Bellator 265

{{short description|Bellator mixed martial arts event in 2021}}

{{Infobox MMA event

|name=Bellator 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov

|image=Bellator265.jpg

|image_size=

|promotion=Bellator MMA

|date={{Start date|2021|08|20}}

|venue=Sanford Pentagon

|city=Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

|previousevent=Bellator 264: Mousasi vs. Salter

|followingevent=Bellator 266: Davis vs. Romero

}}

Bellator 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on August 20, 2021 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States.{{Cite web|last=Sherdog.com|title=Bellator 265 to Take Place in South Dakota on Aug. 20|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-265-to-Take-Place-in-South-Dakota-on-Aug-20-180622|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Sherdog}}{{Cite web|last=Swink|first=Sonya|title=Bellator MMA fight coming to Sanford Pentagon this August|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2021/07/20/mma-heavyweight-cheick-kongo-and-more-coming-sanford-pentagon-fight-bellator/8025218002/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Argus Leader|language=en-US}}

Background

A heavyweight bout between #3 ranked Cheick Kongo and Sergei Kharitonov served as the main event.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Сергей Харитонов и Чейк Конго проведут бой на Bellator 265|url=https://allboxing.ru/news/20210719-2152/sergey-haritonov-i-cheyk-kongo-provedut-boy-na-bellator-265|access-date=2021-07-20|website=AllBoxing.ru - все новости бокса, ММА (MMA), UFC (ЮФС), Bellator, ACA, бои без правил. Видео и фото, прямые трансляции|language=ru}}{{Cite web|last=Relations|first=Sanford Media|date=2021-07-20|title=Logan Storley to fight at Bellator MMA 265 at Sanford Pentagon in August|url=https://www.sanfordpentagon.com/news_article/show/1174918-logan-storley-to-fight-at-bellator-mma-265-at-sanford-pentagon-in-august|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Sanford Pentagon|language=en-us}}

A featherweight bout between #3 ranked Ádám Borics and #4 ranked Jay Jay Wilson was scheduled for this event. The bout was to determine the #1 contender who would face champion A. J. McKee.{{Cite web|last=Swink|first=Sonya|title=Bellator MMA fight coming to Sanford Pentagon this August|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2021/07/20/mma-heavyweight-cheick-kongo-and-more-coming-sanford-pentagon-fight-bellator/8025218002/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Argus Leader|language=en-US}} However, at the weigh-ins, Wilson came in at 150.4 pounds, missing weight by 4.4 pounds. As a result, the fight has been scrapped and Borics was paid his show money.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-19|title=Bellator 265 weigh-in results: Jay Jay Wilson misses again, co-main event vs. Adam Borics scrapped|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/08/bellator-265-weigh-in-results-jay-jay-wilson-adam-borics-canceled|access-date=2021-08-19|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}

Number 5 ranked Welterweight Logan Storley made a return to his home state against Dante Schiro.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-08|title=South Dakotan Logan Storley gets homecoming fight vs. Dante Schiro at Bellator 265|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/08/bellator-265-news-logan-storley-vs-dante-schiro-south-dakota|access-date=2021-08-09|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}

A women's flyweight bout between Alejandra Lara and DeAnna Bennett was scheduled for Bellator 263.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-04|title=Alejandra Lara vs. DeAnna Bennett added to Bellator 263 lineup|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/bellator-263-alejandra-lara-vs-deanna-bennett-womens-flyweight-lineup|access-date=2021-07-04|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}} The bout was rescheduled for unknown reasons to take place at this event.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Bellator 265 heads to South Dakota, adds Alejandra Lara vs. DeAnna Bennett matchup|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/bellator-265-heads-to-south-dakota-gets-shifted-alejandra-lara-vs-deanna-bennett-matchup|access-date=2021-07-20|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}} On August 13, it was announced that the bout was moved once again, this time to Bellator 266.{{Cite web|title=Bellator 266: Yoel Romero to make promotional debut against Phil Davis on Sept. 18 card in San Jose|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/bellator-266-yoel-romero-to-make-promotional-debut-against-phil-davis-on-sept-18-card-in-san-jose/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}}

