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Bellator and Rizin combined forces to deliver one of the biggest MMA cards of the year. It was a fitting end to the decade as two veterans of the sport, Fedor Emelianenko and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson locked horns in the main event.
The rest of the main card saw top talents from Rizin and Bellator face each other with bragging rights on the line.
Michael 'Venom' Page, Keita Nakamura, Michael Chandler, Lorenz Larkin, Ilara Joanne and Kana Watanabe were just some of the big names from both the promotions who took centre stage at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Thankfully for the fans, the fighters on the star-studded card delivered a very entertaining show.
Here are the results and highlights of Bellator 237:
#1. Goiti Yamauchi (24-4) vs. Daron Cruickshank (22-12) (Lightweight)
Daron Cruickshank, who was on a two-fight losing streak, came out to Hulk Hogan's Real American theme song. The 26-year-old Goiti Yamauchi, on the other hand, had lost just once in his last six fights and was the odds-on favourite to get the victory in this fight.
Round 1: Yamauchi began in southpaw while Daron shifted stances. Goiti stayed steady and fired off a few body kicks.
Cruickshank showed more movement and attempted a spinning back-fist but missed. Yamauchi got hold of Daron's back in the standing position and then looked to get in the seatbelt position.
He gradually mounted himself atop Daron, pushed his foot off the fence and used the momentum to get his opponent down to the ground. Goiti got on his back and looked to get the under hooks for the Rear Naked Choke.
He flawlessly cranked it up and got the submission.
Result: Goiti Yamauchi def. Daron Cruickshank via submission (Rear Naked Choke) (3:11, Round 1)
Yamauchi's grappling superiority was just too much for his Rizin opponent. He notched up another submission and now holds the record for most RNC finishes in Bellator.
#2. Ilara Joanne (9-4) vs. Kana Watanabe (18-0-1) (Women's Flyweight)
Rizin's undefeated Kana Watanabe took on Bellator's rising Flyweight prospect Ilara 'Arya Stark' Joanne.
Joanne was on a three-fight win streak and was coming off an impressive Bellator debut performance against Bec Rawlings.
Round 1: Watanabe started in southpaw while Joanne was the more fluid fighter in the orthodox stance.
Joanne moved around and made in-roads with a few combinations in the pocket, Watanabe landed a front kick but Joanne cracked her opponent with a big right and left combo.
Joanne found her range fairly quickly and landed a few good hooks. Watanabe closed the distance and took Joanne down with a hip toss. Joanne then tried to catch Watanabe in an Arm Triangle.
However, the Japenese created some separation and stayed on top of Joanne without doing much. She took side control and landed a series of punches after trapping Joanne's arm.
The short punches landed but they weren't hurting Joanne, who was on her back. Watanabe was working towards a head and arm triangle but she ran out of time. Despite losing the first half of the round, Watanabe made a good recovery to end it on top. 10-9 Joanne
Round 2: It didn't take much time for Watanabe to engage in the clinch and use her Judo skills to attempt another toss. Joanne's posture and strength were on point though as she avoided getting taken down.
They jockeyed for position against the fence until Watanabe powered her way to the mat. Joanne, however, scrambled and found herself on top of her opponent.
Joanne pinned Watanabe against the fence but she just held on while her opponent landed short punches, waiting for the referee to stand them up. Joanne just prevented Watanabe from getting up but did absolutely nothing. Watanabe eventually worked her way to her knees and flipped the position.
Joanne was now on her back and on the receiving end of a flurry of punches, some of which had power behind them. Watanabe ended another round on top. 10-9 Watanabe
Round 3: Watanabe got in the body lock and executed another perfect Judo toss. She settled into full guard but Joanne wasn't passive as she landed elbows from her back.
Joanne tried to get an armbar while on her back but Watanabe got her hand out. Watanabe then got into half guard and postured up. She went on to land a few big punches from the top position.
Joanne closed the distance and landed short right-hand punches from the side. Watanabe controlled the position and unleashed ground and pound. Joanne turned over and found herself in a precarious position as Watanabe postured up and continued to connect with the ground and pound until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Result: Kana Watanabe def. Ilara Joanne via TKO (unanswered strikes) (4:39, Round 3)
That was a laborious fight to watch as there were long bouts of inactivity on the mat. However, Watanabe walked the talk and finished Joanne to maintain her spotless record.
#3. Keita Nakamura (35-10-2-1) vs. Lorenz Larkin (21-7) (Welterweight)
Round 1: Nakamura was in southpaw while Larkin kicked things off in orthodox.
K-Taro pressed forward and pushed Larkin against the fence. Larkin landed a right kick to the body and his speed gave Nakamura some problems as he was getting the better of the early exchanges.
Nakamura went for a body kick of his own but Larkin's guard was up. Larkin then went high for the head kick, got into the pocket and landed a nice uppercut.
Larkin got out the jabs and continued pounding leg kicks to the body. 'Monsoon' noticed Nakamura's head dropping and went for another huge uppercut but missed.
Larkin was putting on a stand-up clinic as he kept Nakamura away with the oblique kick before teeing off with left-hand jabs and follow-up shots.
The jabs, in particular, were a thing of beauty. Nakamura landed a few body kicks of his own but Larkin was in total control. He ended the round with an uppercut and a lunging 1-2. 10-9 Larkin.
Round 2: The first minute went by with both men faking and trying to find their range.
Larkin landed a straight right and left jab. He maintained distance with the straight kick to the knees and thighs of Nakamura.
