SAN JOSE, Calif. – Adam Borics already showed the world his quick-strike capabilities during his stunning knockout victory over Aaron Pico last time out.
This time, Borics (14-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) showed any remaining doubters this was no fluke, and that oh, by the way, he’s going to be a tough out for anyone in Bellator’s featherweight grand prix tournament.
The South Florida resident by way of Hungary had a statement victory at Bellator 226, as he finished durable former Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran via TKO with one second remaining in the second round.
There wasn’t much in the way of action in the opening round, but Borics was the one moving forward in a foreshadowing of what was to come.
The crowd got noticeably restless in the second, but this time Borics had the answer. He threw a low kick, dropped Curran (23-9 MMA, 13-6 BMMA) with a brutal knee, and then unleashed an uncontested ground-and-pound assault until referee Frank Trigg waved things off just before the horn.
It was the seventh straight win via finish for Borics, while Curran has now dropped two in a row.
The featherweight tournament opening-round bout was part of the Bellator 226 main card at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 226 results include:
- Adam Borics def. Pat Curran via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 4:59 (featherweight grand prix opening round)
- Emmanuel Sanchez def. Tywan Claxton via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:11 (featherweight grand prix opening round)
- Pedro Carvalho def. Sam Sicilia via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:56 (featherweight grand prix opening round)
- Daniel Carey def. Gaston Bolanos via technical submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 4:19
PRELIMINARY CARD
- John Teixeira def. Ashleigh Grimshaw via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
- Adam Piccolotti def. Jake Smith via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:34
- Jessica Borga def. Amber Leibrock via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:45
- Cass Bell def. Isaiah Rocha via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:21
- Batsumberel Dagvadorj def. James Terry via submission (bulldog choke) – Round 1, 2:43
- Renato Alves def. Abraham Vaesau via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:36
- Hyder Amil def. Ignacio Ortiz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Chris Gonzalez def. Luis Vargas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
