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2011 in Bellator MMA
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| 2011 in Bellator MMA | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Promotion | Bellator MMA |
| First date aired | March 5, 2011 |
| Last date aired | November 26, 2011 |
2011 in Bellator MMA was the fourth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in multiple weight classes, including three of the original tournament classes: Welterweight, Lightweight and Featherweight. There was also an inaugural Light Heavyweight Tournament taking place during this season, which crowned the first Light Heavyweight Champion in Bellator.[1] This was the first season to air on MTV2.[2]
Bellator 35
[edit]| Bellator 35 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | March 5, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino | |||
| City | Lemoore, California | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 35 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 5, 2011, at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.[3] The card kicked off Bellator Season Four and featured opening round fights in the Season Four Welterweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.[2]
Background
[edit]On December 14, 2010, Bellator and MTV2 announced a three-year deal to broadcast Bellator's tournaments and special events.[2] This will be the first Bellator event to air on MTV2.
Bellator's Women's Strawweight Champion Zoila Frausto fought in a non-title catchweight bout against Karina Hallinan.[4]
At this event Steve Carl was expected to fight Jay Hieron in the opening round of the welterweight tournament. However, Carl injured himself during training and was removed from the tournament. His replacement was Anthony Lapsley.
Poppies Martinez was expected to fight at this event,[5] but a bout never materialized.
The event drew an average of around 200,000 viewers on MTV2. Which helped MTV2 in several key advertising demographics including, an 83 percent increase among men aged 18 to 49, an 80 percent increase among men 18 to 34, and a 133 percent increase among men aged 25 to 34.[6]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Lyman Good | def. | Chris Lozano | Unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Welterweight | Jay Hieron | def. | Anthony Lapsley | technical submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:39 | [b] |
| Welterweight | Rick Hawn | def. | Jim Wallhead | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Welterweight | Brent Weedman | def. | Dan Hornbuckle | unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Women's (125 lb) | Zoila Gurgel | def. | Karina Hallinan | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (175 lb) | Waachiim Spiritwolf | def. | Jaime Jara | Split decision (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [e] |
| Featherweight | Brandon Bender | def. | Josh Herrick | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 3:42 | |
| Bantamweight | Paul Ruiz | def. | Jesus Castro | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:17 | |
Bellator 36
[edit]| Bellator 36 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | March 12, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Shreveport Municipal Auditorium | |||
| City | Shreveport, Louisiana | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 36 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 12, 2011, at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.[7] The card featured opening-round fights in the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament.[8] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Toby Imada was originally scheduled to face French fighter Ferrid Kheder; however, Kheder refused to weigh in and Josh Shockley was moved up from the preliminary card to face Imada.[9]
Shockley's original opponent, Kelvin Hackney, still weighed in, but was pulled off the card and paid his show money and win bonus. Hackney was expected to fight at Bellator 45.[10]
The event drew an estimated 230,000 viewers on MTV2.[11]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Patricky Freire | def. | Rob McCullough | TKO (punches) | 3 | 3:11 | [a] |
| Lightweight | Toby Imada | def. | Josh Shockley | Verbal submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:36 | [b] |
| Lightweight | Lloyd Woodard | def. | Carey Vanier | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:46 | [c] |
| Lightweight | Michael Chandler | def. | Marcin Held | Technical submission (arm-triangle choke) | 1 | 3:56 | [d] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Middleweight | Chad Leonhardt | def. | Kelly Leo | TKO (corner stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Kevin Aguilar | def. | Matt Hunt | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:02 | [e] |
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Booker Arthur | def. | Javone Duhon | Verbal submission (elbows) | 2 | 2:31 | |
Bellator 37
[edit]| Bellator 37 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | March 19, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Lucky Star Casino | |||
| City | Concho, Oklahoma | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 37 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 19, 2011, at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma.[12] The card featured opening round fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2. The event drew an estimated 173,000 viewers on MTV2.[11]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Patricio Freire | def. | Georgi Karakhanyan | KO (punches) | 3 | 0:56 | [a] |
| Featherweight | Wilson Reis | def. | Zac George | Submission (rear naked choke) | 1 | 2:09 | [b] |
| Featherweight | Daniel Straus | def. | Nazareno Malegarie | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Featherweight | Kenny Foster | def. | Eric Larkin | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 3:15 | [d] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Middleweight | Jake Rosholt | def. | John Bryant | Technical submission (rear naked choke) | 1 | 1:02 | |
| Lightweight | Jeremy Spoon | def. | Jerrod Sanders | Submission (rear naked choke) | 2 | 0:26 | |
| Featherweight | Roli Delgado | def. | Jameel Massouh | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Brandon Shelton | def. | Adam Snook | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 1 | 2:45 | |
Bellator 38
[edit]| Bellator 38 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | March 26, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Harrah's Tunica Hotel and Casino | |||
| City | Tunica, Mississippi | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 38 was mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 26, 2011, at Harrah's Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.[13] The card featured the opening round fights in the Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event showcased the inaugural light heavyweight tournament.[13]
Originally, Blagoy Ivanov was set to fight John Brown on the undercard. However, Brown pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Johnathan Ivey. Ivey was then pulled off the card for a suspension by the Georgia Athletic Commission.[14] Ivanov instead fought William Penn.
The event drew an estimated 150,000 viewers on MTV2.[11]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Heavyweight | Tim Carpenter | def. | Daniel Gracie | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Light Heavyweight | D.J. Linderman | def. | Raphael Davis | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 3:40 | [b] |
| Light Heavyweight | Rich Hale | def. | Nik Fekete | Submission (inverted triangle choke) | 1 | 1:55 | [c] |
| Light Heavyweight | Christian M'Pumbu | def. | Chris Davis | TKO (strikes) | 3 | 3:34 | [d] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Lightweight | Austin Lyons | def. | Jimmy Van Horn | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:10 | |
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Jake Underwood | def. | Tim Galluzzi | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 1:04 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Cody Donovan | def. | Brian Albin | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Blagoy Ivanov | def. | William Penn | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:58 | |
| Middleweight | Amaechi Oselukwue | def. | Abe Wilson | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Bellator 39
[edit]| Bellator 39 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | April 2, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Mohegan Sun Arena | |||
| City | Uncasville, Connecticut | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 39 was a mixed martial arts held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 2, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[15] The card featured one semi-final fight in both the Bellator Season Four Welterweight and Lightweight Tournaments.[16] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]The lightweight semifinal bout between Toby Imada and Patricky Freire was originally set to take place at Bellator 40.[17]
In a last-minute change not announced by the promotion, Luiz Azeredo stepped in to replace Matt Veach in a preliminary card matchup.[18]
The event drew an estimated 174,000 viewers on MTV2.[11]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Eddie Alvarez (c) | def. | Pat Curran | Unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, 50–45) | 5 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Welterweight | Rick Hawn | def. | Lyman Good | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Lightweight | Patricky Freire | def. | Toby Imada | KO (Flying Knee & Punches) | 1 | 2:53 | [c] |
| Catchweight (175 lb) | Ben Saunders | def. | Matt Lee | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 3 | 1:24 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Middleweight | Dan Cramer | def. | Greg Rebello | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Welterweight | Ryan Quinn | def. | Mike Winters | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Dave Jansen | def. | Scott McAfee | Submission (D'arce choke) | 1 | 4:58 | |
| Catchweight (160 lbs) | Renê Nazare | def. | Luiz Azeredo | TKO (Injury) | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | John McLaughlin | def. | Blair Tugman | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the Bellator Lightweight Championship.
- ^ Welterweight semifinal.
- ^ Lightweight semifinal.
- ^ This was a "dark" fight, after the main event.
Bellator 40
[edit]| Bellator 40 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | April 9, 2011 | |||
| Venue | First Council Casino | |||
| City | Newkirk, Oklahoma | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 40 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 9, 2011, at First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma.[19] The card featured fights in the Welterweight and Lightweight Bellator Season Four Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren competed in a non-title bout against Nick Thompson at this event.[19]
A lightweight semifinal bout between Toby Imada and Patricky Freire was originally set to take place on this card. However, the fight was moved to Bellator 39 and replaced with the welterweight semifinal fight between Brent Weedman and Jay Hieron. The Hieron-Weedman fight was rescheduled because Weedman needed to receive clearance for a facial laceration suffered in his Bellator 35 victory over Dan Hornbuckle.[20]
Former Sengoku fighter Ronnie Mann was expected to make his Bellator debut at this event.[21] However, visa issues kept Mann from entering the United States and his fight has been pushed back to the Bellator 42 card.[22]
The event drew an estimated 218,000 viewers on MTV2.[11]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Ben Askren | def. | Nick Thompson | Unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Jay Hieron | def. | Brent Weedman | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Lightweight | Michael Chandler | def. | Lloyd Woodard | unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Welterweight | Tyler Stinson | def. | Nate James | Split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Michael Osborn | def. | Cody Carillo | TKO (strikes) | 1 | 1:27 | |
| Heavyweight | Eric Prindle | def. | Josh Burns | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Welterweight | David Rickels | def. | Dylan Smith | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:32 | |
Bellator 41
[edit]| Bellator 41 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | April 16, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Cocopah Resort and Casino | |||
| City | Yuma, Arizona | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 41 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on April 16, 2011, at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona.[23] The card featured two semi-final fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Tony Johnson was expected to fight Carlos Flores at the event, but for unknown reasons was replaced by Rudy Aguilar.
The event drew a season low of 132,000 average viewers on MTV2.[24]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Catchweight (137 lb) | Joe Warren | def. | Marcos Galvão | Unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28. 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Patricio Freire | def. | Wilson Reis | KO (punches) | 3 | 3:29 | [a] |
| Bantamweight | Zach Makovsky | def. | Chad Robichaux | TKO (strikes) | 3 | 2:02 | |
| Featherweight | Daniel Straus | def. | Kenny Foster | Submission (guillotine choke) | 3 | 3:48 | [b] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Heavyweight | Carlos Flores | def. | Rudy Aguilar | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:19 | [c] |
| Bantamweight | Anthony Birchak | def. | Tyler Bialecki | Submission (D'arce choke) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Featherweight | Nick Piedmont | def. | Michael Parker | Split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Brendan Tierney | def. | Dano Moore | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 0:49 | |
Bellator 42
[edit]| Bellator 42 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | April 23, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Lucky Star Casino | |||
| City | Concho, Oklahoma | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 42 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 23, 2011, at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma.[25] The card featured the semi-finals in the Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Bellator Heavyweight champion Cole Konrad was scheduled to compete in a non-title "super fight" bout against Paul Buentello at this event.[26] However, it was revealed that Buentello had to pull out of the bout due to a back injury.[27]
Former Sengoku fighter Ronnie Mann was expected to make his Bellator debut at Bellator 40.[21] However, visa issues kept Mann from entering the United States and the fight was moved to this card.[22]
Chris Guillen was originally set to fight Mark Holata, but Guillen suffered a last minute injury and was replaced by Tracy Willis.[28]
The event drew an estimated 199,000 viewers on MTV2.[29]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Heavyweight | Rich Hale | def. | D.J. Linderman | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Catchweight (147 lbs) | Ronnie Mann | def. | Josh Arocho | Unanimous decision (30–25, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Christian M'Pumbu | def. | Tim Carpenter | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:08 | [b] |
| Bantamweight | Luis Nogueira | def. | Jerod Spoon | Unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28. 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Featherweight | Brandon Shelton | def. | Owen Evinger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:35 | [c] |
| Catchweight (190 lb) | Jared Hess | def. | Chris Bell | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 1:40 | [d] |
| Bantamweight | Shane Howell | def. | Mark Oshiro | Submission (D'arce choke) | 1 | 4:15 | |
| Heavyweight | Mark Holata | def. | Tracy Willis | Submission (strikes) | 1 | 0:49 | |
Bellator 43
[edit]| Bellator 43 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | May 7, 2011 | |||
| Venue | First Council Casino | |||
| City | Newkirk, Oklahoma | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 43 was a mixed martial arts held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 7, 2011, at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma.[30] The card featured the final fight in the Bellator Season Four Welterweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]A heavyweight bout between Neil Grove and The Ultimate Fighter 10 alumnus, Zak Jensen was scheduled for this event; however, Grove pulled out of the bout on May 3 due to an injury.[31]
A local feature bout between George Burton and John Bryant was also scratched.[32]
The event drew an estimated 182,000 viewers on MTV2.[33]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Jay Hieron | def. | Rick Hawn | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Bryan Baker | def. | Joe Riggs | KO (punch) | 2 | 3:53 | [b] |
| Bantamweight | Chase Beebe | def. | Jose Vega | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 4:06 | [c] |
| Heavyweight | Ron Sparks | def. | Vince Lucero | Submission (keylock) | 1 | 2:18 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Catchweight (179 lb) | David Rickels | def. | Rich Bouphanouvong | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 | 1:11 | [d] |
| Lightweight | Michael Osborn | def. | Mike Schatz | TKO (referee stoppage) | 1 | 1:58 | |
Bellator 44
[edit]| Bellator 44 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | May 14, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Caesar's Resort | |||
| City | Atlantic City, New Jersey | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 44 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 14, 2011, at Harrah's Resort.[34] The card featured the final fight in the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]EliteXC and Ring of Combat veteran James Jones was expected to fight at this event, but a bout did not materialize.[35]
Lyman Good was scheduled to face Dan Hornbuckle in a welterweight bout. However, on May 6, Good pulled out of the fight due to an injury.[36]
A scheduled bout between Anthony Morrison and Bryan Goldsby was canceled due to Morrison weighing-in 10 pounds over weight.[37]
The event drew a season high of 325,000 average viewers on MTV2.[38]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Michael Chandler | def. | Patricky Freire | Unanimous decision (29–27, 29–27, 29–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Hector Lombard | def. | Falaniko Vitale | KO (punch) | 3 | 0:54 | |
| Welterweight | Giedrius Karavackas | def. | Sam Oropeza | Submission (scarf hold armlock) | 3 | 3:59 | |
| Middleweight | Alexander Shlemenko | def. | Brett Cooper | unanimous decision (30–27, 30–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Heavyweight | Jamall Johnson | def. | Randy Smith | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 4:16 | |
| Featherweight | Jeff Lentz | def. | Anthony Leone | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Jay Silva | def. | Gemiyale Adkins | Unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ Lightweight tournament final. Chandler was docked one point in round 3 due to kicks to the groin.
