Bellator 281 results: Fabian Edwards flattens Lyoto Machida with violent knockout

If Fabian Edwards didn’t have a marquee victory before Bellator 281, he certainly has one now.

In the co-main event Friday at O2 Arena in London, Edwards (10-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) stunned, dropped, and knocked unconscious former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (26-12 MMA, 2-4 BMMA). The stoppage occurred at the 3:18 mark of Round 1.

The fight started out with the classic methodical pacing that comes with a typical Machida fight, but Edwards quickly woke up his home country arena when he connected with a short elbow upon exit of the clinch. The shot visibly wobbled Machida, who backpedaled but could not escape.

Edwards pushed forward and hurled more punches. A left hook sent Machida to the canvas, where he was met with follow-up punches that knocked the lights out. Machida was down for a moderate amount of time, with his eyes eerily open but no one was home.

Lights out

Fabian Edwards delivers a lightning-fast 1st round KO in London#Bellator281 @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/JrqVTNkkLB

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) May 13, 2022

An elated Leon Edwards jumps on the cage to celebrate with his brother Fabian who just knocked out Lyoto Machida in the first round. #Bellator281 pic.twitter.com/Cnt4S6HcHZ

— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) May 13, 2022

With the win, Edwards snaps a two-fight losing skid in his first bout since a May 2021 loss to Austin Vanderford. As for Machida, he now has lost four fights in a row. Bellator 281 was the final bout on his current promotional agreement. His future is uncertain.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 281 results include:

• Fabian Edwards def. Lyoto Machida via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
• Kana Watanabe def. Denise Kielholtz via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:03
• Paul Daley def. Wendell Giacomo via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 4:09
• Simon Biyong def. Luke Trainer via unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 29-28)
• Daniel Weichel def. Robert Whiteford via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:12
• Elina Kallionidou def. Kate Jackson via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:53
• Oliver Enkamp def. Mark Lemminger via submission (buggy choke) – Round 3, 0:25
• Alfie Davis vs Tim Wilde ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
• Andrew Fisher def. Attila Korkma via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Charlie Ward def. Alan Carlos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
• Maciej Rozanski def. Lee Chadwick via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chiara Penco def. Lanchana Green via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)