A lightweight bout between Mike Hamel and Bryce Logan took place on the preliminary portion of the bout.{{cite web |last1=Critchfield |first1=Tristen |title=Source: Mike Hamel vs. Bryce Logan Booked for Bellator 265 on Aug. 20 |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Source-Mike-Hamel-vs-Bryce-Logan-Booked-for-Bellator-265-on-Aug-20-180840 |website=sherdog.com |access-date=5 August 2021}}

Two heavyweight prospects, Bailey Schoenfelder and Kevin Childs, were scheduled to compete in the event prelims.{{cite web |last1=McDonagh |first1=Joe |title=Bellator 265 Adds Bailey Schoenfelder vs. Kevin Childs Heavyweight Scrap |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/07/27/bellator-265-adds-bailey-schoenfelder-vs-kevin-childs-heavyweight-scrap/ |website=cagesidepress.com |access-date=5 August 2021}} However, the bout did not happen after Childs withdrew from the contest. With Childs being scrapped from his bout, a contracted catchweight bout at 225 pounds was set between Bailey Schoenfelder and Kory Moegenburg.

A heavyweight bout between #6 ranked Steve Mowry and Marcelo Golm was scheduled for Bellator 264,{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Guilherme|date=2021-07-14|title=Steve Mowry vs. Marcelo Golm targeted for Bellator event in August|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/7/14/22576532/steve-mowry-marcelo-golm-targeted-bellator-event-august-mma|access-date=2021-08-04|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}} however on August 4 it was announced that Steve Mowry was scratched from the bout, with Golm facing Kelvin Tiller at this event.{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Guilherme|date=2021-08-04|title=Marcelo Golm vs. Kelvin Tiller targeted for Bellator 265 with Steve Mowry out|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/4/22609845/marcelo-golm-kelvin-tiller-targeted-bellator-264-steve-mowry-out|access-date=2021-08-04|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}} The week of the event, Tiller pulled out of the bout and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Billy Swanson.{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Guilherme|date=2021-08-17|title=Marcelo Golm has new opponent for Bellator 265|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/17/22628607/marcelo-golm-new-opponent-friday-bellator-265-mma|access-date=2021-08-17|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}

A middleweight bout between Jeff Nielsen and Kory Moegenburg was cancelled the week off the event due to COVID-19 protocols.{{Cite web|title=Kory Moegenburg vs. Jeff Nielsen is off #Bellator265 due to COVID-19 protocols, per sources.|url=https://twitter.com/mma_kings/status/1427704562878722053|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Twitter|language=en}}

Results

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main Card (Showtime)}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Heavyweight

|Cheick Kongo

|def.

|Sergei Kharitonov

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|2

|4:59

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Logan Storley

|def.

|Dante Schiro

|Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Heavyweight

|Marcelo Golm

|def.

|Billy Swanson

|TKO (knee and punches)

|1

|4:57

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (140 lb)

|Jornel Lugo

|def.

|Keith Lee

|Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)

|1

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Middleweight

|Fabio Aguiar

|def.

|Taylor Johnson

|Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Mike Hamel

|def.

|Bryce Logan

|Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Archie Colgan

|def.

|Ben Simons

|TKO (punches and elbows)

|1

|4:04

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Middleweight

|Duane Johnson

|def.

|Deven Fisher

|Submission (brabo choke)

|1

|1:04

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (225 lb)

|Bailey Schoenfelder

|def.

|Kory Moegenburg

|TKO (elbows and punches)

|1

|4:11

|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

{{Cite web|title=Bellator MMA {{!}} Bellator 265|url=https://www.bellator.com/event/280|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.bellator.com|language=en-US}}

See also

References