couple of times. She gets the nod 10-9 from me.

Round 2 - Stiller had Inaba in a little bit of trouble in the first minute when she took her down with a head-and-arm throw and then squeezed her neck while on top. But Inaba escaped and then while clinched against the cage, she turned the tide with some excellent and hard short elbows. Great dirty boxing-type of work in the clinch by Inaba as she bloodied Stiller from the nose. After about 2 minutes of that, though, Stiller with another head-and-arm throw from out of nowhere and right into taking Inaba's back and transitioned to an armbar. Stiller worked so hard for that finish that she tired herself out, though, and Inaba reversed position to take HER back and just POURED on the punches from behind. Referee Mike Beltran gave Stiller a lot of time to defend herself, but she couldn't. She was clearly exhausted. TKO for Inaba after a very back-and-forth battle.

Result: Sumiko Inaba def. Mackenzie Stiller via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:25Records: Inaba (8-1), Stiller (3-1)Division: Women's flyweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Mike Beltran

Jora Ayvazyan vs. Yancy Medeiros

Round 1 - They spent a little more than a minute just feeling each other out until Ayvazyan shot in for a double-leg takedown, got behind Medeiros and dragged him down. Ayvazyan staid stuck to him like a backpack, even as Medeiros stood up. It wasn't until about 2 minutes left that Ayvazyan was in a more dominant position with Medeiros sitting up against the cage. Medeiros got back up to his feet with about 45 seconds left after Ayvazyan really did nothing with his position. The control time on the mat will have to be enough, though. Nothing happened in the final 25 seconds while they stood. 10-9 Ayvazyan.

Round 2 - Almost a repeat of Round 1, except Ayvazyan this time did a little more with his position. He was simply relentless once he got a takedown about halfway through and would not let go of Yancy's waist. Landed more punches from behind this time. Ayvazyan takes it 10-9.

Round 3 - How do you make a Yancy Medeiros fight not fun to watch? Put him in the cage with a wrestler. Credit to Ayvazyan for doing what he had to do, but it was one dimensional. Round 3 played out almost the same as the first two rounds. 10-9 for him, and he should win 30-27.

Result: Jora Ayvazyan def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Records: Ayvazyan (15-1), Medeiros (12-9)Division: LightweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Jason Herzog

Imamshafi Aliev vs. Jordan Newman

Round 1 - Both guys came out cautious in the first round, and the most notable part of the round was Newman's ability to land check-hooks on three occasions when Aliev closed distance. On the third time, he briefly dropped Aliev, biggest moment of the round. It goes to Newman 10-9.

Round 2 - A super close round until Newman separated himself with another hard check-hook that made Aliev shoot a lazy takedown that was stuffed, and then he ended up in a standing guillotine choke while eating some knees. It happened in the final minute. Up until that point, round could've gone either way. I'll give it to Newman 10-9.

Round 3 - Staying with the theme of the first two rounds, another tactical 5 minutes from both men, but Aliev had the better moments and landed some solid right hands. Newman stayed on his back foot most of the round, although he did land one more solid check-hook in the closing seconds. Round goes to Aliev 10-9, but I give the fight to Newman 29-28.

Result: Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Records: Aliev (9-1), Newman (7-0)Division: MiddleweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Frank Trigg

Masayuki Kikuiri vs. Herman Terrado

Round 1 - Pretty close round, with Kikuiri technical and Terrado taking a calculated approach. Kikuiri appeared to land more punches and effectively used a push kick, but Terrado did score a big takedown. His punches were wild with everything behind them. Kikuiri finished strong with a takedown of his own, and the round ended with him in control. He gets the nod 10-9.

Round 2 - Interesting round, little hard to score as both guys were active on the feet. Terrado might get the slight advantage because of his effective use of a jab. Neither guy threw many combos, but Terrado landed a couple of left hooks behind the jab. The round ended in the final 30 seconds with a takedown from Kikuiri, but it was hardly consequential. I'll lean 10-9 Terrado here.

Round 3 - Kikuiri's volume stood out, and he was winning the round for me, and then it didn't matter with about 3 minutes remaining when he landed a body kick that folded Terrado and made him instantly yell in pain. Helluva kick followed up by some quick punches for the finish. by TKO. "That is how you remove a man's soul from his body," Sean O'Connell said on the call.

Result: Masayuki Kikuiri def. Herman Terrado via TKO (body kick, punches) – Round 3, 2:54Records: Kikuiri (10-2-1), Terrado (15-7-1)Division: WelterweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Mike Beltran

John MaCalolooy vs. Bryce Meredith

Round 1 - Did nobody tell MaCalolooy he was a huge underdog? Apparently not as he took the fight to Meredith at a frenetic pace in the early going. But he appeared to tire, and Meredith got things under control with a takedown with about 3 minutes left. From there, he ran right through MaCalolooy on the mat until locking in a rear-naked choke and winning by technical submission. MaCalolooy was OUT COLD.

Result: Bryce Meredith def. John MaCalolooy via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:18Records: MaCalolooy (4-2), Meredith (7-0)Division: BantamweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Paul Buentello

Josh Hokit vs. Sean Rose

Round 1 - With three seconds left, Hokit gets the armbar finish. He was in control for almost 4 minutes after securing a takedown early and initially worked a head-and-arm choke. Rose did a good job fending that off, but Hokit never let him up and then later hit a sneaky slick armbar belly down in the final seconds. The former San Francisco 49ers player moves to 2-0.

Result: Josh Hokit def. Sean Rose via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:58Records: Hokit (2-0), Rose (2-3)Division: HeavyweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Frank Trigg

Khabib Nurmagomedov is in the house

UFC Hall of Famer and former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is at Pechanga Arena in San Diego to corner his guys, including cousin Usman in the main event.

Aysia Cortez vs. Ashley Thiner

Round 1 - A fight between a pair of ladies making their professional debuts, it's Thiner who came out strong and had her way with Cortez in the first round. She busted Cortez from the nose with an array of strikes, including a nice front kick and later a head kick in the final minute. A lot of her work came from distance. That was an easy 10-9 for Thiner.

Round 2 - Thiner too good. Just completely dominated the round until she poured it on with the punches for a standing TKO. Dropped Cortez first, pounced with punches, Cortez got back to her feet but with no defense, and the referee stopped it as he should've. Thiner dancing it up in celebration. Unofficial stats had Thiner out-landing Cortez 106-32 in total strikes, including 64-26 in significant strikes.

Result: Ashley Thiner def. Aysia Cortez via standing TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:11Records: Cortez (0-1), Thiner (1-0)Division: StrawweightBroadcast: MaxReferee: Paul Buentello

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Bellator Champions Series: San Diego live updates, results, round-by-round coverage of every fight