SAN JOSE, Calif. – Rory MacDonald retained his title and advanced in the welterweight grand prix, though not the way he or anyone else expected.
Boos rained down on the cage after two of three judges declared a majority draw, with Jon Fitch (31-7-2 MMA, 1-0-1 BMMA) denied a win over MacDonald (20-5-1 MMA, 2-1-1 BMMA).
The welterweight title bout and welterweight grand prix opening round fight was the main event of Saturday night’s Bellator 220 show at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. It streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
The final scores were 48-46 for Fitch with the remaining two judges scoring the five-round championship bout even at 47 all. Because a winner wasn’t declared, MacDonald retained the belt he carried into the welterweight grand prix and will move on to face Neiman Gracie in the semifinals.
After 25 minutes, it seemed likely Fitch would take the majority of the scorecards given his time in top control. Although he took several hard shots from the Bellator champ, he also spent a large portion of the fight in Fitch’s comfort zone, taking shots to the flanks and elbows to the face.
On several occasions, MacDonald badly hurt Fitch and seemed seconds away from a shift in momentum that might lead to a win. In the fourth round, he landed an elbow at the advancing Fitch and a follow-up head kick that had the challenger wobbling on his feet. But no matter what he threw at the challenger, he couldn’t stop the forward push that put him on his back.
It’s the second career draw for Fitch, who fought B.J. Penn to a draw in 2011. MacDonald, meanwhile, is denied an emphatic win after a failed bid for the middleweight title this past September.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 220 results include:
- Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch is declared a majority draw (46-48, 47-47, 47-47)
- Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Veta Arteaga via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 3, 1:50
- Benson Henderson def. Adam Piccolotti via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Phil Davis def. Liam McGeary via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 4:11
- Gaston Bolanos def. Nathan Stolen via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:21
- Aviv Gozali def. Travis Crain via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:15
- Brandon Faumui def. Chris Avila via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Matt Perez def. Justin Tenedora via KO (punches) – Round 1, 4:52
- Cass Bell def. Peter Ishiguro via KO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:59
- Chuck Campbell def. Bruno Casillas via KO (knee) – Round 1, 1:45
- Hyder Amil def. Paradise Vaovasa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:34
- Josh San Diego def. Brandon Laroco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Jordan Williams def. Diego Herzog via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:21
- Abraham Vaesau def. Justin Roswell via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:59
For complete coverage of Bellator 220, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
