Bellator 261
{{short description|Bellator mixed martial arts event in 2021}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky
|image=Bellator261.jpg
|image_size=
|promotion=Bellator MMA
|date={{Start date|2021|06|25}}
|venue=Mohegan Sun Arena
|city=Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
|previousevent=Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov
|followingevent=Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz
}}
Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on June 25, 2021, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Jay|date=2021-05-07|title=Bellator 261 Adds Johnson vs. Moldavsky Interim Title Fight, Three More Bouts|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/05/07/bellator-261-adds-johnson-vs-moldavsky-interim-title-fight-two-bouts/|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Cageside Press|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-07|title=Johnson, Moldavsky set June 25 interim title bout|url=https://www.espn.com.au/mma/story/_/id/31406222/timothy-johnson-valentin-moldavsky-meet-first-ever-bellator-interim-heavyweight-title-fight|access-date=2021-05-08|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}
Background
With current heavyweight champion Ryan Bader moving on in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Timothy Johnson and Valentin Moldavsky competed for an Bellator Interim Heavyweight World Championship.{{Cite web|last=Heck|first=Mike|date=2021-05-07|title=Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/5/7/22425194/dnp-timothy-johnson-vs-valentin-moldavsky-set-for-promotions-first-interim-title-fight-bellator-261|access-date=2021-05-08|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}
A title eliminator women's flyweight bout between Liz Carmouche and Kana Watanabe served as the co-main of the event.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-08|title=Liz Carmouche vs. Kana Watanabe co-headines Bellator 261 on June 25|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/06/bellator-261-liz-carmouche-vs-kana-watanabe-booked-co-headliner|access-date=2021-06-08|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}
A light heavyweight bout between Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish was scrapped after weigh-ins at Bellator 259 after Edwards wasn't cleared to compete by the Mohegan Sun Athletic Commission.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Alexander K.|date=2021-05-20|title=Christian Edwards vs. Ben Parrish bout at Bellator 259 cancelled, Valerie Loureda vs. Hannah Guy promoted to main card|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/5/20/22445710/christian-edwards-ben-parrish-bellator-259-cancelled-valerie-loureda-hannah-guy-promoted-main-card|access-date=2021-05-20|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}} After being cleared by a commission doctor on May 26, 2021, the bout was rebooked for this event.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-26|title=Christian Edwards receives medical clearance for heart, canceled fight rebooked for Bellator 261|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/05/mma-news-bellator-261-christian-edwards-vs-ben-parrish-heart|access-date=2021-05-26|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}
The reigning WBC Muaythai World Featherweight champion Lena Ovchynnikova was scheduled to fight Kyra Batara in the event prelims.{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Gabriel |title=Bellator 261: Kyra Batara A New Person Ahead of Return Against Lena Ovchynnikova |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/05/30/kyra-batara-a-new-person-ahead-of-return-against-lena-ovchynnikova/ |website=cagesidepress.com |access-date=2 June 2021}} However, the bout was cancelled the week of the event with one of Batara's corner testing positive for COVID-19.{{Cite tweet|user=BellatorPR|number=1407385145980620800|title=Lena vs. Batara scrapped.}}{{Cite tweet|user=KyraBatara
|number=1407458486674460677|title=Lena vs. Batara Covid.}}
A featherweight bout between Keoni Diggs and two-time Bellator Featherweight title challenger Daniel Weichel was announced for the main card.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Nolan |title=Bellator 261 adds Daniel Weichel vs. Keoni Diggs to lineup |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/bellator-261-adds-daniel-weichel-125014339.html?src=rss |website=sports.yahoo.com |access-date=2 June 2021}}
A middleweight bout between Taylor Johnson and Lance Wright was to take place at Bellator 260.{{cite web|title=Kyle Crutchmer vs. Levan Chokheli added to Bellator 260 on June 11|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/5/25/22453434/kyle-crutchmer-vs-levan-chokheli-added-to-bellator-260-on-june-11|access-date=2 June 2021|website=mmafighting.com}} However, a week before the event it was announced that it was moved to this event.{{Cite web|title=Taylor Johnson Instagram Bout Move|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CPqvLC6J5UD/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/tombstonetaylor/2588088403101193475 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
Light heavyweight bouts between Simon Biyong and Lee Chadwick and Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish were scheduled for this show. However, Chadwick tested positive for COVID-19 and Parrish had to pull out of the bout, so Biyong and Edwards were matched with each other.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-21|title=BELLATOR Confirms Full Fight Card for BELLATOR 261|url=https://www.fightsports.tv/bellator-mma-confirms-full-fight-card-for-bellator-261/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=FIGHT SPORTS|language=en-US}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card (Showtime)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46)
|5
|5:00
|For the interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|0:35
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|3
|4:44
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Keoni Diggs
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|Christian Edwards
|def.
|Simon Biyong
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|John de Jesus
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|Taylor Johnson
|def.
|Lance Wright
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|2:58
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|Jaylon Bates
|def.
|Cody Matthews
|Submission (armbar)
|2
|4:04
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|Corey Samuels
|def.
|Isaiah Hokit
|KO (punches)
|1
|0:10
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|Søren Bak
|def.
|Bobby Lee
|Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–27, 29–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bellator Tournament Events}}
{{2021 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Events in Uncasville, Connecticut
Category:2021 in mixed martial arts
Category:June 2021 sports events in the United States
Category:2021 in sports in Connecticut