Bellator 45
[edit]| Bellator 45 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | May 21, 2011 | |||
| Venue | L'Auberge du Lac Resort | |||
| City | Lake Charles, Louisiana | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 45 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 21, 2011, at the L'Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[39] The card featured final round fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight and Light Heavyweight Tournaments. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Kalvin Hackney, whose fight was canceled at Bellator 36, was moved to fight at this event.[10]
A bout between Thiago Santos and Derrick Lewis was scrapped after Santos suffered an injury.[40]
The event drew an estimated 264,000 viewers on MTV2.[41]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Heavyweight | Christian M'Pumbu | def. | Rich Hale | TKO (punches) | 3 | 4:17 | [a] |
| Featherweight | Patricio Freire | def. | Daniel Straus | Unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Middleweight | Sam Alvey | def. | Karl Amoussou | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Heavyweight | Shawn Jordan | def. | Johnathan Hill | TKO (strikes) | 1 | 1:56 | [c] |
| Middleweight | Tim Ruberg | def. | Michael Fleniken | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Luis Santos | def. | Nicolae Cury | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Renê Nazare | def. | Kelvin Hackney | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 4:44 | |
| Catchweight (140 lb) | Joseph Abercrombie | def. | Ben Parpart | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:11 | |
- ^ For the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship.
- ^ Featherweight Tournament Championship.
- ^ This bout was fought after the main event due to time constraints.
Tournaments
[edit]Light Heavyweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
| Christian M'Pumbu | TKO | ||||||||||||
| Chris Davis | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Christian M'Pumbu | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Tim Carpenter | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Tim Carpenter | SD | ||||||||||||
| Daniel Gracie | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Christian M'Pumbu | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Rich Hale | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Rich Hale | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Nik Fekete | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Rich Hale | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| D.J. Linderman | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| D.J. Linderman | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Raphael Davis | 3 | ||||||||||||
Welterweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Jay Hieron | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Anthony Lapsley[1] | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Jay Hieron | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Brent Weedman | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Brent Weedman | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Dan Hornbuckle | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Jay Hieron | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Rick Hawn | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Rick Hawn | SD | ||||||||||||
| Jim Wallhead | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Rick Hawn | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Lyman Good | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Lyman Good | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Chris Lozano | 3 | ||||||||||||
^ 1: Anthony Lapsley replaced Steve Carl after Carl was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury.[42]
Lightweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Michael Chandler | SUB | ||||||||||||
| Marcin Held | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Michael Chandler | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Lloyd Woodard | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Lloyd Woodard | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Carey Vanier | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Michael Chandler | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricky Freire | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricky Freire | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Rob McCullough | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricky Freire | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Toby Imada | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Toby Imada | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Josh Shockley[1] | 1 | ||||||||||||
^ 1: Josh Shockley replaced Ferrid Kheder after Kheder refused to weigh-in.
Featherweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricio Freire | KO | ||||||||||||
| Georgi Karakhanyan | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricio Freire | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Wilson Reis | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Wilson Reis | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Zac George | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Patricio Freire | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Daniel Straus | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Daniel Straus | UD | ||||||||||||
| Nazareno Malegarie | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Daniel Straus | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Kenny Foster | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Kenny Foster | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Eric Larkin | 1 | ||||||||||||
Bellator 46
[edit]| Bellator 46 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | June 25, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | |||
| City | Hollywood, Florida | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 46 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on June 25, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[43] The card was part of Bellator's inaugural Summer Series and featured opening round fights in the Summer Series Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the first round of an eight-man featherweight tournament to be held over the Summer Series.[44]
David Baggett missed the middleweight limit allowance of 186 for non-title fights, weighing in at 191.5 lb,[45] and his bout with Moyses Gabin was scrapped from the card.
The event drew an estimated 185,000 viewers on MTV2.[46]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Pat Curran | def. | Luis Palomino | Submission (peruvian neck-tie) | 1 | 3:49 | [a] |
| Featherweight | Marlon Sandro | def. | Genair da Silva | Split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Featherweight | Nazareno Malegarie | def. | Jacob DeVree | Submission (guillotine choke) | 3 | 1:25 | [c] |
| Featherweight | Ronnie Mann | def. | Adam Schindler | KO (punches) | 1 | 4:14 | [d] |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Women's (115 lb) | Jessica Aguilar | def. | Carla Esparza | Split decision (30–27, 28–29, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Tony Johnson | def. | Derrick Lewis | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (152 lb) | Alexandre Bezerra | def. | Sam Jones | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:27 | |
| Middleweight | Dan Cramer | def. | Josh Samman | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Bellator 47
[edit]| Bellator 47 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | July 23, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Casino Rama | |||
| City |  Rama, Ontario | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 47 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on July 23, 2011, at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.[47] The card featured semi-final fights in the Bellator 2011 Summer Series Featherweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event was to feature Joe Warren's first defense of his featherweight title against season four tournament winner Patricio Freire.[48] Freire, however, pulled out of the fight in early July due to a broken hand.[49]
This was Bellator's first event in Canada. Bellator 4 was set to take place in Canada, but was moved due to the promotion unable to come to terms with the Quebec Boxing Commission.[50]
Ben Saunders was expected to fight at this event,[51] but had to pull out due to an undisclosed injury he suffered in training.[52]
Bantamweights Bo Harris and Bryan Goldsby were originally announced to be facing each other,[53] but the bout did not materialize in the days leading up to the event as Harris failed to complete his medical requirements in a timely fashion.
The event drew an estimated 277,000 viewers on MTV2.[54]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Pat Curran | def. | Ronnie Mann | Unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Featherweight | Marlon Sandro | def. | Nazareno Malegarie | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Lightweight | Chris Horodecki | def. | Chris Saunders | Unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Neil Grove | def. | Zak Jensen | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Lightweight | Alexandre Bezerra | def. | Jesse Gross | Technical submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:28 | [c] |
| Featherweight | William Romero | def. | Daniel Langbeen | Unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Alex Ricci | def. | Alka Matewa | TKO (elbows and punches) | 2 | 2:40 | |
Bellator 48
[edit]| Bellator 48 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | August 20, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Mohegan Sun Arena | |||
| City | Uncasville, Connecticut | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 48 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on August 20, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[55] The card was part of Bellator's inaugural Summer Series and featured the final round fights in the Summer Series Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the final round of an eight-man featherweight tournament that was held over the Summer Series.[44]
John Clarke was expected to face Dan Cramer, but an injury forced Clarke out of the bout. Jeff "The Wolfman" Nader stepped in as Clarke's replacement.[56]
The event drew an estimated 226,000 viewers on MTV2.[57]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Pat Curran | def. | Marlon Sandro | KO (head kick and punches) | 2 | 4:00 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Cole Konrad | def. | Paul Buentello | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (230 lb) | Seth Petruzelli | def. | Ricco Rodriguez | KO (punches) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Lightweight | Renê Nazare | def. | Juan Barrantes | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Light Heavyweight | Jeff Nader | def. | Dan Cramer | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:04 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Nik Fekete | def. | Mark Griffin | TKO (elbows) | 2 | 3:12 | |
| Lightweight | Andrew Calandrelli | def. | Matt Nice | Submission (keylock) | 1 | 3:55 | |
| Welterweight | Ryan Quinn | def. | Brett Oteri | Technical submission (rear naked choke) | 1 | 1:48 | [b] |
| Featherweight | Saul Almeida | def. | Taketi Matsuda | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Featherweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Pat Curran | SUB | ||||||||||||
| Luis Palomino | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Pat Curran | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Ronnie Mann | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Ronnie Mann | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Adam Schindler | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Pat Curran | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Marlon Sandro | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Marlon Sandro | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Genair da Silva | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Marlon Sandro | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Nazareno Malegarie | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Nazareno Malegarie | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Jacob DeVree | 3 | ||||||||||||
Bellator 49
[edit]| Bellator 49 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | September 10, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Caesars Atlantic City | |||
| City | Atlantic City, New Jersey | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 49 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on September 10, 2011, at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[58] The card was the debut of the promotion's fifth season and distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the first round of an eight-man welterweight tournament to be held over the duration of Bellator's fifth season.[59]
Rick Hawn was expected to face Ben Saunders at this event but Hawn was forced out of the bout due to a knee injury.[60] Hawn was replaced by Bellator newcomer Chris Cisneros.[61]
The Ultimate Fighter 12 competitor, Andy Main, was set to fight Kenny Foster on the undercard of this event. However, after an undisclosed injury, Main was pulled from the bout.[62]
On September 6, 2011, it was announced Bellator's Season 5 "Local Feature Fights" would be streamed live on Spike.com, starting with this event.[63]
The event drew an estimated 235,000 viewers on MTV2.[64]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Chris Lozano | def. | Brent Weedman | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Welterweight | Ben Saunders | def. | Chris Cisneros | TKO (knee to body and punches) | 3 | 0:29 | [b] |
| Welterweight | Luis Santos | def. | Dan Hornbuckle | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Welterweight | Douglas Lima | def. | Steve Carl | Unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Catchweight (147 lb) | Alexandre Bezerra | def. | Scott Heckman | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:38 | |
| Welterweight | Giedrius Karavackas | def. | LeVon Maynard | TKO (knee and punches) | 3 | 1:32 | |
| Featherweight | Joel Roberts | def. | Brylan Van Artsdalen | Technical submission (triangle choke) | 2 | 1:47 | |
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Lester Caslow | def. | James Jones | TKO (injury) | 2 | 0:15 | |
| Heavyweight | Azunna Anyanwu | def. | J.A. Dudley | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:16 | |
Bellator 50
[edit]| Bellator 50 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | September 17, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | |||
| City | Hollywood, Florida | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 50 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on September 17, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[65] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]The event hosted the opening round of the middleweight tournament in Bellator's fifth season.[66]
Veteran welterweight fighter Ailton Barbosa won Bellator's open tryouts in Hollywood, Florida in June 2011 to earn his spot on the card.[67]
R.J. Goodridge was scheduled to fight J. P. Reese, but after suffering an undisclosed injury Goodridge pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Martin Brown.[68] Also, Ryan Hodge was scheduled to fight Valdir Araujo, but was pulled from the bout with an injury, and replaced with Brett Cooper.[68]
On September 15, 2011, Luis Palomino suffered an injury in training and was pulled from his scheduled bout with James Edson Berto.[68] Berto was later pulled from the card as well, and the fight was scratched altogether; The two then met at W-1: Reloaded in which Palomino defeated Berto.
