Bellator 221 Results: Patricio Freire KO’s Michael Chandler (VIDEO)

Lightweight champion Michael Chandler put his title on the line against bitter rival and current featherweight champion Patricio Freire in tonight’s Bellator 221 main event.

Michael Chandler (19-4 MMA) reclaimed the Bellator lightweight title at December’s Bellator 212 event, this by defeating Brent Primus via unanimous decision. Chandler enters tonight’s headliner having won seven of his past eight fights, which includes a knockout win over Patricio’s brother Patricky.

As for Bellator’s current featherweight kingpin, Patricio Freire (28-4 MMA) will enter tonight’s match with Chandler on a three fight win streak, his latest being a unanimous decision victory over Emmanuel Sanchez.

Patricio Freire was able to catch Michael Chandler with a big right hand in the opening round that sent the champion crashing to the canvas.

From there, ‘Pitbull’ would unleash a plethora of ground and pound which prompted the referee to step in and call a stop to the contest.

Check out the finish below:

Chaos ensues in the #Bellator221 main event as Patricio Pitbull stops Michael Chandler in the first round to become the new lightweight champion.

Was the stoppage too early? @MyMMANews pic.twitter.com/iYTVcMQoRS

— Mike Pendleton (@MP2310) May 12, 2019

With the win, Freire is now the Bellator MMA ‘champ champ’, holding both the promotions featherweight and lightweight world titles.

Official Bellator 221 Result: Patricio Freire KO’s Michael Chandler in Round 1