The best way to follow up a massive star studded tent pool event is by having Hisaki Kato on your next card. In a fight that outshined both the main and co-main bouts, Kato provided the highlight of 2015 with a devastating knockout of Joe Schilling. Cheick Kongo elbowed, grounded and pounded his way to an unanimous victory and Dave Rickels had a disappointing evening at Bellator 139 from Mulvane Kansas.

Kongo (22-10) is happy to get back in the win column with a decisive win over Alexander Volkov (24-5). He took the larger fighter to the mat for this win and used a heavy hand to open up his forehead and keep him in position. There were a few moments when Tiger tried for kimuras and guillotines but he was out muscled by Kongo in each attempt. The crowd may have not been fans of the fight but Kongo executed his game plan to fruition and outworked the longer and rangier striker. This could possibly set up Bobby Lashley and Cheick next which could have contendership implications.

Rickels (16-3) may not have had the best entrance at Bellator 139 and clearly not the ending he wanted. He looked sharp against John Alessio (35-17) early and after a few knees nearly finished him. He threw an illegal knee to the head of John and the referee immediately stepped in to stop the fight. After a few weird moments of deliberation, Alessio was asked by the doctor if he could continue and he replied that he didn't know so the fight was called as a no contest. It would have been a disqualification if the blow was intentional but it was truly the motions of Dave that made him do it. Not a good idea for Rickels to prop the crowd up and beg for the fight to continue when it was clearly his fault on the knee.

Knockout of the year may visit the land of Japan as Kato (5-1) superman punched the light out of Schilling (2-5). Both fighters started strong on their feet but the leg kicks from Schilling bothered Kato enough to shoot. The takedown was the best option to contain “stitch 'em up” in the first round so Hisaki grinded out the clock to move into the second. Joe looked a little slower on his feet and Hisaki exploded for a left handed superman punch that sent Schilling to the canvas. Hisaki got another strike in before the referee stopped it but Joe was out way before. Look for gifs, vines and highlights world wide as the world now knows of the famous Hisaki Kato.

The opening main card match up between Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2) and Pat Curran (21-7) was a nice kick off following last Friday’s Bellator explosion. As possible, new fans become familiar with this product in the Scott Coker era, and they got a chance to immediately see one of the stand outs on the roster. Former featherweight champion Curran showed why he has some of the best stand up in the division. He took the charge against Sanchez landing an imposing right hand that was usually followed by closer shots inside. Emmanuel tried to stay with him but he was unfortunately one step behind in each round. An  inadvertent headbutt opened a huge cut over Sanchez’s head. With a striking advantage and deadly percentage, Pat sealed the deal in each of the final two rounds with a rake down. In the third he placed Sanchez in trouble and almost line him up for a few submissions. Emmanuel escaped but the time ran out before he could mount a counter attack. Curran won by an unanimous decision and 145 is looking solid up top as we have come to expect in Bellator.

The prelims of Bellator 139 showed wins by Bubba Jenkins (9-2), Aaron Ely (5-2) Bryanna Fissori (2-0), Alex Huddleston (6-1) and Augusto Sakai (8-0). Up next for Bellator is Bellator 140 Lima - Koreshkov on July 17th.

Main card

Cheick Kongo def. Alexander Volkov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

David Rickels vs. John Alessio is ruled a no-contest (illegal knee) at 2:24 of round 1

Hisaki Kato def. Joe Schilling via knockout (punch) at :34 of round 2

Pat Curran def. Emmanuel Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Prelims

Bubba Jenkins def. Joe Wilk via  TKO (strikes) at 1:00 of round 2

Aaron Ely def. Jeimeson Saudino via submission (guillotine) at 1:17 of round 2

Augusto Sakai def. Daniel Gallemore via TKO (injury) at 5:00 of round 2

Bryanna Fissori def. Iony Razafiarison via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Alex Huddleston def. Javy Ayala via submission (RNC) at 1:12 of round 1

Bobby Cooper def. Pablo Villaseca via split decision (29-28, 29-29, 29-28)

Gaston Reyno def. Greg Scott via submission (guillotine) at 1:17 of round 1