A scheduled lightweight bout between Dietter Navarro and Marcelo Goncalves was changed into a 156 lb catchweight bout after both fighters missed weight.[69]
The event drew an estimated 114,000 viewers on MTV2.[70]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Bryan Baker | def. | Jared Hess | TKO (strikes) | 3 | 2:52 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Brian Rogers | def. | Victor O'Donnell | TKO (strikes) | 1 | 1:56 | [b] |
| Middleweight | Alexander Shlemenko | def. | Zelg Galesic | Submission (standing guillotine) | 1 | 1:55 | [c] |
| Middleweight | Vitor Vianna | def. | Sam Alvey | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Catchweight (140 lb) | Shah Bobonis | def. | Marcos da Matta | KO (punch) | 3 | 2:04 | |
| Catchweight (156 lb) | Marcelo Goncalves | def. | Dietter Navarro | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:01 | |
| Middleweight | Brett Cooper | def. | Valdir Araujo | TKO (punches) | 3 | 0:35 | |
| Lightweight | Rad Martinez | def. | Brian van Hoven | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Ailton Barbosa | def. | Ryan Keenan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:55 | |
| Welterweight | Cristiano Souza | def. | John Kelly | unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | J.P. Reese | def. | Martin Brown | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Bellator 51
[edit]| Bellator 51 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | September 24, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Canton Memorial Civic Center | |||
| City | Canton, Ohio | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 51 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on September 24, 2011, at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio.[71] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the first round of an eight-man bantamweight tournament to be held over the course of Bellator's fifth season.[72]
Joe Soto was originally scheduled to face Eduardo Dantas in the opening round of the bantamweight-tournament. However, he was pulled from the bout after losing to Eddie Yagin at Tachi Palace Fights 10 and replaced by Wilson Reis.[73]
The Jessica Eye-Casey Noland bout was changed from 125 lb to a 127 lb catchweight after Noland failed to make weight.[74]/
The event drew an estimated 158,000 viewers on MTV2.[75]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight | Alexis Vila | def. | Joe Warren | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:04 | [a] |
| Bantamweight | Eduardo Dantas | def. | Wilson Reis | KO (flying knee and punches) | 2 | 1:02 | [b] |
| Bantamweight | Marcos Galvão | def. | Chase Beebe | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Bantamweight | Ed West | def. | Luis Nogueira | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Featherweight | Frank Caraballo | def. | Dustin Kempf | TKO (Knee Injury) | 1 | 1:19 | |
| Women's (127 lb) | Jessica Eye | def. | Casey Noland | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Jessie Riggleman | def. | Farkhad Sharipov | Split decision (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Dan Spohn | def. | Dane Bonnigson | KO (knee) | 1 | 0:09 | |
| Light Heavyweight | John Hawk | def. | Allan Weickert | TKO (retirement) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Joey Holt | def. | Clint Musser | KO (flying knee) | 1 | 4:07 | |
Bellator 52
[edit]| Bellator 52 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | October 1, 2011 | |||
| Venue | L'Audberge du Lac Casino Resort | |||
| City | Lake Charles, Louisiana | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 52 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It took place on October 1, 2011, at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Louisiana.[76] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the opening round of Bellator's second heavyweight tournament.[77]
Blagoy Ivanov was originally scheduled to face Thiago Santos. Santos, however, was unable to travel from Brazil for the event and was replaced by Zak Jensen.[78]
The event drew an estimated 269,000 viewers on MTV 2.[79]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Heavyweight | Mike Hayes | def. | Neil Grove | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Blagoy Ivanov | def. | Zak Jensen | Technical submission (guillotine choke) | 2 | 2:35 | [b] |
| Heavyweight | Eric Prindle | def. | Abe Wagner | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [c] |
| Heavyweight | Ron Sparks | def. | Mark Holata | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:24 | [d] |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Genair da Silva | def. | Bryan Goldsby | Submission (D'arce choke) | 1 | 3:51 | |
| Lightweight | Josh Quayhagen | def. | Cosmo Alexandre | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Justin Frazier | def. | Liron Wilson | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:50 | |
| Catchweight (213 lb) | Matt Van Buren | def. | Nick Nichols | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:29 | |
Bellator 53
[edit]| Bellator 53 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | October 8, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino | |||
| City | Miami, Oklahoma | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 53 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on October 8, 2011, at the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.[80] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the second round of the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament.[81]
The event drew an estimated 103,000 viewers on MTV2.[82]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Ben Saunders | def. | Luis Santos | Submission (americana)[83] | 3 | 1:45 | [a] |
| Welterweight | Douglas Lima | def. | Chris Lozano | KO (punch) | 2 | 3:14 | [b] |
| Featherweight | Ronnie Mann | def. | Kenny Foster | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:51 | |
| Heavyweight | Thiago Santos | def. | Josh Burns | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:23 | [c] |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Catchweight (160 lb) | E.J. Brooks | def. | Greg Scott | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:40 | |
| Middleweight | Giva Santana | def. | Darryl Cobb | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:00 | |
| Catchweight (175 lb) | A.J. Matthews | def. | Rudy Bears | Unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Raphael Davis | def. | Myron Dennis | KO (punch) | 2 | 0:29 | |
| Welterweight | David Rickels | def. | Levi Avera | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 | 1:06 | |
| Catchweight (140 lb) | Luis Nogueira | def. | Zak Laird | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 0:51 | |
Bellator 54
[edit]| Bellator 54 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | October 15, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Boardwalk Hall | |||
| City | Atlantic City, New Jersey | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 54 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on October 15, 2011, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[83] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Bellator bantamweight champion, Zach Makovsky, competed in a non-title bout at this event. He faced one-time UFC competitor Ryan Roberts.[84]
This event hosted the second round of the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament.[85]
Eddie Alvarez was scheduled to make his second title defense of his lightweight championship against Michael Chandler on this card; however, on September 20, it was announced that Alvarez suffered an injury and the match has been pushed back to Bellator 58.[86]
Karl Amoussou was expected to make his welterweight debut at this event against Joey Kirwan.[87] However, for unknown reasons, Amoussou was pulled from the bout and replaced by Lewis Rumsy.
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Alexander Shlemenko | def. | Brian Rogers | TKO (knees) | 2 | 2:30 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Vitor Vianna | def. | Bryan Baker | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:54 | [b] |
| Bantamweight | Zach Makovsky | def. | Ryan Roberts | Submission (north/south choke) | 1 | 4:48 | |
| Lightweight | Jacob Kirwan | def. | Renê Nazare | Unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Middleweight | Duane Bastress | def. | Daniel Gracie | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Tim Carpenter | def. | Ryan Contaldi | TKO (punch) | 1 | 2:16 | |
| Catchweight (187 lb) | Joey Kirwan | def. | Lewis Rumsey | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Catchweight (140 lb) | Claudio Ledesma | def. | Brian Kelleher | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Women's (145 lb) | Andria Caplan | def. | Adrienne Seiber | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Bellator 55
[edit]| Bellator 55 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | October 22, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Cocopah Resort and Casino | |||
| City | Somerton, Arizona | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 55 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on October 22, 2011, at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Somerton, Arizona.[88] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the second round of Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament.
Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu fought Travis Wiuff in a non-title bout. M'Pumbu become the first Bellator champion to lose in a non-title bout.[89]
Despite a close split decision loss, main eventer Marcos Galvão was awarded a "win" bonus.[90]
The event earned an average of 168,000 viewers on MTV2.[89]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight | Alexis Vila | def. | Marcos Galvão | Split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Bantamweight | Eduardo Dantas | def. | Ed West | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Light Heavyweight | Travis Wiuff | def. | Christian M'Pumbu | Unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Ricardo Tirloni | def. | Steve Gable | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 3:54 | |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Lightweight | Efrain Escudero | def. | Cesar Avila | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 1:55 | |
| Catchweight (210 lb) | Rich Hale | def. | Carlos Flores | TKO (punch) | 1 | 0:18 | |
| Middleweight | Jacob Ortiz | def. | Edgar Garcia | KO (punch) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Catchweight (158 lb) | Erin Beach | def. | Roscoe Jackson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:52 | |
| Featherweight | Jade Porter | def. | Nick Piedmont | Unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Steve Steinbeiss | def. | Dano Moore | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 4:52 | |
Bellator 56
[edit]| Bellator 56 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | October 29, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Memorial Hall | |||
| City | Kansas City, Kansas | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 56 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It took place on October 29, 2011, at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.[91] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the second round of Bellator's second heavyweight tournament.[92]
Mike Hayes was expected to face Blagoi Ivanov at this event, However Hayes was issued a 60-day medical suspension by the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission due to a fractured orbital bone sustained during his fight with Neil Grove at Bellator 52. Thiago Santos stepped in for the injured Hayes.[93] Ivanov subsequently had to pull out of the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Neil Grove.[94]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Ben Askren (c) | def. | Jay Hieron | Split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) | 5 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Thiago Santos | def. | Neil Grove | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 0:38 | [b] |
| Heavyweight | Eric Prindle | def. | Ron Sparks | KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:40 | [c] |
| Local Feature Fight (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Welterweight | Marcio Navarro | def. | Rudy Bears | Split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Jeremy Spoon | def. | Adam Schindler | Unanimous decision | 3 | 5:00 | [d] |
| Light Heavyweight | Kelvin Tiller | def. | Dan Spohn | Split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | E.J. Brooks | def. | willian De Souza | Unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Jacob Akin | def. | Jeimeson Saudino | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:26 | |
| Bantamweight | Aaron Ely | def. | Owen Evinger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:45 | |
| Heavyweight | Daniel Gallemore | def. | Derrick Ruffin | TKO (retirement) | 2 | 5:00 | |
Bellator 57
[edit]| Bellator 57 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | November 12, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Casino Rama | |||
| City | Rama, Ontario | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 57 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It took place on November 12, 2011, at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.[95] The event was distributed live in primetime by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This was the second time that Bellator has come to Canada. Previously, Bellator 47 was also held in Rama, Ontario.
This event hosted the final rounds of Bellator's Season Five Welterweight Tournament and Bellator's Season Five Middleweight Tournament.[96]
Bellator's Women's champion, Zoila Gurgel, was scheduled to compete in a non-title bout against Carina Damm.[96] However, an injury forced her off the card.[97]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Douglas Lima | def. | Ben Saunders | KO (punches) | 2 | 1:21 | [a] |
| Middleweight | Alexander Shlemenko | def. | Vitor Vianna | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Light Heavyweight | Roger Hollett | def. | John Hawk | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Alexandre Bezerra | def. | Doug Evans | Submission (ankle lock) | 1 | 4:04 | |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Light Heavyweight | Matt Van Buren | def. | Shawn Levesque | Submission (rear naked choke) | 1 | 4:38 | |
| Lightweight | Chris Horodecki | vs. | Mike Corey | Majority draw (29-28 Horodecki, 28-28, 28-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Dave Jansen | def. | Ashkan Morvari | Submission (rear naked choke) | 2 | 2:47 | |
| Bantamweight | Denis Puric | def. | Chuck Mady | TKO (injury-broken jaw) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Josh Shockley | def. | Eric Moon | Submission (guillotine) | 1 | 0:35 | |
| Lightweight | Taylor Solomon | def. | Mike Sledzion | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:10 | |
Bellator 58
[edit]| Bellator 58 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | November 19, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino | |||
| City | Hollywood, Florida | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 58 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It took place on November 19, 2011, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[98] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]Shooto's 183-pound South American champion, Carlos Alexandre Pereira, was expected to make his Bellator debut at this event.[99]
Bellator Middleweight champion, Hector Lombard, was expected to compete in non-title, light heavyweight fight against UFC and Strikeforce veteran, Renato Sobral, at this event.[100] However, for unknown reasons, Sobral was replaced by Trevor Prangley.[98]
The event drew a season high 269,000 viewers with the immediate repeat also drawing 160,000 viewers.[101]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Michael Chandler | def. | Eddie Alvarez (c) | Submission (rear naked choke) | 4 | 3:06 | [a] |
| Catchweight (195 lb) | Hector Lombard | def. | Trevor Prangley | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:06 | |
| Women's (115 lb) | Jessica Aguilar | def. | Lisa Ellis | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Marlon Sandro | def. | Rafael Dias | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 1 | 3:56 | |
| Local feature fights (Spike.com) | |||||||
| Middleweight | Brett Cooper | def. | Jared Hess | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Valdir Araujo | def. | Ailton Barbosa | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (157 lb) | Cosmo Alexandre | def. | Avery McPhatter | KO (knees) | 1 | 0:20 | |
| Middleweight | Herbert Goodman | def. | Jonas Billstein | DQ (illegal soccer kick) | 2 | 3:21 | |
| Lightweight | Fabio Mello | def. | Farkhad Sharipov | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the vacant Bellator Lightweight Championship.
Bellator 59
[edit]| Bellator 59 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Bellator Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | November 26, 2011 | |||
| Venue | Caesars Atlantic City | |||
| City | Atlantic City, New Jersey | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 59 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It took place on November 26, 2011, at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[102] The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
[edit]This event hosted the final round of Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament as well as the Bellator's Season Five Heavyweight Tournament.
