Takedowns were the deciding factor in Cheick Kongo ’s victory over Tony Johnson in Friday’s Bellator 161 heavyweight headliner, which aired on Spike at H-E-P Arena in Cedar Park, Texas. The style matchup between Kongo (25-10-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) and Johnson (10-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) had the potential to result in an underwhelming affair. That’s essentially how it played out, because the three-round heavyweight fight was clinch and takedown heavy, with Kongo getting the more impactful offense to earn a majority decision by scorecards of 28-28, 29-28 and 29-28. The first round was light in action, but Kongo landed a takedown in the final minute that put him ahead. He quickly advanced to mount and tried to pound his way to what was the closest thing to a stoppage in the contest, but he didn’t have enough time to get the job done before time ran out. Johnson came back in the second round, though, landing a big takedown of his own at the midway point of the second frame
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