Bellator was back in action last night (Friday, June 24, 2016) for its 157th event. The event the return of Quinton Jackson as well as a vacant lightweight title fight in the top two MMA attractions. Overall on the night, three betting favorites were victorious while one underdog picked up wins based on Several Bookmakers‘s closing odds. Bellator 157 Favorites That Won In the main event of the evening, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson survived a scare from judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii en route to picking up a split decision victory. Ishii utilized several trips and takedowns to pick up the first round, but wasn’t able to put Jackson on his back the rest of the way, although he was still the aggressor. Jackson fired back with dirty boxing in the clinch in the second and third rounds and that seemed to be enough to pick up the win although one judge astoundingly awarded Rampage a 30-27 gift scorecard. Jackson was -430 (Bet $430 to win $100) while Ishii closed at +380 (Bet $100 to win $380). In a lightweight title bout, Michael Chandler made quick work of Brazilian Patricky Pitbull. Chandler failed to get a takedown early, but kept the pressure on the Brazilian and then flattened him with a monster right hand in a knockout of the year candidate to pick up the vacant title. Chandler proved worthy of his -265 price tag while Pitbull was a +245 dog. In the opening bout of the main card, heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Carl Seumanutafa made things interesting in a hurry. Despite being a huge underdog, Seumanutafa dropped Mitrione early with a right hand, but Mitrione was able to scramble and reverse into top position afterwards. Mitrione got to his feet and dropped down with a huge right hand which connected solidly and knocked Seumanutafa out cold on the ground for the win. Matt Mitrione won as a huge -475 betting favorite while Seumanutafa was a +420 underdog. Bellator 157 Underdogs that Won In a women’s flyweight bout, Ilima-Lei MacFarlane proved she should not have been the underdog in her bout against Rebecca Ruth. Ruth had the striking edge and spent the whole fight looking to land one big shot on the feet, but MacFarlane was able to secure takedowns in the first and second rounds, eventually forcing Ruth to succomb to a rear naked choke in the second frame for the win. MacFarlane won as a +160 dog while Ruth was -170.