Michael Costa pulled out of his fight with Lyman Good due to an injury, which led the organization to scrap Good from the event all together. The lightweight bout between Phillipe Nover and Marcin Held was promoted to the main card.[103]
The final of the Heavyweight tournament was ruled a No Contest after an accidental groin kick by Thiago Santos rendered Eric Prindle unable to continue. Following the event Santos failed to make weight for a scheduled rematch causing the bout to be cancelled, and Prindle to be awarded the tournament win by default.[104]
Results
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Heavyweight | Eric Prindle | vs. | Thiago Santos | No contest (kick to groin) | 1 | 1:24 | [a] |
| Lightweight | Patricky Freire | def. | Kurt Pellegrino | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:50 | |
| Bantamweight | Eduardo Dantas | def. | Alexis Vila | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Lightweight | Marcin Held | def. | Phillipe Nover | Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Local feature fights | |||||||
| Catchweight (175 lb) | Karl Amoussou | def. | Jesus Martinez | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:20 | |
| Welterweight | LeVon Maynard | def. | Christopher Wing | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (175 lb) | Lucas Pimenta | def. | Doug Gordon | KO (elbows) | 1 | 0:40 | |
| Featherweight | Scott Heckman | def. | Brylan Van Artsdalen | Submission (standing modified guillotine) | 1 | 1:38 | |
| Middleweight | Gregory Milliard | def. | Brandon Saling | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Tournaments
[edit]Heavyweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Eric Prindle | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Abe Wagner | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Eric Prindle | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Ron Sparks | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Ron Sparks | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Mark Holata | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Eric Prindle[3][4] | D/Q | ||||||||||||
|
| Thiago Santos | N/A | ||||||||||||
|
| Mike Hayes | SD | ||||||||||||
| Neil Grove | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Thiago Santos[1] | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Neil Grove[2] | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Blagoy Ivanov | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Zak Jensen | 2 | ||||||||||||
^ 1: Thiago Santos replaced Mike Hayes after Hayes was forced out due to a broke orbital bone. He defeated Josh Burns at Bellator 53 to earn the reserve spot.
^ 2: Neil Grove was brought back into the tournament, replacing Blagoi Ivanov, after Ivanov was forced out due to an unspecified injury.
^ 3: The final was officially ruled a No Contest after Santos kicked Prindle in the groin and Prindle was unable to continue.
^ 4: Prindle was awarded the tournament title after Santos missed weight for the rematch.
Middleweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
| Alexander Shlemenko | SUB | ||||||||||||
| Zelg Galesic | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Alexander Shlemenko | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Brian Rogers | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Brian Rogers | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Victor O'Donnell | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Alexander Shlemenko | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Vitor Vianna | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Vitor Vianna | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Sam Alvey | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Vitor Vianna | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Bryan Baker | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Bryan Baker | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Jared Hess | 3 | ||||||||||||
Welterweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Douglas Lima | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Steve Carl | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Douglas Lima | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Chris Lozano | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Chris Lozano | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Brent Weedman | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Douglas Lima | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Ben Saunders | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Ben Saunders | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Chris Cisneros | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Ben Saunders | SUB | ||||||||||||
|
| Luis Santos | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Luis Santos | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Dan Hornbuckle | 3 | ||||||||||||
Bantamweight tournament bracket
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
|
| Eduardo Dantas | TKO | ||||||||||||
|
| Wilson Reis | 2 | ||||||||||||
|
| Eduardo Dantas | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Ed West | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Ed West | UD | ||||||||||||
|
| Luis Nogueira | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Eduardo Dantas | UD | ||||||||||||
| Alexis Vila | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Alexis Vila | KO | ||||||||||||
|
| Joe Warren | 1 | ||||||||||||
|
| Alexis Vila | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Marcos Galvao | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
| Marcos Galvao | SD | ||||||||||||
|
| Chase Beebe | 3 | ||||||||||||
References
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External links
[edit]2011 in Bellator MMA
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Seasons and Tournament Format
In 2011, Bellator MMA conducted three distinct competitive periods: Season 4 in the spring, the inaugural Summer Series in the summer, and Season 5 in the fall. Season 4, which aired weekly on MTV2 from March 5 to May 21, featured simultaneous single-elimination tournaments across four weight classes—light heavyweight (205 lb), welterweight (170 lb), lightweight (155 lb), and featherweight (145 lb)—each involving eight fighters.[12] The structure divided the season into phases, with quarterfinal bouts distributed across the first several events (Bellator 35 through 41), semifinals in subsequent weeks (Bellator 42 through 44), and finals concluding the season (Bellator 45).[13] This format allowed for recovery between rounds while maintaining weekly programming momentum, distinguishing Bellator from one-night elimination events.[14] The tournament winners in Season 4 earned a $100,000 prize and a title shot against the respective Bellator champion, emphasizing high-stakes progression over the season's 11 events.[14] This bracket system required fighters to win up to three bouts within approximately 2.5 months, testing endurance and adaptability in a linear elimination path without byes or seeding advantages beyond initial matchups. Non-tournament bouts, including title defenses and preliminary fights, complemented the main draws to fill event cards, but the tournaments served as the season's core attraction.[12] Following Season 4, the Summer Series (Bellator 46 through 55, June to August) shifted toward a hybrid model with primarily non-tournament bouts to spotlight established fighters and title challengers, while incorporating a single four-man single-elimination featherweight tournament.[15] Quarterfinals occurred at Bellator 46 on June 25, semifinals at Bellator 49 on September 10 (overlapping with Season 5's start due to scheduling), and the final at Bellator 53 on October 8, determining a No. 1 contender for the featherweight title held by Pat Curran.[15] This condensed bracket reduced the participant pool and round count compared to full-season tournaments, allowing quicker resolution amid the series' focus on standalone matches. Season 5, launching September 10 on MTV2 and running through November, reverted to the full tournament format with eight-fighter brackets in bantamweight (135 lb), middleweight (185 lb), heavyweight (265 lb), and welterweight (170 lb).[16] Quarterfinals distributed across early events (Bellator 49 through 52), with semifinals and finals following in the latter half (up to Bellator 58), mirroring Season 4's phased structure and prizes.[17] The inclusion of middleweight marked an expansion in non-heavyweight divisions, while the overall format continued to prioritize bracket integrity and multi-event storytelling.[18]Broadcasting and Viewership
In December 2010, Bellator Fighting Championships signed a three-year broadcasting agreement with MTV2, a Viacom-owned network, to air live mixed martial arts events starting with Season 4 on March 5, 2011.[19] This deal provided national exposure to approximately 80 million U.S. households, marking a transition from the promotion's prior regional broadcasts on Fox Sports Net.[20] Preliminary bouts were streamed live on Spike.com, enhancing accessibility for fans.[21] Viewership for Season 4 events, which ran from March to May 2011, averaged 204,000 viewers on MTV2.[22] The season's highest-rated broadcast was Bellator 44 on May 14, drawing a record 325,000 viewers and peaking at a 1.0 household rating among men aged 18-49.[23] Bellator's programming significantly boosted MTV2's performance, contributing to the network's highest-ever quarterly ratings in the second quarter of 2011, including an 11 percent year-over-year increase in the key 12-34 demographic.[24] Season 5, which began on September 10, 2011, maintained solid but slightly lower averages of 186,000 viewers across its events.[25] The non-tournament Summer Series events, held monthly from June to August 2011, performed strongly with an average of 229,000 viewers, highlighted by Bellator 47's peak of 386,000 during its main event. Overall, 2011 broadcasts demonstrated consistent growth in audience engagement for the promotion on MTV2, setting the stage for expanded partnerships. In November 2011, Bellator secured a five-year global distribution agreement with FremantleMedia Enterprises to syndicate its programming internationally, broadening its reach beyond the U.S. market.[26]Organizational Developments
Viacom Acquisition
In October 2011, Viacom, the parent company of MTV Networks and Spike TV, acquired a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships, positioning the promotion for enhanced visibility and resources within the mixed martial arts landscape.[27] The deal was announced on October 26, 2011, following negotiations that capitalized on Viacom's established expertise in MMA broadcasting through its prior partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[27] At the time, Bellator operated as the second-largest MMA organization behind Zuffa-owned UFC and Strikeforce, with its tournament-based format distinguishing it in the industry.[27] The acquisition reportedly involved Viacom paying approximately $50 million for the controlling interest, providing Bellator with substantial financial backing to support event production and talent acquisition.[28] Prior to the deal, Bellator events aired on Viacom-owned channels MTV2 and Epix HD, but the ownership shift paved the way for a strategic migration to Spike TV, which boasted a subscriber base of nearly 100 million households.[29] This transition was timed to coincide with the expiration of Spike's UFC broadcasting rights at the end of 2011, allowing Viacom to maintain a dedicated MMA programming block without interruption.[27] Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney emphasized the synergy, stating that Spike's proven track record in MMA made it an ideal long-term partner for the promotion's growth.[27] Similarly, Spike TV President Kevin Kay described the acquisition as enabling a deeper, ownership-driven commitment to MMA content, beyond mere licensing agreements.[27] The move not only stabilized Bellator's operations amid competitive pressures but also facilitated international expansion plans, including a five-year global distribution deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises announced shortly after.[29] Overall, the Viacom acquisition marked a pivotal shift for Bellator in 2011, transforming it from an independent entity into a key asset in Viacom's sports entertainment portfolio.Legal and Contract Issues
In 2011, Bellator MMA faced ongoing legal challenges stemming from a 2010 lawsuit filed by Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), against Bellator and MMA agent Ken Pavia. The suit alleged that Pavia had shared confidential UFC documents, including promotional agreements, bout contracts, sponsorship forms, and injury reports, with Bellator executives, providing the promotion with an unfair competitive advantage in fighter negotiations and operations.[30] As of October 2011, the case remained unresolved after more than a year, with no discovery phase initiated, and Pavia publicly denied the claims, asserting that the documents were publicly available online and offered no substantive value to Bellator.[30] A significant development in October 2011 involved Bellator filing a lawsuit against Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting, an Arizona-based promotion run by former WEC fighter Chance Farrar. Bellator accused Desert Rage of tortious interference with its fighter contracts by scheduling a competing MMA event on October 22, 2011, just nine miles from Bellator 55 at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona, and actively soliciting Bellator-contracted fighters through false claims, such as rumors that Bellator 55 had been canceled.[31] The suit highlighted Farrar's prior involvement in producing Bellator's April 2011 event, which allegedly gave him access to sensitive operational details, and sought a temporary restraining order to halt Desert Rage's event, citing production costs for Bellator 55 exceeding $500,000. No immediate resolution was reported at the time.[31] Additionally, prospective fighter Chris Weidman encountered contract concerns with Bellator in early 2011, nearly signing a multi-fight deal but withdrawing after discovering an undisclosed clause that could extend the agreement beyond the initial two-year term based on injury or inactivity provisions. Weidman described the clause as "sneaky" and felt misled by Bellator's lack of transparency, ultimately opting to join the UFC instead. This incident underscored broader scrutiny of Bellator's contract language during the promotion's expansion phase, though it did not escalate to formal litigation.[32]Season 4 Tournaments
Light Heavyweight Tournament Bracket
The Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament marked the promotion's inaugural competition in the 205-pound division, featuring an eight-man single-elimination bracket held across three events from March to May 2011. The tournament offered the winner a $100,000 prize and the opportunity to challenge for the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship, with quarterfinals taking place at Bellator 38 on March 26 in Tunica, Mississippi. In the quarterfinals, Tim Carpenter advanced with a split decision victory over Daniel Gracie (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds of competitive striking and grappling exchanges. D.J. Linderman secured a stoppage win against Raphael Davis via TKO (punches) at 3:40 of the third round, overwhelming his opponent with ground-and-pound after a takedown. Richard Hale submitted Nik Fekete with an inverted triangle choke at 1:55 of the first round, showcasing a rare grappling finish in the division. Christian M'Pumbu earned a TKO (punches) over Chris Davis at 3:34 of the third round, dominating with superior striking volume to close the bout. The semifinals unfolded at Bellator 42 on April 23 in Concho, Oklahoma. M'Pumbu continued his momentum by stopping Carpenter via TKO (punches) at 2:08 of the first round, landing a flurry of strikes against the cage that forced the referee's intervention. In a closely contested matchup, Hale edged out Linderman by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), relying on effective wrestling and top control to outpoint his opponent over three rounds despite Linderman's late rally. The tournament final headlined Bellator 45 on May 21 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where M'Pumbu defeated Hale via TKO (punches) at 4:17 of the third round to claim the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and the $100,000 prize. M'Pumbu absorbed early pressure from Hale's grappling before reversing momentum with heavy strikes in the later rounds, culminating in a barrage that prompted the stoppage and established him as the division's first titleholder.| Round | Matchup | Winner | Method | Round/Time | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie | Tim Carpenter | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 | Bellator 38 |
| Quarterfinal | D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis | D.J. Linderman | TKO (Punches) | 3 / 3:40 | Bellator 38 |
| Quarterfinal | Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete | Richard Hale | Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke) | 1 / 1:55 | Bellator 38 |
| Quarterfinal | Christian M'Pumbu vs. Chris Davis | Christian M'Pumbu | TKO (Punches) | 3 / 3:34 | Bellator 38 |
| Semifinal | Christian M'Pumbu vs. Tim Carpenter | Christian M'Pumbu | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 2:08 | Bellator 42 |
| Semifinal | Richard Hale vs. D.J. Linderman | Richard Hale | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 | Bellator 42 |
| Final | Christian M'Pumbu vs. Richard Hale | Christian M'Pumbu | TKO (Punches) | 3 / 4:17 | Bellator 45 |
Welterweight Tournament Bracket
The Season 4 Welterweight Tournament featured eight fighters competing in a single-elimination format to determine the division's tournament winner, who would earn a shot at the Bellator Welterweight Championship. The quarterfinals took place on March 5, 2011, at Bellator 35 in Lemoore, California. In the first bout, Rick Hawn defeated Jim Wallhead by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), showcasing his judo background with effective takedowns and ground control. Jay Hieron followed with a unanimous decision victory (30-27 across all judges) over Anthony Lapsley, dominating with superior striking volume and wrestling defense. Lyman Good advanced by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) against Chris Lozano, outworking his opponent over three rounds. Brent Weedman rounded out the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards) over Dan Hornbuckle in a closely contested grappling-heavy fight.[33][34] The semifinals were split across two events. At Bellator 40 on April 9, 2011, in Newkirk, Oklahoma, Hieron defeated Weedman by unanimous decision (29-28 across all judges), relying on crisp boxing and clinch work to outpoint his opponent over three rounds. On April 2, 2011, at Bellator 39 in Uncasville, Connecticut, Hawn edged out Good by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27), in a controversial matchup where Hawn's late-round surge and judges' interpretation of effective aggression proved decisive. The tournament final headlined Bellator 43 on May 7, 2011, in Newkirk, Oklahoma, where Hieron captured the title with a split decision win over Hawn (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). The bout was a high-paced striking affair, with Hieron's volume and counters narrowly swaying two judges despite Hawn's power shots and takedown attempts. Hieron's victory marked him as the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Champion, setting up a future title opportunity.| Round | Matchup | Result | Event | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Rick Hawn vs. Jim Wallhead | Hawn def. Wallhead | Bellator 35 | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Quarterfinals | Jay Hieron vs. Anthony Lapsley | Hieron def. Lapsley | Bellator 35 | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Quarterfinals | Lyman Good vs. Chris Lozano | Good def. Lozano | Bellator 35 | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Quarterfinals | Brent Weedman vs. Dan Hornbuckle | Weedman def. Hornbuckle | Bellator 35 | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Semifinals | Jay Hieron vs. Brent Weedman | Hieron def. Weedman | Bellator 40 | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Semifinals | Rick Hawn vs. Lyman Good | Hawn def. Good | Bellator 39 | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Final | Jay Hieron vs. Rick Hawn | Hieron def. Hawn | Bellator 43 | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
Lightweight Tournament Bracket
The Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament featured an eight-man single-elimination bracket in the 155-pound division, held across multiple events from March to May 2011, with the winner earning a $100,000 prize and a potential title shot against champion Eddie Alvarez.[35] The quarterfinals took place at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011, in Bossier City, Louisiana. In the first bout, Patricky "Pitbull" Freire defeated Rob McCullough via TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 3:11 of the third round, overcoming McCullough's early grappling advantage with superior striking volume.[36] Toby Imada, scheduled to face Ferrid Kheder who missed weight, instead submitted replacement opponent Josh Shockley with an armbar at 1:19 of the first round, capitalizing on a scramble to secure the tap.[36] Michael Chandler secured his spot with a TKO (strikes) victory over Marcin Held at 2:21 of the second round, dominating with wrestling pressure and ground-and-pound.[36] In an upset, Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard knocked out Carey Vanier via TKO (strikes) at 1:21 of the second round, stuffing takedowns and landing heavy combinations.[36] The semifinals were split between events. At Bellator 39 on April 2, 2011, in Uncasville, Connecticut, Freire stunned Imada with a flying knee followed by punches for a first-round knockout at 0:45, ending Imada's tournament run in explosive fashion.[37] The other semifinal occurred at Bellator 42 on April 23, 2011, in Uncasville, where Chandler outgrappled and outstruck Woodard to win a unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards), controlling the pace with takedowns and effective top control over three rounds. The final unfolded at Bellator 44 on May 14, 2011, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, pitting undefeated Chandler against the aggressive Freire. Chandler emerged victorious via unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards), using his wrestling base to neutralize Freire's striking threats, securing multiple takedowns and avoiding significant damage while landing cleaner shots in stand-up exchanges.[38] This win marked Chandler's eighth professional victory and positioned him as the season's standout, later challenging for the lightweight title later in 2011.[39]Tournament Bracket
| Quarterfinals (Bellator 36, March 12, 2011) | Semifinals | Final (Bellator 44, May 14, 2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Patricky Freire def. Rob McCullough (TKO, R3, 3:11) | Patricky Freire def. Toby Imada (KO, R1, 0:45; Bellator 39, April 2, 2011) | Michael Chandler def. Patricky Freire (UD, 29-28 x3) |
| Toby Imada def. Josh Shockley (Submission - Armbar, R1, 1:19) | ||
| Michael Chandler def. Marcin Held (TKO - strikes, R2, 2:21) | Michael Chandler def. Lloyd Woodard (UD, 29-28 x3; Bellator 42, April 23, 2011) | |
| Lloyd Woodard def. Carey Vanier (TKO - strikes, R2, 1:21) |
Featherweight Tournament Bracket
The Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament took place from March to May 2011, featuring eight competitors in a single-elimination format to determine the division's tournament winner, who earned $100,000 and a title shot. The quarterfinals occurred at Bellator 37 on March 19, 2011, in Concho, Oklahoma.[40]Quarterfinals
- Patricio Freire defeated Georgi Karakhanyan by TKO (punches) at 0:56 of Round 3.[40]
- Wilson Reis defeated Zac George by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:09 of Round 1.[41]
- Daniel Straus defeated Nazareno Malegarie by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).[41]
- Kenny Foster defeated Eric Larkin by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:15 of Round 1.[41]
Semifinals
- Patricio Freire defeated Wilson Reis by TKO (punches) at 3:29 of Round 3.[42]
- Daniel Straus defeated Kenny Foster by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48 of Round 3.[42]
| Round | Matchup | Result | Method/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Patricio Freire vs. Georgi Karakhanyan | Freire wins | TKO (punches), R3 0:56 |
| Quarterfinals | Wilson Reis vs. Zac George | Reis wins | Sub (RNC), R1 2:09 |
| Quarterfinals | Daniel Straus vs. Nazareno Malegarie | Straus wins | UD (29-28 x3) |
| Quarterfinals | Kenny Foster vs. Eric Larkin | Foster wins | Sub (guillotine), R1 3:15 |
| Semifinals | Patricio Freire vs. Wilson Reis | Freire wins | TKO (punches), R3 3:29 |
| Semifinals | Daniel Straus vs. Kenny Foster | Straus wins | Sub (guillotine), R3 3:48 |
| Final | Patricio Freire vs. Daniel Straus | Freire wins | UD (29-28 x3) |
Season 4 Events
Bellator 35
Bellator 35 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on March 5, 2011, at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.[43] As the opening event of Bellator's Season Four, it primarily featured the quarterfinal bouts of the promotion's welterweight tournament, where the four winners advanced to the semifinals for a chance at a $100,000 grand prize and a title shot.[43] The card also included several non-tournament matchups, highlighted by a women's flyweight bout between champion Zoila Frausto and Karina Hallinan, which was contested as a non-title affair. The event aired live on MTV2 in the United States.[44] The welterweight tournament quarterfinals delivered competitive action, with all bouts going the full three rounds except for one submission finish. In the main event, Lyman Good outstruck and controlled Chris Lozano en route to a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 30-27, 29-28), advancing with effective clinch work and damaging leg kicks that visibly affected Lozano's mobility.[44] Jay Hieron secured a quick technical submission win over Anthony Lapsley via rear-naked choke at 3:39 of the first round, though the stoppage drew controversy for occurring while Lapsley appeared to defend initially.[44] Rick Hawn impressed with precise striking and takedown defense to defeat Jim Wallhead by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), bloodying his opponent early with leg kicks.[44] Rounding out the tournament, Brent Weedman edged Dan Hornbuckle in a grappling-heavy affair via unanimous decision (29-28 x3), surviving submission attempts and landing key takedowns in a closely contested matchup that split fan opinions.[44] Non-tournament bouts provided additional highlights. Zoila Frausto dominated Karina Hallinan with superior striking and knees from the clinch, earning a unanimous decision (30-27 x3) in their rematch and maintaining her undefeated streak in Bellator.[44] In a featherweight clash, Brandon Bender countered Josh Herrick's takedown attempt with a guillotine choke for a first-round submission at 3:42.[44] Waachiim Spiritwolf outlasted Jaime Jara in a 175-pound catchweight bout via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29), prevailing in a bloody striking war.[44] The evening opened with Paul Ruiz overwhelming Jesus Castro with ground-and-pound for a first-round TKO at 1:17.[44]| Fight | Weight Class | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Lyman Good vs. Chris Lozano | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Good def. Lozano via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28), 3 rounds |
| Jay Hieron vs. Anthony Lapsley | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Hieron def. Lapsley via submission (rear-naked choke), 1st round, 3:39 |
| Rick Hawn vs. Jim Wallhead | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Hawn def. Wallhead via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), 3 rounds |
| Brent Weedman vs. Dan Hornbuckle | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Weedman def. Hornbuckle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), 3 rounds |
| Zoila Frausto vs. Karina Hallinan | Women's Flyweight (Non-Title) | Frausto def. Hallinan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), 3 rounds |
| Brandon Bender vs. Josh Herrick | Featherweight | Bender def. Herrick via submission (guillotine choke), 1st round, 3:42 |
| Waachiim Spiritwolf vs. Jaime Jara | Catchweight (175 lbs) | Spiritwolf def. Jara via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29), 3 rounds |
| Paul Ruiz vs. Jesus Castro | Bantamweight | Ruiz def. Castro via TKO (punches), 1st round, 1:17 |
Bellator 36
Bellator 36 was held on March 12, 2011, at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, marking the opening quarterfinal round of the Season 4 lightweight tournament in Bellator MMA.[47] The event featured four tournament bouts in the 155-pound division, alongside three preliminary fights, and aired live on MTV2, drawing an estimated 230,000 viewers.[48] This installment highlighted emerging talents and veterans, with all quarterfinal winners advancing to the semifinals at Bellator 40.[49] The main event pitted Brazilian striker Patricky "Pitbull" Freire against former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough, just days after the death of McCullough's manager, Monte Cox. Freire overcame an early deficit, landing a devastating flurry of punches to secure a third-round TKO victory at 3:11, advancing in the tournament and marking a significant upset.[48] In another quarterfinal, Toby Imada submitted Josh Shockley with an armbar at 1:19 of the first round, leveraging his grappling expertise to progress.[50] Lloyd Woodard delivered a highlight-reel finish against Carey Vanier, dropping him with a knee strike followed by punches for a TKO at 0:46 of the second round.[47] Closing the tournament action, undefeated wrestler Michael Chandler dominated 19-year-old prospect Marcin Held, securing an arm-triangle choke submission at 3:56 of the first round to advance.[49] The preliminary card included regional matchups, with Chad Leonhardt earning a TKO win over Kelly Leo via corner stoppage at the end of the second round in a middleweight bout.[51] Kevin Aguilar stopped Matt Hunt with strikes at 3:02 of the first round in a 150-pound catchweight fight, while Booker Arthur forced Javon Duhon to submit to ground-and-pound elbows at 2:31 of the second round in another catchweight contest.[47]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event: Quarterfinal | Lightweight | Patricky Freire def. Rob McCullough | TKO (punches) | 3 / 3:11 |
