The Bellator 295 main event held in Honolulu last weekend was undoubtedly the most anticipated across all promotions. The interim 135lb title, held by Raufeon Stots, was on the line, while the grand prix championship was up for grabs.
To top it off, the winner would secure a chance to compete against the winner of the Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull bout, and a grand prize of one million dollars.
Patchy Mix, starting off strong, pressed forward from the opening bell of the Bellator 295 main event, getting his hands going early. On the other hand, Stots remained mobile and landed a low kick. Both appeared to have settled in, with any initial nervous energy dissipating.
Stots fired his jab to the body, while Mix responded with an outside leg kick. Moments later, Mix threw a jab up the middle, creating some space, before throwing a devastating knee straight down the middle that connected with Stots’ jaw.
The impact sent Raufeon Stots crashing to the mat, and Mix secured a walk-off KO that earned him the million-dollar prize, a grand prix title belt, Bellator’s interim bantamweight championship, and a claim as the best bantamweight fighter in the promotion.
The victory was especially sweet for Mix, who had previously fallen short in a title fight with Juan Archuleta a few years back. His win over Stots marked the end of an impressive run through the grand prix, where he earned a decision win over ex-champion Kyoji Horiguchi and submitted the dangerous Russian bantamweight, Magomed Magomedov.
In the end, Patchy Mix secured his redemption in a big way and will likely have a chance to further solidify his claim as the top bantamweight in Bellator later this year. The official result of was a first-round knockout victory for Mix over Raufeon Stots.
.@TeamMixMMA is the @BellatorMMA Bantamweight World Grand Prix Champion #bellator295 pic.twitter.com/wqrJJ8mE7c
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) April 23, 2023