The Japanese fighter, however, continued to press forward and landed a few good shots with Larkin retreating. K-Taro then landed two inside leg kicks.
However, Larkin was cooking up a plan and patiently waiting for Nakamura to drop his right hand so that he could unleash the uppercut from hell.
The push kicks to the knees from Larkin looked painful and he rocked Nakamura with a big knee. He hurt him again with a step-in elbow and soon started to land flush as he worked for a finish. Nakamura though lived to see another round. 10-9 Larkin
Round 3: Nakamura was looking to make it a phonebooth fight as he wanted to land his strikes. Larkin was just too fast and technical though and was having no problems in ducking away from shots.
Larkin landed a big right that sent Nakamura's head back but Nakamura kept up the pressure despite getting tagged.
Larkin slammed Nakamura with a liver shot before landing with another knee and continuing the onslaught. Straight rights and hooks opened up a cut above Nakamura's eye.
The Japanese fighter is as tough as they come though. He went down with Larkin unloading on him with hammer fists and punches but eventually stood back up and kept moving forward. Larkin ended the fight with a knee, followed by a 1-2 and a step-in elbow to seal a 10-8 round.
Result: Lorenz Larkin def. Keita Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Lorenz Larkin looked fabulous in what was a showcase of his exceptional striking capabilities. A shout-out, however, has to go out to K-Taro, who was tough as nails throughout the fight.
#4. Michael 'Venom' Page (16-1) vs. Shinsho Anzai (11-3) (173 pound Catchweight fight)
This was MVP's fifth fight of 2019 and he came out wearing a Naruto-inspired Akatsuki robe. He was having the time of his life as he made his way to the cage.
Despite being a massive underdog, Shinsho Anzai was no slouch as his grappling background was considered the perfect weapon to counter MVP's dynamic striking.
Who prevailed in the end?
Round 1: MVP began with the familiar side stance. Anzai started with a high guard in the Orthodox stance.
Anzai changed levels but MVP masterfully went for the knee and landed as he was moving backwards. Venom stuffed a takedown and continued to elusively move around.
He ducked and landed a few left-hand jabs. Anzai went in for a clinch but got caught with a high knee. MVP was timing his shots to perfection before both men clinched against the cage. They broke up and Anzai continued to try and get into striking range. However, MVP kept his distance and starched Anzai with a few quick-fire rights.
He knocked Anzai down with a big right-hand shot and toyed with his opponent. Another knee landed and Anzai was rocked. MVP was all over Anzai as the round came to an end. 10-8 MVP.
Round 2: MVP came into the second round with the intention to finish things off and he did exactly that.
Anzai lunged in for a looping left hook but MVP saw it coming from a mile away and dropped him with a short right hook that landed flush.
Anzai fell sideways to the mat and the referee stepped in to put him out of his misery.
Result: Michael 'Venom' Page def. Shinsho Anzai via KO (0:23, Round 2)
MVP is a special talent. End of story!
#5. Michael Chandler (19-5) vs. Sidney Outlaw (14-3) (160-pound Catchweight fight)
The three-time Bellator Champion took on talented prospect Sidney Outlaw, who hadn't lost in his last nine fights. Outlaw stepped in on short notice to replace Benson Henderson. The co-main event of the evening had all the makings of a closely-contested war, however, it ended up with a clinical finish from Iron.
Round 1: Chandler was the more aggressive fighter as he attacked Outlaw's body with straight and hard-hitting punches.
Chandler kept working the body and showed off some quick head movement to avoid getting hit himself. He maintained his range and waited for the right opportunity to strike. It didn't take time for the opening to show up.
Iron connected with a razor-sharp straight right-hand shot to the back of Outlaw's ear. Lights out! Just like that, Chandler had notched up another highlight-reel finish.
Result: Michael Chandler def. Sidney Outlaw via KO (2:59, Round 1)
The Sidney Outlaw hype train came to a screeching halt as 'Da Gun' had no answer to Chandler's trademark speed and precision.
#6. Fedor Emelianenko (38-6-1) vs. Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (38-13) (Heavyweight)
Two decorated MMA veterans closed out the decade with a heavily hyped heavyweight showdown. The Last Emperor vs. Rampage was expected to end in a quick knockout and that's exactly what the fans witnessed.
Round 1: The pair touched gloves and Fedor got right to work by firing off a few strikes. Rampage got his guard up though and absorbed the strikes well.
Fedor looked light on his feet as he tried to create an opening to attack. Jackson covered up and attempted to catch Fedor with an overhand right. The Russian was just too quick and easily moved out of the way.
Fedor brought some kicks into the equation and attacked Jackson's leg. However, he stumbled after one of the leg kicks and Jackson took advantage by landing a right.
Fedor then dropped Jackson with a right-hand shot to the face, which also opened up a cut over his eye.
Rampage's knees gave way and the referee jumped in to stop the fight. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion got up quickly but had no clue what had just happened.
That was a sensible stoppage from the referee.
Result: Fedor Emelianenko def. Quinton Jackson via KO (2:44: Round 1)
The Last Emperor had the last laugh and looked solid despite being 43 years old. Rampage, on the other hand, should just hang up his gloves as he looked way off the pace.
In the end, it was just another day in the office for the greatest heavyweight of all time. Emelianenko announced his retirement after the fight, thus ending his legendary 20-year career in the country where it all began. The Last Emperor will be missed.