| Quarterfinal | Lightweight | Toby Imada def. Josh Shockley | Submission (armbar) | 1 / 1:19 |
| Quarterfinal | Lightweight | Lloyd Woodard def. Carey Vanier | TKO (knee and punches) | 2 / 0:46 |
| Quarterfinal | Lightweight | Michael Chandler def. Marcin Held | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 1 / 3:56 |
| Preliminary | Middleweight | Chad Leonhardt def. Kelly Leo | TKO (corner stoppage) | 2 / 5:00 |
| Preliminary | Catchweight (150 lbs) | Kevin Aguilar def. Matt Hunt | TKO (strikes) | 1 / 3:02 |
| Preliminary | Catchweight (150 lbs) | Booker Arthur def. Javon Duhon | TKO (submission to strikes) | 2 / 2:31 |
Bellator 37
Bellator 37 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on March 19, 2011, at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma.[52] The card served as the opening round for the Season Four Featherweight Tournament, an eight-man single-elimination bracket in the 145-pound division offering a $100,000 prize and a shot at the promotion's featherweight title. Four quarterfinal bouts highlighted the event, which aired live on MTV2 and attracted 173,000 viewers.[52] The tournament quarterfinals showcased a mix of grappling and striking prowess among the competitors. In the main event, Brazilian knockout artist Patricio "Pitbull" Freire overcame Georgian wrestler Georgi Karakhanyan via third-round TKO (punches) at 0:56, surviving early takedown attempts before landing a decisive flurry against the cage.[53] Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Wilson Reis advanced with a first-round rear-naked choke submission over Zac George at 2:09, capitalizing on his ground control.[52] American Daniel Straus earned a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) against Argentine Nazareno Mallegarie after three rounds of competitive stand-up exchanges and wrestling.[54] In the final quarterfinal, Kenny Foster submitted Eric Larkin with a guillotine choke in the first round at 3:15, securing his spot in the semifinals.[55] Non-tournament bouts rounded out the card, providing opportunities for up-and-coming fighters. Roli Delgado defeated Jameel Massouh by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) in a featherweight feature fight, while lightweight prelims saw Jeremy Spoon submit Jerrod Sanders via rear-naked choke in the second round at 0:26, and Brandon Shelton tap out Adam Snook with an arm-triangle choke in the first round at 2:46.[52] Middleweight action opened the night with Jake Rosholt finishing John Bryant by technical rear-naked choke in just 1:02 of the first round.[53]| Bout | Weight Class | Winner | Opponent | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event – Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Featherweight | Patricio Freire | Georgi Karakhanyan | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 0:56 |
| Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Featherweight | Wilson Reis | Zac George | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:09 |
| Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Featherweight | Daniel Straus | Nazareno Mallegarie | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Featherweight | Kenny Foster | Eric Larkin | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 3:15 |
| Non-Tournament Bout | Featherweight | Roli Delgado | Jameel Massouh | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Non-Tournament Bout | Lightweight | Jeremy Spoon | Jerrod Sanders | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 0:26 |
| Non-Tournament Bout | Middleweight | Jake Rosholt | John Bryant | Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:02 |
| Preliminary Bout | Lightweight | Brandon Shelton | Adam Snook | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:46 |
Bellator 38
Bellator 38 took place on March 26, 2011, at the Harrah's Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi, marking the fourth event of Bellator MMA's Season 4.[56] The event featured quarterfinal bouts from the Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament, with a $100,000 prize for the winner, alongside several preliminary non-tournament fights. Broadcast on MTV2, it highlighted emerging talents in the 205-pound division, advancing four fighters to the semifinals.[56] The light heavyweight quarterfinals produced competitive outcomes, with all four matches going the full distance or ending decisively in the later rounds. In the main event, undefeated prospect Tim Carpenter (6-0 entering) edged out Daniel Gracie by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds of grappling exchanges and striking attempts, securing his spot in the semifinals despite Gracie's aggressive takedown defense.[57] D.J. Linderman advanced by stopping Raphael Davis via TKO (punches) at 2:44 of the third round, overwhelming Davis with ground-and-pound after surviving early pressure.[57] Richard Hale delivered one of the night's most notable finishes, submitting Nik Fekete with an inverted triangle choke at 1:55 of the first round—a rare technique that showcased Hale's grappling expertise from his wrestling background.[58] Christian M'Pumbu rounded out the tournament winners, earning a TKO victory over Chris Davis via punches at 3:34 of the third round, capitalizing on his striking power to break through Davis's resilience.[57] These results set up semifinals featuring Carpenter vs. Linderman and Hale vs. M'Pumbu, contributing to the tournament's narrative of high-stakes progression in Bellator's open-weight format.[56] The preliminary card included a mix of weight classes and styles, providing undercard depth. Heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov made a strong U.S. debut, stopping William Penn via TKO (punches) at 2:58 of the first round with heavy ground strikes.[57] In a light heavyweight prelim, Cody Donovan defeated Brian Albin by unanimous decision (30-27 x3), controlling the fight with wrestling dominance.[57] Middleweight bout saw Amaechi Oselukwue outpoint Abe Wilson via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 28-29), in a close striking affair.[57] Lightweight Austin Lyons submitted Jimmy Van Horn with an armbar at 2:10 of the first round, while Jake Underwood caught Tim Galluzzi in a triangle choke at 1:04 of the opening frame in a catchweight matchup.[57]| Fight | Weight Class | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie | Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal | Carpenter def. Gracie via Split Decision (3 rounds)[57] |
| D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis | Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal | Linderman def. Davis via TKO (punches), R3, 2:44[57] |
| Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete | Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal | Hale def. Fekete via Sub. (inverted triangle choke), R1, 1:55[57] |
| Christian M'Pumbu vs. Chris Davis | Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal | M'Pumbu def. Davis via TKO (punches), R3, 3:34[57] |
| Cody Donovan vs. Brian Albin | Light Heavyweight | Donovan def. Albin via Unanimous Decision (3 rounds)[57] |
| Blagoi Ivanov vs. William Penn | Heavyweight | Ivanov def. Penn via TKO (punches), R1, 2:58[57] |
| Amaechi Oselukwue vs. Abe Wilson | Middleweight | Oselukwue def. Wilson via Unanimous Decision (3 rounds)[57] |
| Austin Lyons vs. Jimmy Van Horn | Lightweight | Lyons def. Van Horn via Sub. (armbar), R1, 2:10[57] |
| Jake Underwood vs. Tim Galluzzi | Catchweight (150 lbs) | Underwood def. Galluzzi via Sub. (triangle choke), R1, 1:04[57] |
Bellator 39
Bellator 39 took place on April 2, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, marking the fifth event of Bellator MMA's Season 4 and airing live on MTV2.[59] The card featured a lightweight title defense in the main event alongside semifinals from the Season 4 welterweight and lightweight tournaments, highlighting the promotion's ongoing bracket-style competitions with a $100,000 prize for tournament winners. Attendance was approximately 3,500, contributing to the event's role in building Bellator's profile during its early Viacom partnership.[60] The main event saw defending lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez retain his title against Pat Curran via unanimous decision over five rounds (49-46, 48-47, 48-47), with Alvarez dominating through superior grappling and striking volume despite Curran's resilience in stand-up exchanges.[60] Curran, who had advanced through the Season 3 featherweight tournament before moving up, absorbed significant punishment but landed counters that kept the fight competitive into the later rounds. This victory solidified Alvarez's status as Bellator's top lightweight draw ahead of future defenses.[59] In the welterweight tournament semifinals, undefeated Rick Hawn advanced by defeating Lyman Good via split decision (29-28 Good, 29-28 Hawn, 30-27 Hawn), a closely contested bout where Hawn's wrestling edged out Good's striking in a back-and-forth war.[61] The lightweight tournament semifinal featured Patricky Freire securing a stunning first-round TKO over Toby Imada at 2:53 via flying knee and follow-up punches, showcasing Freire's explosive striking and propelling him toward the final.[61] These outcomes set up tournament finals later in the season, emphasizing Bellator's format of high-stakes progression fights. Non-tournament bouts included Ben Saunders stopping Matt Lee via doctor's stoppage TKO in the third round at 1:24 due to a severe cut, highlighting Saunders' aggressive welterweight style.[61] On the prelims, Dan Cramer outpointed Greg Rebello by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) in a middleweight clash defined by Cramer's takedown defense, while Ryan Quinn dominated Mike Winters via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) through consistent pressure. Dave Jansen submitted Scott McAfee with a brabo choke at 4:58 of the first round in a lightweight prelim, and Rene Nazare earned a first-round TKO over Luiz Azeredo at 5:00 due to an arm injury sustained in a grappling exchange.[62] The card opened with John McLaughlin defeating Blair Tugman by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) in a bantamweight bout noted for Tugman's early aggression but McLaughlin's superior cardio.[63]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method/Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event: Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran | Lightweight (Title) | Alvarez def. Curran | Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47), 5 rounds | Title defense; Alvarez advances record to 23-2.[60] |
| Rick Hawn vs. Lyman Good | Welterweight (Tournament Semifinal) | Hawn def. Good | Split Decision (29-28 Good, 29-28 Hawn, 30-27 Hawn), 3 rounds | Hawn remains undefeated at 11-0.[61] |
| Patricky Freire vs. Toby Imada | Lightweight (Tournament Semifinal) | Freire def. Imada | TKO (Flying Knee & Punches), R1 2:53 | Freire's knockout highlight of the night.[61] |
| Ben Saunders vs. Matt Lee | Welterweight | Saunders def. Lee | TKO (Doctor Stoppage), R3 1:24 | Cut over Lee's eye forces stoppage. |
| Dan Cramer vs. Greg Rebello | Middleweight | Cramer def. Rebello | Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3), 3 rounds | Competitive grappling exchanges. |
| Ryan Quinn vs. Mike Winters | Welterweight | Quinn def. Winters | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26), 3 rounds | Quinn controls pace throughout. |
| Dave Jansen vs. Scott McAfee | Lightweight | Jansen def. McAfee | Submission (Brabo Choke), R1 4:58 | Jansen transitions smoothly to finish.[61] |
| Rene Nazare vs. Luiz Azeredo | Catchweight (160 lbs) | Nazare def. Azeredo | TKO (Arm Injury), R1 5:00 | Injury occurs during armbar attempt.[62] |
| John McLaughlin vs. Blair Tugman | Bantamweight | McLaughlin def. Tugman | Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3), 3 rounds | McLaughlin rallies in later rounds.[63] |
Bellator 40
Bellator 40 was held on April 9, 2011, at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma, marking the sixth event of Bellator MMA's fourth season.[64] The card featured semifinal bouts in both the welterweight and lightweight tournaments, with the main event pitting Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren against Nick Thompson in a non-title fight. The event aired live on MTV2 to an audience of 218,000 viewers and consisted of seven bouts, including preliminary fights across multiple weight classes.[64] In the main event, Askren dominated Thompson with superior wrestling and control, securing a unanimous decision victory (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) to advance to the welterweight tournament final.[65] The co-main event saw welterweight semifinalist Jay Hieron outpoint Brent Weedman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), earning his spot opposite Askren in the finals with effective striking and grappling.[66] The lightweight tournament semifinal featured Michael Chandler defeating Lloyd Woodard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), advancing Chandler through consistent wrestling pressure and control.[65] The undercard included a heavyweight bout where Eric Prindle defeated Josh Burns by TKO (doctor stoppage due to a cut) at the end of the second round.[66] In a welterweight preliminary, Tyler Stinson edged Nate James by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), while David Rickels submitted Dylan Smith with a triangle choke at 3:32 of the first round.[64] The event opened with lightweight Mike Osborn knocking out Cody Carrillo via punches at 1:27 of the first round.[66]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method/Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event | Welterweight Tournament Semifinal | Ben Askren def. Nick Thompson | Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) / 3 rounds | Askren advances to final[65] |
| Co-Main Event | Welterweight Tournament Semifinal | Jay Hieron def. Brent Weedman | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) / 3 rounds | Hieron advances to final[66] |
| Lightweight Tournament Semifinal | Michael Chandler def. Lloyd Woodard | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) / 3 rounds | Chandler advances to final[65] | |
| Heavyweight | Eric Prindle def. Josh Burns | TKO (Doctor Stoppage - Cut) / Rd 2, 5:00 | -[66] | |
| Welterweight | Tyler Stinson def. Nate James | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) / 3 rounds | -[64] | |
| Welterweight | David Rickels def. Dylan Smith | Submission (Triangle Choke) / Rd 1, 3:32 | -[66] | |
| Lightweight | Mike Osborn def. Cody Carrillo | TKO (Punches) / Rd 1, 1:27 | -[64] |
Bellator 41
