Bellator 243 post-event facts: Michael Chandler makes history with blistering knockout

Bellator’s second event since returning from a hiatus brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic took place on Friday with Bellator 243. The event again went down at the “Fightsphere,” which is located at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

The most decorated athlete in Bellator history headlined the card in winning fashion. Former three-time champ Michael Chandler (21-5 MMA, 18-5 BMMA) knocked out former UFC and WEC titleholder Benson Henderson (28-8 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) in the first round of their anticipated rematch. With the win, Chandler went to 2-0 against Henderson and ended his current Bellator contract.

The talk is getting stronger that Chandler’s storied Bellator run may come to an end with this fight. If that’s the case, he goes out with a special resume. For all the figures, check below for 20 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 243.

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General

Betting favorites went 2-2 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 5-0 in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 35:23.

Main card

Chandler’s 18 victories in Bellator competition are tied with Patricio Freire for most in company history.

Chandler’s 15 victories in Bellator lightweight competition are most in divisional history.

Chandler’s 13 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are most in company history.

Chandler’s 10 stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are most in divisional history.

Henderson fell to 5-3 since he returned to the lightweight division in August 2016.

Henderson suffered his first knockout loss since Aug. 23, 2014 – a span of 2,176 days (nearly six years) and 12 fights.

Timothy Johnson (14-6 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has earned 11 of his 14 career victories by stoppage. That includes both of his Bellator wins.

Matt Mitrione’s (13-8 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) four-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.

Mitrione has suffered six of his eight career losses by stoppage.

Myles Jury (19-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) has earned both of his Bellator victories by decision.

Georgi Karakhanyan (29-11-1 MMA, 7-9 BMMA) fell to 1-3 since he returned to Bellator for a third stint in March 2019.

Karakhanyan fell to 1-1 since he moved up to the Bellator lightweight division in February 2020.

Karakhanyan has suffered eight of his 11 career losses by decision.

Preliminary card

Valerie Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has earned both of her career stoppage victories by knockout.

Nainoa Dung (3-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 3-0.

Dung suffered the first knockout loss of his career.