Yancy Medeiros breaks down first finish since 2017 at Bellator 295, explains fighting Charlie Leary at catchweight

HONOLULU – Yancy Medeiros scored his first finish in more than four years at Bellator 295.

Medeiros (16-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) submitted Charlie Leary (17-14-1 MMA, 3-5 BMMA) at the 4:39 mark of Round 1 in front of his home fans at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. The finish marked Medeiros’ first since stopping Alex Oliveira by third-round TKO in one of the best fights of 2017 at UFC 218.

“First off, that guy Charlie just came back from the dead after he dropped,” Medeiros told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “He’s tough man. That guy’s really tough. When I dropped him the first time, that was the thing. Brah, I never feel this feeling for so long.

“So I just came in for the kill, and then he ended up getting back up. I was like, ‘Hey, calm down. You hurt him again. Take him down, bro. Tap him out. That’s where the win’s going to be.’ And that’s where it was.”

Medeiros fought Leary in a 165-pound catchweight bout, which he revealed was his request.

“It was actually 165 for me,” Medeiros said. “I honestly had an injury, and I was going through some things. I was like call him up and asked him a month out if we could do it at catchweight so I could get to the fight, address this injury. He was willing to, and I really appreciate that from my opponent.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.