Bellator 41 took place on April 16, 2011, at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona, marking the sixth event of Bellator MMA's Season Four. The card featured eight MMA bouts, including two featherweight tournament semifinals and a non-title bantamweight main event between champion Joe Warren and Marcos Galvão. Broadcast on MTV2, the event drew an average viewership of 132,000.[67] In the main event, Joe Warren defeated Marcos Galvão by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds, showcasing Warren's wrestling dominance with multiple takedowns despite Galvão's striking threats; the decision was controversial, with criticism over the wide 30-27 score amid debates on control versus damage.[67][68][69] This victory solidified Warren's position as the bantamweight champion heading into future challenges. The co-main event saw Patricio "Pitbull" Freire advance in the featherweight tournament by knocking out Wilson Reis via punches at 3:29 of the third round, earning a spot in the finals against Daniel Straus.[67][68] The other featherweight semifinal featured Daniel Straus submitting Kenny Foster with a guillotine choke at 3:48 of the third round, setting up a high-stakes final between Straus and Freire. Flyweight champion Zach Makovsky defended his title in a non-title bout against Chad Robichaux, securing a TKO victory via punches at 2:02 of the third round. Preliminary fights included Anthony Birchak's first-round brabo choke submission over Tyler Bialecki at 4:06 in a bantamweight matchup, and Nick Piedmont's split decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) against Michael Parker in a featherweight bout after three rounds.[67][68] The card opened with heavyweight action, where Carlos Flores knocked out Rudy Aguilar with punches at 1:19 of the first round, and middleweight Brendan Tierney submitted Dano Moore via armbar just 49 seconds into their fight. These results advanced key contenders in Bellator's tournament format while highlighting emerging talents in the promotion's roster.[67]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvão | Bantamweight | Warren def. Galvão | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Patricio Freire vs. Wilson Reis | Featherweight | Freire def. Reis | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 3:29 |
| Daniel Straus vs. Kenny Foster | Featherweight | Straus def. Foster | Submission (Guillotine) | 3 | 3:48 |
| Zach Makovsky vs. Chad Robichaux | Flyweight | Makovsky def. Robichaux | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 2:02 |
| Anthony Birchak vs. Tyler Bialecki | Bantamweight | Birchak def. Bialecki | Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 4:06 |
| Nick Piedmont vs. Michael Parker | Featherweight | Piedmont def. Parker | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Carlos Flores vs. Rudy Aguilar | Heavyweight | Flores def. Aguilar | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:19 |
| Brendan Tierney vs. Dano Moore | Middleweight | Tierney def. Moore | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 0:49 |
Bellator 42
Bellator 42 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on April 23, 2011, at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma.[70] The event aired live on MTV2 and drew an average viewership of 199,000.[70] It marked the seventh event of Bellator's 2011 season and featured the semifinals of the Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament, alongside several non-tournament bouts across various weight classes.[13] The light heavyweight tournament semifinals headlined the card, with the winners advancing to the final for a chance at the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and a $100,000 prize.[71] In the first semifinal, Christian M'Pumbu defeated Tim Carpenter via first-round TKO (punches) at 2:08, showcasing his striking power to secure his spot in the final.[70] The second semifinal saw Richard Hale edge out D.J. Linderman by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds of competitive grappling and striking exchanges.[72] These outcomes set up a championship clash between M'Pumbu and Hale at Bellator 44.[71] The non-tournament bouts provided additional action, highlighted by English fighter Ronnie Mann's unanimous decision victory (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) over Josh Arocho in a welterweight catchweight bout at 147 pounds, where Mann dominated with superior wrestling and ground control.[70] In the featherweight main card opener, Brandon Shelton submitted Owen Evinger via rear-naked choke at 2:35 of the first round.[70] Preliminary fights included quick finishes, such as Mark Holata's first-round TKO (punches) of Tracy Willis at 0:49 in a heavyweight clash, and Shane Howell's brabo choke submission of Mark Oshiro at 4:15 of the first round in bantamweight.[70] Other prelim results featured Jared Hess submitting Chris Bell via triangle choke at 1:40 of the first round in light heavyweight, and Luis Nogueira winning a unanimous decision over Jerod Spoon in bantamweight after three rounds.[70]| Bout | Result | Method | Round | Time | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian M'Pumbu vs. Tim Carpenter | M'Pumbu def. Carpenter | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:08 | Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Richard Hale vs. D.J. Linderman | Hale def. Linderman | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 | Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Ronnie Mann vs. Josh Arocho | Mann def. Arocho | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Welterweight (catchweight 147 lbs) |
| Brandon Shelton vs. Owen Evinger | Shelton def. Evinger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:35 | Featherweight |
| Luis Nogueira vs. Jerod Spoon | Nogueira def. Spoon | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bantamweight |
| Jared Hess vs. Chris Bell | Hess def. Bell | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 1:40 | Light Heavyweight |
| Shane Howell vs. Mark Oshiro | Howell def. Oshiro | Submission (brabo choke) | 1 | 4:15 | Bantamweight |
| Mark Holata vs. Tracy Willis | Holata def. Willis | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:49 | Heavyweight |
Bellator 43
Bellator 43 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on May 7, 2011, at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The event marked the conclusion of the Season 4 welterweight tournament and featured six bouts, with the main card broadcast live on MTV2 to an audience of 182,000 viewers.[73][74] In the main event, welterweight tournament finalist Jay Hieron defeated Rick Hawn via split decision after three five-minute rounds, capturing the Season 4 welterweight tournament title and earning a subsequent shot at the promotion's welterweight championship against champion Ben Askren. Hieron, entering with a record of 21-4, outstruck Hawn in a competitive striking battle, though Hawn's judo background led to several takedown attempts. The co-main event saw middleweight Bryan Baker knock out Joe Riggs with a punch at 3:53 of the second round, marking a signature victory for Baker and securing his entry into the Season 5 middleweight tournament; Baker proposed to his girlfriend immediately after the win.[73][75][76] The main card also included bantamweight Chase Beebe submitting Jose Vega with a guillotine choke at 4:06 of the first round, and heavyweight Ron Sparks securing a first-round keylock submission over Vince Lucero at 2:18. On the preliminary card, David Rickels forced a triangle choke submission from Rich Bouphanouvong at 1:11 of the second round in a lightweight catchweight bout, while Mike Osborn stopped Mike Schatz via strikes at 1:58 of the first round in a lightweight matchup. All fights were contested inside a cage, with referees including Jason Herzog and Kevin Nix overseeing the action.[73][75]Full Results
| Result | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Jay Hieron | Rick Hawn | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Welterweight |
| Win | Bryan Baker | Joe Riggs | KO (Punch) | 2 | 3:53 | Middleweight |
| Win | Chase Beebe | Jose Vega | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 | 4:06 | Bantamweight |
| Win | Ron Sparks | Vince Lucero | Submission (Keylock) | 1 | 2:18 | Heavyweight |
| Win | David Rickels | Rich Bouphanouvong | Submission (Triangle) | 2 | 1:11 | Catchweight (179 lbs) |
| Win | Mike Osborn | Mike Schatz | TKO (Strikes) | 1 | 1:58 | Lightweight |
Bellator 44
Bellator 44 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on May 14, 2011, at the Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[77] The event was the ninth of Bellator's 2011 season and featured the Season 4 lightweight tournament final as its main event, along with a middleweight bout and several non-tournament bouts.[78] Broadcast on MTV2, it achieved a season-high viewership of 325,000 for the 9 p.m. ET airing, marking a 77% increase over the season average and the promotion's second-highest rated telecast at the time.[79] The main event pitted undefeated wrestler Michael Chandler against Brazilian striker Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in the lightweight tournament final. Chandler controlled the grappling exchanges throughout the three-round bout, outworking Freire to secure a unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-27 across all three judges.[80] This win earned Chandler the $100,000 tournament prize and positioned him as the next challenger for Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.[80] In the co-main event, Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard faced Falaniko Vitale in a non-title catchweight bout at 195 pounds. Lombard absorbed early pressure but turned the tide in the third round, dropping Vitale with a punch for a knockout victory at 0:54.[80] The fight showcased Lombard's power, extending his undefeated streak in the promotion to 8-0.[80] A key undercard matchup was the middleweight bout between Alexander Shlemenko and Brett Cooper. Shlemenko dominated with superior striking and grappling, winning by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28).[80] Another highlight was welterweight prospect Giedrius Karavackas submitting Sam Oropeza via scarf-hold armlock at 3:59 of the third round, demonstrating his grappling prowess in a competitive three-round affair.[80] The event's full fight card and results are as follows:| Bout | Result | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Tournament Final: Michael Chandler vs. Patricky Freire | Chandler def. Freire | Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Catchweight (195 lbs): Hector Lombard vs. Falaniko Vitale | Lombard def. Vitale | KO (Punch) | 3 / 0:54 |
| Welterweight: Giedrius Karavackas vs. Sam Oropeza | Karavackas def. Oropeza | Submission (Scarf-Hold Armlock) | 3 / 3:59 |
| Middleweight: Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper | Shlemenko def. Cooper | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Heavyweight: Jamall Johnson vs. Randy Smith | Johnson def. Smith | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 / 4:16 |
| Featherweight: Jeff Lentz vs. Anthony Leone | Lentz def. Leone | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Bantamweight: Jay Silva vs. Gemiyale Adkins | Silva def. Adkins | Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 |
Bellator 45
Bellator 45 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on May 21, 2011, at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[82] As the final event of Bellator's Season Four, it featured the tournament finals for both the featherweight and light heavyweight divisions, crowning inaugural champions in the latter weight class.[1] The event aired live on MTV2, drawing an average viewership of 264,000.[82] The main event was the light heavyweight tournament final between Christian M'Pumbu and Richard Hale. M'Pumbu, entering with a record of 11-3-1, secured the win via TKO (punches) at 4:17 of the third round, earning him the first Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and improving his record to 12-3-1.[82][1] Hale, who had a 16-4-1 record prior to the bout, suffered his first loss in the tournament after advancing through earlier rounds.[82] In the co-main event, the featherweight tournament final pitted Patricio "Pitbull" Freire against Daniel Straus. Freire won by unanimous decision after three rounds, with all judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor, capturing the tournament title and boosting his record to 17-1.[82] Straus, previously 16-4, fell short in his bid for the crown despite a competitive performance.[82] The event's main card also included a middleweight bout where Sam Alvey defeated Karl Amoussou by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), marking a non-tournament showcase fight.[82] The full fight card and results are summarized below:| Weight Class | Fighter 1 | vs. | Fighter 2 | Result | Method/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight (Tournament Final) | Christian M'Pumbu | vs. | Richard Hale | M'Pumbu def. Hale | TKO (punches), R3, 4:17 |
| Featherweight (Tournament Final) | Patricio Freire | vs. | Daniel Straus | Freire def. Straus | Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3) |
| Middleweight | Sam Alvey | vs. | Karl Amoussou | Alvey def. Amoussou | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) |
| Heavyweight (Prelim) | Shawn Jordan | vs. | Jon Hill | Jordan def. Hill | TKO, R1, 1:56 |
| Middleweight (Prelim) | Tim Ruberg | vs. | Mike Fleniken | Ruberg def. Fleniken | Unanimous Decision |
| Welterweight (Prelim) | Luis Santos | vs. | Nicolae Cury | Santos def. Cury | Unanimous Decision |
| Featherweight (Prelim) | Rene Nazare | vs. | Kalvin Hackney | Nazare def. Hackney | Submission (RNC), R1, 4:44 |
| Lightweight (Prelim) | Joseph Abercrombie | vs. | Ben Parpart | Abercrombie def. Parpart | Submission (RNC), R1, 1:11 |
Summer Series
Tournament Overview and Bracket
The 2011 Summer Series marked a departure from Bellator MMA's standard seasonal tournament structure by introducing a multi-event format dedicated to crowning a challenger for the Bellator Featherweight Championship, then held by Joe Warren. This series featured a single eight-man single-elimination tournament in the featherweight division (145 lb limit), spanning three consecutive events from June to August. Unlike the promotion's typical one-night brackets, the Summer Series extended the competition across Bellator 46 (quarterfinals), Bellator 47 (semifinals), and Bellator 48 (final and title shot determination), allowing for recovery time between rounds while maintaining high-stakes progression. The tournament drew top international talent, including former Pancrase and Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro, Bellator Season 2 lightweight winner Pat Curran (dropping to featherweight), and undefeated prospect Nazareno Malegarie, emphasizing striking and grappling prowess in a stacked field.[83][84] The bracket was structured as a standard single-elimination tournament with no byes, featuring four quarterfinal bouts at Bellator 46 on June 25, 2011, in Hollywood, Florida. Winners advanced to semifinals at Bellator 47 on July 23, 2011, in Rama, Ontario, Canada, with the final held at Bellator 48 on August 20, 2011, in Uncasville, Connecticut. Pat Curran emerged as the victor, earning a shot at Warren's title, which he later won at Bellator 58 in November 2011. The series averaged around 230,000 viewers per event on MTV2, boosting Bellator's visibility during the summer off-season from its main numbered seasons.[85][86][87]| Round | Matchup | Result | Event Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Pat Curran vs. Luis Palomino | Curran def. Palomino via submission (Peruvian necktie), R1, 3:49 | Bellator 46, June 25, 2011 |
