The biggest victory of one Bellator prospect’s career came at the expense of another highly-touted rising fighters’ undefeated record.
In the Bellator 293 main card opener, England’s Luke Trainer (7-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) became the first to defeat Sullivan Cauley (6-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) as a professional, when he won by rear-naked choke at 2:58. The event took place at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif..
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒕 does it! 🔥
Luke Trainer gets the submission and hands Cauley his first defeat.#Bellator293 | Watch LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/oB2pAEXcgi
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 1, 2023
After the fight, Trainer picked up what perhaps was his biggest victory of the evening, as he dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Holly.
She said yes.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Trainer said in the cage. “My gorgeous girlfriend is here. Please, baby girl. Come here. Now, I haven’t brought the ring with me, so I’d like to take the ring off and put it back on again. Is it a bit too tight? Baby girl, I love you so much. You are everything to me. I can’t wait to put babies inside of you. Babe, will you do me the honor and be my wife?”
Luke Trainer gets the win and a wife! 💍 #Bellator293’s main card is LIVE on @Showtime! pic.twitter.com/fMIiYuiCPG
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) April 1, 2023
Trainer, 27, is now on a two-fight winning streak after his first career loss, which took place in May. Cauley, 26, is a protege of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader and had not lost as a professional prior to Friday.
The up-to-the-minute Bellator 293 results include:
- Luke Trainer def. Sullivan Cauley via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:58
- Rakim Cleveland def. Christian Edwards via submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 3, 3:55
- Mike Hamel def. Adam Piccolotti via TKO (head kick and punches) – Round 1, 0:42
- Adam Piccolotti def. Mandel Nallo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:26
- Sara Collins def. Pam Sorenson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:43
- Jeff Creighton def. Joey Davis via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Lucas Brennan def. Josh San Diego via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:14
- Vladimir Tokov def. Lance Gibson Jr. via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:02
- Randi Field def. Ashley Cummins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Bryce Meredith def. Brandon Carrillo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:11
- Mackenzie Stiller def. Maria Henderson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:17
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 293.