Bellator 277

Bellator 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2
Bellator 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2
	The poster for Bellator 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2
Information
Promotion	Bellator MMA
Date	April 15, 2022
Venue	SAP Center
City	San Jose, California, United States
Event chronology

Bellator 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on April 15, 2022, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, United States.^[1]^[2]

Background

The event was headlined by a rematch between Bellator Featherweight Champion A. J. McKee and Patrício Pitbull. The duo previously fought in the Bellator 263 main event, where McKee took Pitbull's title in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix final via a first-round guillotine choke submission.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The co-main event featured the final of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament as Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn light heavyweight winner Corey Anderson for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship as well as the $1 million prize. Nemkov, on the way to the final, defeated Phil Davis via a unanimous decision and secured a fourth-round kimura stoppage against Julius Anglickas. On the other side of the bracket, Anderson defeated both Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov and Ryan Bader by TKO.^[6]

A heavyweight bout between former interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship challenger Timothy Johnson and Tyrell Fortune was scheduled for the event.^[7] However, on March 1, 2022, it was announced by Bellator that Johnson was expected to face Linton Vassell and Fortune was set to meet Steve Mowry in the event.^[8] In turn, Mowry pulled out of the bout in late March and was replaced by Rakim Cleveland.^[9]

A middleweight bout between Pat Downey and Daniel Compton was scheduled for this event.^[10] However, after developing Red skin syndrome, Downey was forced to pull out of the bout.^[11]

A light heavyweight bout between Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov and Tony Johnson was scheduled for the event.^[12] However, due to an injury, Johnson was forced to pull out and was replaced by former Bellator Middleweight Champion Rafael Carvalho.^[13]

A featherweight bout between Aaron Pico and Jeremy Kennedy was expected to take place at the event.^[14] However, Kennedy withdrew 8 days before the event and Adli Edwards replaced him.^[15]^[16]

Results

Main Card (Showtime)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Featherweight	Patrício Pitbull	def.	A. J. McKee (c)	Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 48–47)	5	5:00	^[a]
Light Heavyweight	Vadim Nemkov (c)	vs.	Corey Anderson	No Contest (accidental clash of heads)	3	4:55	^[b]
Catchweight (150 lb)	Aaron Pico	def.	Adli Edwards	TKO (punches)	3	0:55
Heavyweight	Linton Vassell	def.	Timothy Johnson	TKO (punches)	1	4:21
Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)
Welterweight	Tyson Miller	def.	Rhalan Gracie	TKO (doctor stoppage)	1	5:00
Heavyweight	Tyrell Fortune	def.	Rakim Cleveland	TKO (punches and knee)	1	1:38
Light Heavyweight	Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov	def.	Rafael Carvalho	TKO (elbows and punches)	2	4:04
Bantamweight	Bobby Seronio III	def.	Calob Ramirez	KO (punch)	2	2:14
Featherweight	Gaston Bolanos	def.	Daniel Carey	TKO (punches)	1	4:59
Welterweight	Kyle Crutchmer	def.	Michael Lombardo	Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)	3	5:00
Flyweight	Edwin De Los Santos	def.	Alberto Mendez	Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Rogelio Luna	def.	Socrates Hernandez	TKO (punches)	3	4:48
Featherweight	Laird Anderson	def.	JT Donaldson	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:44
Light Heavyweight	Theo Haig	def.	Alan Benson	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:08

^ For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship.
^ Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament Final bout for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship and $1 million dollar prize. Accidental clash of heads opened a cut above Nemkov's eye which rendered him unable to continue.

^[17]

Aftermath

After the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Final ended in a no contest and no winner was declared, Bellator frontman Scott Coker announced that the final between Nemkov and Anderson will be rebooked later in 2022.^[18]

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It is important to note the amounts do not include sponsor money, discretionary bonuses, viewership points or additional earnings.^[19]

Patrício Freire: $250,000 def. A.J. McKee: $250,000
Vadim Nemkov: $80,000 vs. Corey Anderson: $250,000
Aaron Pico: $75,000 def. Adli Edwards: $50,000
Linton Vassell: $138,000 (includes $69,000 win bonus) def. Timothy Johnson: $75,000
Tyrell Fortune: $75,000 def. Rakim Cleveland: $30,000
Tyson Miller: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Rhalen Gracie: $5,000
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov: $70,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Rafael Carvalho: $30,000
Gaston Bolanos: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Daniel Carey: $12,000
Bobby Seronio III: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Calob Ramirez: $2,000
Kyle Crutchmer: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Michael Lombardo: $20,000
Edwin De Los Santos: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Alberto Mendez: $2,000
Rogelio Luna: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Socrates Hernandez: $2,000
Laird Anderson: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. JT Donaldson: $2,000
Theo Haig: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus) def. Alan Benson: $2,000