Bellator 258 results: Anthony Johnson survives rough first from Jose Augusto for KO win

In the first round, there nearly was a question of whether it was a good idea for Anthony Johnson to come back from retirement.

Short-notice opponent Jose Augusto (7-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) was raining down punches on Johnson (23-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) – with his left hand likely broken. But Johnson survived the barrage in his first fight in four years. And 90 seconds into the second round, Johnson knocked Augusto out with a right hand.

Johnson’s win, in his Bellator debut, was in the quarterfinals of the light heavyweight tournament – and put him into the semifinals against champion Vadim Nemkov, meaning he’ll fight for the belt his next time out.

The light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal bout was the Bellator 258 co-main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The fight aired on Showtime.

Johnson went after Augusto’s lead leg with early kicks. Then he landed a perfect push kick 45 seconds in and came behind it with a few punches. About two minutes in, Augusto landed a right and seemed to hurt his hand with the punch. He threw a right hand 30 seconds later and pulled it back and winced in pain.

Johnson went after him with authority with punches and kicks against the fence. Johnson unloaded, but somehow Augusto din’t go down and stayed in the fight. And seconds later, Augusto landed a big left hand that wobbled Johnson. He went after him with his one good hand and had him hurt in a big way. He worked for a choke and seemed to have Johnson in trouble. But Johnson survived, Augusto let the pressure off, and a few seconds later Johnson got a takedown and finished the round on top.

The pace slowed in the second round. Both fighters seemed to be recovering from the pace in the first. But 90 seconds in, Johnson threw a right that landed right on the chin. Augusto fell backward to the canvas. Johnson landed one big hammerfist on the canvas before referee Mike Beltran could get in to stop it. And just like that, it was over.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 258 results include:

• Anthony Johnson def. Jose Augusto via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:30
• Peter Queally def. Patricky Freire via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 0:01
• Michael Page def. Derek Anderson via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
• Raufeon Stots def. Josh Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Lorenz Larkin def. Rafael Carvalho via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Patchy Mix def. Albert Morales via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 2:40
• Omar Hussein vs. Logan Storley* – scrapped due to Hussein failed medicals
• Johnny Eblen def. Daniel Madrid via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:44
• Johnny Campbell def. Henry Corrales via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:12
• Johnny Soto def. Weber Almeida via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Erik Perez def. Blaine Shutt via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)