Bellum/GFL MMA Results: Pedro Gonzalez Beats Paul Gorman To Retain 135-Pound Title

Global Fight League Bantamweight Champion Pedro Gonzalez was just that much better than Paul Gorman, using strikes, submission attempts and a great defense to fend off the challenger in a unanimous decision win at Bellum Combat Association's debut show in Portland, Maine, Friday night.

An estimated 2300 were loud and boisterous in rooting on their hometown guy Gorman, popping loud at every reversal, strike or perceived show of offense. But Gonzalez (8-4) was calm and weathered Gorman's advances, while showing aggression and not putting himself in bad situations.

All three judges had the fight 48-47 Gonzalez, while Bloody Elbow had it 49-46 Gonzalez, giving Gorman the 3rd round.

The 13-fight card kept the crowd loud all night long, debuting a slew of young Maine amateurs to an audience who was more than happy to root them on.

Full results and recap from the night after the jump.

photo(1) (via lasvegasoutlaw100)

Gonzalez opened up the first round on the attack, faking flying knee strikes and winning the grappling war against the cage. Perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the crowd's support, Gorman didn't do much in the first but began to open up in the second round, getting several takedowns and showing some life. He didn't have Gonzalez in any imminent danger and the champion was able to reverse and escape in the downed positions.

Gorman's best round was in the 3rd as he got a full mount on Gonzalez and threw a few shots. Gonzalez showed some skills in minimizing the positional deficiency and escaped. Gorman's lack of aggression at times would hurt in the fight's final two rounds, especially in the 4th when Gonzalez simply did more to win the round.

In the fifth, Gorman wanted to try to win the fight on the ground but he continued to get into bad positions where Gonzalez could sit and attempt guillotine chokes. Every time Gorman would show a sign of life, the crowd went crazy but their hero couldn't turn the corner.

Sean Durfee (2-0) def. Mike Dunaj (0-3) by 1st round submission (2:32)

In the night's lone heavyweight battle, the fight belonged to Durfee who was hell-bent on a submission win. He caught Dunaj in a standing guillotine attempt and threw a great knee off a break that hurt Dunaj. Durfee got Dunaj on the mat, got him flat on his stomach and worked in for the rear-naked choke submission. Durfee also came out to Guns N'Roses' Night Train, which endeared him to this writer.

Trevor Stone (4-3) def. Chris Rowley (3-4) by 1st round TKO (2:44)

Quick, good fight. Stone knocked Rowley down and went on the ground-and-pound attack. Rowley couldn't answer and got the loss in quick fashion.

Amateurs

Mike Morin def. Jake Berry by 2nd round TKO (:35)

Morin was a crowd favorite as he was a standout wrestler at the University of Southern Maine. In his amateur debut, he showed off that game in the first round which was a grapplin' and rasslin' clinic. In the 2nd, however, Morin threw a right hand that dropped Berry and went on the attack. Berry wasn't defending and Morin got the win via TKO. Impressive debut for Morin here.

Ryan "Junkyard Dog" Cowette def. John English by u/d

The best way to describe this fight is that Cowette looked like a fighter who had three fights going in, up against someone in English who was making his debut. Cowette was superior in all aspects and swept a 30-27 decision, which could have been 30-26. Also, Cowette had the best nickname of the night.

Drayson Owens def. Tony Collins by u/d

Owens came in 10+ pounds heavy, but Collins accepted the fight anyway. Owens used that -- and a big height advantage -- to take two rounds. Nothing too standout in this one.

Ray Wood def. Shane Gleason by 1st round TKO (2:49)

I noted that Gleason seemed almost too relaxed walking to the cage and it showed as Wood rolled here. He had Gleason on the ground and was unloading with some fists when the ref had the doctor check on a massive mouse under Gleason's right eye. The doctor stopped the fight and Wood did a reverse flip off the cage, so it was success all around.

Ernesto Ornelas def. Cecil Haney by u/d

Ornelas had an extensive and successful amateur boxing record going into his debut and he showed it off, displaying superior standup and some ground game to go with it. Haney was a tough out for Ornelas, but the former Golden Gloves champ proved too much for 15 minutes and took home a 30-27 sweep on the scorecards.

Mike Materkowski def. Damon Owens by 2nd round TKO (1:12)

Really fun fight. Owens had Materkowski in trouble early and was winning the stand-up game, even getting mount on the ground later in the round. The second started in similar fashion with both guys just going for it, but Materkowski got the better of it.

It looked like Owens hurt his hand but Double-M was relentless and earned a 2nd round TKO win as Owens stopped defending on the ground. Owens was down for quite a while post-fight. This was my Fight Of The Night.

Drew Waltz def. John Healey by u/d

Good fight here that Waltz took in the final 10 minutes, especially in the 3rd with more submission attempts and more spots where Healey was in trouble. I was watching Healey's family off and on during this fight and it's pretty incredible to see the ride of emotions that moms, dads and brothers take when it's one of their own in the cage. Fighters are a special tough breed and their families have to be as well. 

Jason Libby def. Ken Kersch by u/d

The muscular 155-pounder Libby gassed out late but did enough over the course of the bout to take an easy 30-27 win. The best round was the 2nd as Libby slammed Kersch several times to the crowd's delight.

Colton Blanchette def. Dustin Hedgpath by 3rd round submission (2:56)

Blanchette had no problems outclassing Hedgpath here, cruising through 2.5 rounds before submitting him with a head and arm choke.

Matt Marshall def.Josh Bourque by split decision

In the night's first fight, Marshall could do no wrong. After two tentative first rounds, the fight opened up in the 3rd as Marshall scored some big takedowns and took a split decision home. I had it 29-28 for Bourque but this wasn't any robbery.

Notes

- No return date was mentioned but there are rumors of a return show in Brunswick, ME, this year.

- There were video screens and the show was filmed for an eventual DVD release. The crew is the same group that films "The Life", a reality show that airs on Boston regional sports network NESN. They did air several pump videos and promo videos through the night, adding a professional touch to things.

- Portland was hopping Friday as there was a minor league baseball game literally next door (making parking somewhat nightmarish) and an AHL playoff game as well.

- Total card time was around 4:30 hours, which was a bit long. There was an unusual amount of decisions for a largely amateur fight card.

Josh Nason is a New England MMA journalist who contributes to FIGHT! Magazine, WrestlingObserver.com and several radio shows/podcasts. Follow him on Twitter: @JoshNason.