A fight that was expected to deliver fireworks instead turned out to be a rather lackluster affair, as Bellator middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (13-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) retained his belt with a split-decision win over Melvin Manhoef (30-13 MMA, 2-2 BMMA).

The contest served as the main event of Friday’s Bellator 155, which took place at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The main card aired on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

The two noted strikers were expected to deliver a “kickboxing fight in MMA gloves,” but reality saw little more than a glorified sparring session. Carvalho’s most significant strikes may have been a few illegal knees to the groin, and he was never able to get the fight to the floor for any real significant advantage.

Meanwhile, Manhoef, one of the sport’s most feared sluggers just couldn’t ever really find his rhythm. The resulting action, or lack thereof, proved frustrating for attending observers, who booed throughout the 25-minute affair.

In the end, it appeared Manhoef had done just enough to edge his opponent, but the low output may very well have muddied up the judging, and it was Carvalho who scored the split result, 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47.

Curran impresses in win, heavyweight action declared draw

In the night’s co-feature, former Bellator featherweight champ Pat Curran (22-7 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) looked impressive in earning a unanimous decision win over Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1 MMA, 1-2 BMMA).

After a few spirited exchanges to open the first, a Curran left floored his opponent, setting the tone for the fight. Karakhanyan held on and recovered underneath, but his time on bottom gave away the frame.

It was Karakhanyan who was willing to pull guard in the second in order to get the action to the floor, but it backfired, as Curran moved to his opponent’s back. Karakhanyan defended well, but it was another round in the books for his opponent.

Karakhanyan finally found himself on the top side of a grappling exchange in the third, threatening with both strikes and submissions from the position. But it was too little, too late, and when he was unable to get the finish, he saw a decision handed to his opponent, 29-28 on all three cards.

In heavyweight action Dan Charles (10-3-1 MMA, 3-2-1 BMMA) and Augusto Sakai (9-0-1 MMA, 4-0-1 BMMA) fought to a bizarrely scored majority draw, with two judges seeing the fight even but a third giving the fight to Charles, 30-26.

It was Charles setting the tone early by blasting his opponent with kicks to the legs and body, only slowing when he was struck by a pair of massive low blows.

But Charles seemed to slow as the fight wore on. And while Sakai didn’t exactly impress with his efforts at a comeback, he did do just enough to get two rounds on two judges’ cards, resulting in a majority draw after a 10-8 opening frame in the other direction.

Dufresne shocks Coenen, Gormley outlast Beltran

In what was unquestionably the biggest win of her career, grappling specialist Alexis Dufresne (6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) picked up a shocking first-round submission win over 7-1 favorite Marloes Coenen (23-7 MMA, 2-1 BMMA).

It was Dufresne who got the fight to the floor early, but the crafty Coenen dealt with her opponent’s attempts and eventually swept to top position. But Dufresne capitalized from her back, locking up a triangle choke and eventually earning the tap while extending the arm in the position with 27 seconds left in the opening frame.

While the victory is a signature result from Dufresne, it comes with caveat because she did miss weight for the intended featherweight affair, registering 150.7 pounds.

In the night’s first main card matchup, Joey Beltran (17-13 MMA, 3-4 BMMA) appeared content to pace himself over the course of a 15-minute affair with fellow heavyweight Chase Gormley (13-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA). Unfortunately, the lack of action would cost him in the end.

It was Gormley who racked up points early and then survived a late rally from Beltran en route to picking up a split-decision win, 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28.

Official Bellator 155 results include:

MAIN CARD (Spike, 9 p.m. ET)

Champ Rafael Carvalho def. Melvin Manhoef via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – to retain middleweight title
Pat Curran def. Georgi Karakhanyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dan Charles vs. Augusto Sakai declared a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 30-26)
Alexis Dufresne def. Marloes Coenen via submission (triangle armbar) – Round 1, 4:33
Chase Gormley def. Joey Beltran via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Veta Arteaga def. Jackie Vandenburgh via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Scott Thometz def. Josh Tyler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25)
Will Noland def. Sean Powers via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:29
Jesse Brock def. Olly Bradstreet via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:57
Marcin Held def. Dave Jansen via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Casey Johnson def. Brendon Raftery via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:16
Joe Hamilton def. Tyler Freeman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:22
Vincent Morales def. Hamilton Ash via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:32