Bellator 295 results, highlights: Patchy Mix brutally finishes Raufeon Stots to claim Grand Prix title

Mix is $1 million richer, draped in gold and has a shiny new addition to his highlight reel after an unreal knockout

Patchy Mix secured himself $1 million, an interim bantamweight championship and a Grand Prix championship, plus a Knockout of the Year contender for good measure. Mix needed less than 90 seconds to land a picture-perfect jump knee flush on Raufeon Stots to score the first-round knockout in the main event of Bellator 295 on Saturday night. 

The finish earned him the interim bantamweight title as the two closed out a wild Bantamweight World Grand Prix in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"People think I'm just a ground guy. I just knocked out 19-1 Raufeon Stots in a minute with my backside knee," Mix said in his post-fight interview with Bellator commentator John McCarthy. "I've been working that for months. I knew he dips and I knew I could catch him. I earned these belts, I earned $1 million and I earned my black belt tonight."

Mix, a known submission specialist, stayed true to his last name by blending new elements into his game. Many expected Stots to have the striking advantage, particularly due to his stunning head kick knockout of Juan Archuleta that kicked off the Bantamweight World Grand Prix last Aprul. Mix flipped expectations on their head, laying Stots out on his back with a nasty step-in knee. Stots went limp on impact as he crashed to the floor. The KO marks the first of Mix's Bellator career.

Mix entered the Grand Prix as a darkhorse contender but quickly drew support after eliminating tournament favorite Kyoji Horiguchi in a hard-fought decision. He inspired even more confidence by choking out Magomed Magomedov in the semifinals. Having stopped Stots emphatically, Mix looks like a world-beater.

Featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull is moving down a weight class to challenge current 135-pound titleholder Sergio Pettis in a super fight at Bellator 297 on June 16. Mix is expected to challenge the winner in a bantamweight title unification match at a later date.

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Elsewhere on the card, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane made her pitch for one final title shot with a split decision win over Kana Watanabe. The former flyweight queen grinded out the win in her own backyard and pleaded to get the chance to have her retirement fight be against current champion -- and friend -- Liz Carmouche later this year in a return trip to Hawaii. 

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the Bellator 295 below.

Bellator 295 card and results

• Patchy Mix def. Raufeon Stots (ic) via first-round knockout (flying knee)*
• Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Kana Watanabe via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yancy Medeiros def. Charlie Leary via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Aaron Pico def. James Gonzalez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  

*-Bantamweight World Grand Prix final

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:46 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Raufeon Stots vs. Patchy Mix -- Round 1: Both men were brimming with confidence, standing in the center of the cage early. Mix unleashed a hellacious knee that stiffened Stots on impact. The interim champion dropped like a sack of potatoes. Official result: Mix def. Stots via KO, Round 1.

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:29 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

All that remains tonight is the main event. Raufeon Stots vs. Patchy Mix in the finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. The winner will claim $1 million and the interim bantamweight championship currently held by Stots. Whoever emerges victorious will unify the bantamweight titles against the winner of bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis vs. featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull.

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:23 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Kana Watanabe via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:22 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kana Watanabe -- Round 3: Watanabe found what worked and doubled down on it. Watanabe immediately pressured Macfarlane in pursuit of a takedown. The former women's flyweight champion offered strong initial resistance but her defenses did not hold. Watanabe tossed Macfarlane to the floor with a stunning judo hip toss. Macfarlane conceded that she would not escape Watanabe's grip and opted to rack up punches. That spurred Watanabe to respond and gave Macfarlane a brief separation. Another takedown attempt by Watanabe drew boos from the Hawaiian crowd firmly in Macfarlane's corner. Watanabe continued to pursue failed takedowns while Macfarlane picked away with strikes. The striking numbers should be in favor of Macfarlane. Watanabe had control with very few takedowns, but landed some of her own strikes. Close round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Macfarlane (29-28 Macfarlane overall)

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:15 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kana Watanabe -- Round 2: Macfarlane immediately went back to work with her accurate right punch. Watanabe shot an early takedown and eventually secured it with a trip. Macfarlane threw up a head scissor with her legs from the bottom of the north-south position. It was not a threatening attack, but it did trap Watanabe for a brief period of time. Every time Macfarlane got back up, Watanabe dragged her back down. Macfarlane landed some nice elbows from the bottom but it only spurred Watanabe to increase her own striking output. A close round considering Macfarlane's volume from the bottom, but Watanabe's ground-and-pound likely had more sting on it when it landed. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Watanabe (19-19 overall)

[Apr 23, 2023 at 12:08 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kana Watanabe -- Round 1: Macfarlane punched her way into a clinch but was greeted by a Watanabe knee. Another nice right-hand by Macfarlane. Watanabe scored a slick trip against the fence and a scramble ensued. Watanabe briefly snatched an armbar but Macfarlane broke free and attacked a kimura. Eventually, the two figures separated. Macfarlane's continued success with the right hand showed as a cut surfaced by Watanabe's left eye. Watanabe landed a crucial takedown, rolling into an armbar attempt from the back. Watanabe snuck in a couple of elbows before the round ended but was unable to really capitalize on the position. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Macfarlane

[Apr 22, 2023 at 11:48 pm ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Our co-main event features another Hawaiian fan favorite, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. The former flyweight champion fights Kana Watanabe in a contest with title implications in the 125-pound division.