Aaron Jeffery stepped into his second Bellator fight on short notice and instantly notched contender status in shocking fashion.
At Bellator 284, Jeffery (13-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) finished recent middleweight title challenger Austin Vanderford (11-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) with punches at 1:25 of Round 1. The bout kicked off the main card Saturday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jeffery found success on the feet early and often. An overhand right began the final finishing sequence and dropped Vanderford to the canvas. Vanderford rolled to his side and covered up as Jeffery finished off the job with some more punches.
🤯 𝑴𝑨𝑱𝑶𝑹 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑹
It's the night of the mullets, as @AaJMMA KOs @AustinV170MMMA in the opening fight of the #Bellator284 main card.
Watch live NOW on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/xwfqBSU2dt
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 13, 2022
⏮ 𝑺𝑳𝑶𝑾-𝑴𝑶 𝑪𝑨𝑴@AaJMMA's knockout of @AustinV170MMA is even 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒆𝒓 in slow motion. #Bellator284 is live on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/9t2wMj5dRY
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 13, 2022
Jeffery, 29, signed with Bellator in early 2022. The move marked his first major promotional gig after years as a champion on the regional scene and two failed attempts on Dana White’s Contender Series. Jeffery made his Bellator debut in June with a second-round TKO win over Fabio Aguiar. The victory Saturday extended his winning streak to three.
As for Vanderford, he now enters the first losing skid of his career after his first loss came in February against Gegard Mousasi. Prior to 2022, Vanderford was 11-0 as a professional with six finishes.
The up-to-the-minute Bellator 284 results include:
- Aaron Jeffery def. Austin Vanderford via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
- Marcos Breno def. Josh Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- DeAnna Bennett def. Justine Kish via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sullivan Cauley def. Tyson Jeffries via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 1:39
- Pat Downey def. Keyes Nelson via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:36
- Bailey Schoenfelder def. Mark Currier via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:35
- Mitchell McKee def. Tony Ortega via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:28
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.
