Bellator 226 results: Emmanuel Sanchez taps Tywan Claxton, advances in featherweight grand prix

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Emmanuel Sanchez is the first to advance in the Bellator featherweight grand prix.

Sanchez (19-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) moved forward in the 145-pound tourney and also handed Tywan Claxton (5-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) his first professional defeat with a second-round triangle choke.

The featherweight tournament opening-round bout was part of the Bellator 226 main card at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Sanchez took a page out of Claxton’s book with an early charge and leap through the air. But Claxton wasn’t in the mood for high-risk techniques and took his opponent to the mat.

Sanchez eventually found his way back to his feet, only to get taken down after trading a few punches. Claxton did enough to stay on top, and yet he was unable to do much damage. When Sanchez got his own takedown, he immediately made his presence known, closing the frame with mount and a flurry of punches.

Claxton was back to his old tricks with an early flying knee. But he quickly found himself tied up in the clinch when that failed, and Sanchez made him work for a takedown. Even worse, he found himself stuck in a series of submission attempts, including the triangle that produced the tap at the 4:11 mark of the middle frame.

Sanchez now has won two straight after a failed bid for the featherweight title held by Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Claxton, who went viral with a flying knee knockout, goes back to the drawing board for the first time in his pro career.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 226 results include:

• Daniel Carey def. Gaston Bolanos via technical submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 4:19
• Emmanuel Sanchez def. Tywan Claxton via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:11