Bellator 264 results, highlights: Gegard Mousasi retains middleweight title with TKO of John Salter

Mousasi took a minute to get going, but finally took apart Salter with his ground-and-pound late in the third round

Eighteen years into an MMA career that is bordering on legendary, Bellator MMA middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi continues to solider on at an elite level.  

The 36-year-old Mousasi (48-7-2) patiently waited for the grappling-heavy John Salter (18-5) to fatigue before finishing him via ground and pound in Round 3 on Friday. The TKO win, which headlined Bellator 264 inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, was the first title defense of Mousasi's second 185-pound title reign under the Bellator banner.  

Showing little respect for his opponent's striking, Mousasi began walking him down at will in Round 2. Once he started stuffing the takedown attempts of Salter, the momentum shifted incredibly quick. Although Salter, 36, was able to control the action on the ground and in the clinch in the opening round, he had little success offensively as he focused, instead, on improving his position.  

"I think I could have gotten up [in Round 1] but I didn't want to put myself into risk," Mousasi said. "I was still fresh and not slippery or sweaty. I didn't want to give him my back. I knew I was pressuring him from the outside. 

"He is a southpaw so everything is more difficult. It was more difficult to get my punches off. Other than that, I looked good." 

Mousasi improved to an impressive 11-1 since 2015, with his lone defeat coming via majority decision to Rafael Lovato in a disputed decision that brought an end to Mousasi's initial Bellator title reign. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion left UFC in 2017 while riding a five-fight winning streak and has continued to shine despite his age in Bellator. 

Mousasi turned up the pressure exponentially to open Round 2 by establishing his stinging jab. He stuffed a late Salter takedown attempt and sat down to take over top position, ending the round with a flurry of short elbows that saw referee Dan Miragliotta take a close look but choose not to call the fight.  

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In Round 3, Salter's fatigue became much more apparent. After stuffing a pair of takedowns, Mousasi sat down once more to take over top position and land enough clean blows to force Miragliotta to save Salter at 2:07 of the round. 

"I told them that I'm way stronger than people think," Mousasi said. "I may look skinny but I'm way stronger. I put my weight on him on top and hurt him with punches. I made him feel the pressure. It was a five-rounder so in my mind I said I don't need to do everything now." 

After the fight, Mousasi engaged in a face off with unbeaten top contender Austin Vanderford who, following recovery from an injury that saw his left arm in a brace, is expected to be his next title challenger. 

"He's a legend in this sport. I thought he went in there and took care of business," Vanderford said. "I'm excited to get out there and test myself." 

Elsewhere on the card, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov made an emphatic return to the promotion with a unanimous decision over Sabah Homasi in the co-main event. Koreshkov outstruck Homasi on the feet before dragging things to the ground and dominating his opponent. It was his first fight back with the promotion since October 2019. Plus, Raufeon Stots stated his case for a title shot with an impressive win over Magomed Magomedov at bantamweight. His next fight could be against champion -- and training partner -- Sergio Pettis.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the evening for the latest updates, highlights and results from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, with our live blog below.

Bellator 264 card, results

• Gegard Mousasi (c) def. John Salter via third-round TKO (punches)
• Andrey Koreshkov def. Sabah Homasi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Raufeon Stots def. Magomed Magomedov via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Davion Franklin def. Everett Cummings via first-round knockout (kick)
• Khadzhi Bestaev def. Ty Gwerder via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Pam Sorenson def. Roberta Samad via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jeffrey Glossner def. Sebastian Ruiz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jon McNeil def. Orlando Mendoza via third-round TKO (punches)

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:29 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

That's a heck of a performance from Mousasi. He never panicked early and improved to 11-1 since 2015.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:27 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Mousasi gets the TKO.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:27 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: Huge strikes from Mousasi. This won't last long. The fight is over.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:26 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: Salter looks fatigued. He wasn't offensive enough when he had Mousasi down and now he is paying for all that effort. Mousasi stuffs another takedown and takes top position. Huge strikes land.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:25 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: Salter circles away from big right hands but Mousasi stuffs his follow up takedown attempt. Big stuff from the champ.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:25 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 3: Big strikes from Mousasi early as he backs Salter up.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:23 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Salter survives. Give the round to Mousasi, 10-9.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:23 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Big strikes from Mousasi. Salter in big trouble. The champ lands elbow after elbow.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:22 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Mousasi stands up as Salter works the standing clinch. He changes levels but Mousasi sits down on top of him and takes top position. Good ground and pound from Mousasi from his knees.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:21 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Nice work from Mousasi to stuff the takedown and spin away from it but Salter never gives up and takes the champion down along the cage.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:20 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Salter hits a left cross to the chest of Mousasi. This is the style Mousasi can dominate as he picks Salter apart on the feet. The question is can he stuff the takedown.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:19 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: They trade punches in close. Mousasi starts to establish his stinging jab.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:19 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 2: Looping left hand catches Mousasi coming in. Nice right cross from Mousasi. He's much more aggressive to start this frame.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:17 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: The crowd boos the lack of action to close the round. 10-9 Salter due to positioning and aggressive grappling attempts.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:17 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Mousasi gets to his feet and it appears Salter has a cut above his left eye as he works from the standing clinch.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:16 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Salter is in control but he's anything but offensive. Instead, the challenger is focusing on trying to get Mousasi down onto his back.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:15 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Mousasi gives up his back as he tries to stand. Salter grabs his foot and keeps him on his knees. Strong technique from Salter. Textbook wrestling.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:15 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Salter tries hard to pull Mousasi away from the cage. Front choke attempt from Mousasi but he's clearly using it for positioning and not a true submission.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:13 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Lots of feinting from both. Salter shoots for the takedown but Mousasi backs up to the cage to stuff it. Nice work from Salter to get Mousasi into a seated position.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:13 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 1: Mousasi out quickly to try and cut off the cage and close distance. Nice combination from the champ upstairs.

[Aug 13, 2021 at 11:12 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Dan Miragliotta is the referee for this middleweight championship main event.