| Quarterfinals | Nazareno Malegarie vs. Jacob Devree | Malegarie def. Devree via submission (guillotine choke), R3, 1:25 | Bellator 46, June 25, 2011 |
| Quarterfinals | Ronnie Mann vs. Adam Schindler | Mann def. Schindler via TKO (punches), R1, 4:14 | Bellator 46, June 25, 2011 |
| Quarterfinals | Marlon Sandro vs. Genair da Silva | Sandro def. da Silva via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | Bellator 46, June 25, 2011 |
| Semifinals | Pat Curran vs. Ronnie Mann | Curran def. Mann via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | Bellator 47, July 23, 2011 |
| Semifinals | Marlon Sandro vs. Nazareno Malegarie | Sandro def. Malegarie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | Bellator 47, July 23, 2011 |
| Final | Pat Curran vs. Marlon Sandro | Curran def. Sandro via TKO (head kick and punches), R2, 4:00 | Bellator 48, August 20, 2011 |
Bellator 46
Bellator 46 took place on June 25, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, marking the inaugural event of Bellator MMA's 2011 Summer Series.[88] The card featured the opening round of the promotion's featherweight tournament, showcasing eight competitors vying for a $100,000 grand prize and a shot at the season's tournament crown, alongside preliminary bouts in various weight classes.[15] Broadcast live on MTV2, the event drew attention for its mix of established prospects and rising talents, emphasizing Bellator's tournament format that contrasted with traditional title defenses.[85] The featherweight quarterfinals headlined the night, with all four bouts determining semifinalists for the ongoing series. Pat Curran, a former lightweight contender, submitted Luis Palomino via Peruvian necktie in the main event at 3:49 of the first round, advancing with his signature grappling prowess.[88] Brazilian veteran Marlon Sandro edged out Genair da Silva by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), relying on superior striking volume in a closely contested matchup.[88] Nazareno Malegarie submitted Jacob Devree via guillotine choke at 1:25 of the third round, controlling the fight with effective wrestling and ground control.[15] Rounding out the tournament action, Ronnie Mann secured a TKO victory over Adam Schindler via punches at 4:14 of the first round, earning his spot with a clinical striking finish.[88] On the preliminary card, a women's strawweight bout saw Jessica Aguilar outpoint Carla Esparza via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27), highlighting Aguilar's technical striking against Esparza's early takedown attempts.[91] Heavyweight action featured Tony Johnson defeating an undefeated Derrick Lewis by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) in a gritty three-round war that tested both fighters' cardio.[92] Dan Cramer advanced in the middleweight division with a unanimous decision victory over Josh Samman (29-28 x3), while Alexandre Bezerra submitted Sam Jones via triangle choke at 3:27 of the first round in a catchweight (152 lbs) bout.[88]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method/Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Curran vs. Luis Palomino | Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Curran def. Palomino | Submission (Peruvian Necktie) / 3:49 | 1 |
| Marlon Sandro vs. Genair da Silva | Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Sandro def. da Silva | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 |
| Nazareno Malegarie vs. Jacob Devree | Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Malegarie def. Devree | Submission (Guillotine Choke) / 1:25 | 3 |
| Ronnie Mann vs. Adam Schindler | Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Mann def. Schindler | TKO (Punches) / 4:14 | 1 |
| Jessica Aguilar vs. Carla Esparza | Strawweight | Aguilar def. Esparza | Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27) | 3 |
| Tony Johnson vs. Derrick Lewis | Heavyweight | Johnson def. Lewis | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 |
| Dan Cramer vs. Josh Samman | Middleweight | Cramer def. Samman | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 |
| Alexandre Bezerra vs. Sam Jones | Catchweight (152 lbs) | Bezerra def. Jones | Submission (Triangle Choke) / 3:27 | 1 |
Bellator 47
Bellator 47 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on July 23, 2011, at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.[89] It marked the promotion's first event in Canada and served as the second installment of the 2011 Summer Series, highlighting the featherweight tournament semifinals. The main card aired live on MTV2, drawing an average of 277,000 viewers and peaking at 386,000, which represented the second-highest ratings for a Bellator event on the network at that time. The event featured seven bouts across multiple weight classes, with the featherweight semifinals as the focal point. In the main event, Pat Curran defeated Ronnie Mann by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds, advancing to the tournament final with effective use of his reach for striking and resilience against submission attempts. Co-main event saw Marlon Sandro outpoint Nazareno Malegarie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), dominating with precise striking and takedown control to secure his spot in the final against Curran at Bellator 48. These victories positioned the winners for a shot at the featherweight title later in the year. The lightweight feature bout pitted Chris Horodecki against Chris Saunders, with Horodecki earning a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) through superior grappling and ground control. In a heavyweight matchup, Neil Grove quickly dispatched Zak Jensen via TKO (punches) at 2:00 of the first round, overwhelming his opponent with powerful strikes.| Weight Class | Winner | Opponent | Result | Round | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight (Semifinal) | Pat Curran | Ronnie Mann | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | Decision |
| Featherweight (Semifinal) | Marlon Sandro | Nazareno Malegarie | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | Decision |
| Lightweight | Chris Horodecki | Chris Saunders | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | Decision |
| Heavyweight | Neil Grove | Zak Jensen | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:00 | Strikes |
| Lightweight | Alexandre Bezerra | Jesse Gross | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:28 | Choke |
| Featherweight | William Romero | Daniel Langbeen | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | Decision |
| Lightweight | Alex Ricci | Alka Matewa | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 2:40 | Strikes |
Bellator 48
Bellator 48 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on August 20, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[87] It served as the third and final event of Bellator's 2011 Summer Series, featuring the featherweight tournament final alongside several non-tournament bouts across various weight classes.[94] The event was broadcast live on MTV2, attracting an average viewership of 226,000.[95] The Summer Series format emphasized single-elimination tournaments in select divisions, with the featherweight bracket concluding at this event following semifinal matches at Bellator 47. Pat Curran and Marlon Sandro advanced to the final after defeating Luis Palomino and Genair da Silva in the quarterfinals at Bellator 46, and Ronnie Mann and Nazareno Malegarie in the semifinals at Bellator 47. Other featured fights included a heavyweight matchup between Cole Konrad and Paul Buentello, as well as light heavyweight and catchweight bouts, providing opportunities for up-and-coming fighters.[96]Fight Card
The event comprised nine bouts, with four airing on the MTV2 main card and the remainder streaming online via Sherdog.com. Results are summarized below:| Weight Class | Bout | Result | Method/Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight Tournament Final | Pat Curran vs. Marlon Sandro | Curran def. Sandro | KO (head kick and punches) / 4:00 | 2 |
| Heavyweight | Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello | Konrad def. Buentello | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 |
| Catchweight (230 lbs) | Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricco Rodriguez | Petruzelli def. Rodriguez | TKO (punches) / 4:21 | 1 |
| Lightweight | Rene Nazare vs. Juan Barrantes | Nazare def. Barrantes | TKO (doctor stoppage due to cuts) / 5:00 | 2 |
| Light Heavyweight | Jeff Nader vs. Dan Cramer | Nader def. Cramer | TKO (punches) / 1:04 | 3 |
| Light Heavyweight | Nik Fekete vs. Mark Griffin | Fekete def. Griffin | TKO (strikes) / 3:12 | 2 |
| Lightweight | Andrew Calandrelli vs. Matt Nice | Calandrelli def. Nice | Submission (keylock) / 3:55 | 1 |
| Welterweight | Ryan Quinn vs. Brett Oteri | Quinn def. Oteri | Technical submission (rear-naked choke) / 1:49 | 1 |
| Featherweight | Saul Almeida vs. Tateki Matsuda | Almeida def. Matsuda | Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 |
Season 5 Tournaments
Heavyweight Tournament Bracket
The Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament in Bellator MMA featured an eight-man single-elimination bracket, with quarterfinal bouts held at Bellator 52 on October 1, 2011, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The initial matchups were announced on August 31, 2011, pairing undefeated prospect Ron Sparks against veteran Mark Holata, Neil Grove against Mike Hayes, Thiago Santos against Blagoi Ivanov, and Eric Prindle against The Ultimate Fighter alum Abe Wagner. However, visa issues prevented Santos from competing in the quarterfinals, leading to his replacement by Zach Jensen in the bout against Ivanov. The tournament offered the winner $100,000 and a shot at the heavyweight title, emphasizing striking and grappling prowess among the heavyweights.[98][99]Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals produced decisive outcomes, advancing Sparks, Hayes, Ivanov, and Prindle to the semifinals. In the opening bout, Sparks maintained his perfect record with a first-round knockout of Holata via punches at 1:24, showcasing explosive power that overwhelmed the taller fighter early. Hayes edged Grove in a closely contested split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds of tactical striking and clinch work, where Hayes' leg kicks and volume striking proved marginally effective. Ivanov dominated Jensen with a technical submission via guillotine choke in the second round at 2:35, controlling the fight on the ground after an initial feeling-out process. Prindle rounded out the winners with a unanimous decision victory over Wagner (29-28 across all cards), surviving early pressure to outstrike and outwrestle his opponent in a gritty affair. These results highlighted the bracket's unpredictability, with combined fighter records entering at 73-15-2.[100][101][102]Semifinals
Injuries and withdrawals reshaped the semifinals at Bellator 56 on October 29, 2011, in Kansas City, Kansas. Hayes withdrew due to injury, allowing previously eliminated Santos to re-enter the tournament against Ivanov. However, Ivanov then pulled out, reinstating Grove as his replacement opposite Santos. The revised matchups were Prindle versus Sparks and Santos versus Grove. Prindle advanced with a swift TKO stoppage of Sparks via punches at 0:40 of the first round, capitalizing on a flurry that dropped his opponent and forced a referee halt. Santos submitted Grove with a rear-naked choke at 0:38 of the first round, transitioning seamlessly from a takedown to finish the veteran grappler. These rapid finishes underscored the heavyweights' finishing ability, setting up the final for early 2012.[103][104][105]| Round | Matchup | Result | Event | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Ron Sparks vs. Mark Holata | Sparks wins | Bellator 52 | KO (Punches) | 1 / 1:24 |
| Quarterfinal | Mike Hayes vs. Neil Grove | Hayes wins | Bellator 52 | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Quarterfinal | Blagoi Ivanov vs. Zach Jensen | Ivanov wins | Bellator 52 | Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 / 2:35 |
| Quarterfinal | Eric Prindle vs. Abe Wagner | Prindle wins | Bellator 52 | Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Semifinal | Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks | Prindle wins | Bellator 56 | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 0:40 |
| Semifinal | Thiago Santos vs. Neil Grove | Santos wins | Bellator 56 | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 / 0:38 |
Middleweight Tournament Bracket
The Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament was an eight-man single-elimination bracket held as part of the promotion's 2011 events, featuring fighters competing for a $100,000 prize and a shot at the middleweight title.[106] The tournament showcased a mix of international talent, including Russian striker Alexander Shlemenko and Brazilian grappler Vitor Vianna, with bouts spread across three events to determine the champion.Quarterfinals (Bellator 50, September 17, 2011)
The opening round occurred at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[107]| Matchup | Result | Method and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Shlemenko vs. Zelg Galesic | Shlemenko def. Galesic | Submission (guillotine choke), R1, 1:55[108] |
| Bryan Baker vs. Jared Hess | Baker def. Hess | TKO (punches), R3, 1:51[107] |
| Brian Rogers vs. Brett Cooper | Rogers def. Cooper | Unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)[109] |
| Vitor Vianna vs. Sam Alvey | Vianna def. Alvey | Submission (armbar), R1, 0:44[108] |
Semifinals (Bellator 54, October 15, 2011)
The semifinals took place at the Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.| Matchup | Result | Method and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers | Shlemenko def. Rogers | TKO (strikes), R2, 2:30 |
| Vitor Vianna vs. Bryan Baker | Vianna def. Baker | TKO (punches), R1, 0:54 |
Final (Bellator 57, November 12, 2011)
The tournament concluded at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Rama, Ontario, Canada, with the originally scheduled Bellator 58 bout moved up due to scheduling adjustments.[112] Alexander Shlemenko defeated Vitor Vianna by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) after three rounds of striking exchanges and grappling attempts.[113] Shlemenko's superior volume and leg kicks controlled the pace, securing the tournament victory and positioning him for a future title opportunity against champion Hector Lombard.[114] This win marked Shlemenko's second Bellator tournament triumph, following his Season 2 success.[115]Welterweight Tournament Bracket
The Season 5 Welterweight Tournament was an eight-man single-elimination bracket held across three events in fall 2011, featuring fighters competing for a $100,000 prize and a shot at the welterweight title. The quarterfinals took place at Bellator 49 on September 10, 2011, at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the semifinals at Bellator 53 on October 8, 2011, at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California, and the final at Bellator 57 on November 12, 2011, at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. Douglas Lima emerged as the tournament winner, defeating Ben Saunders in the final via second-round TKO to earn a title shot against champion Ben Askren in 2012.[116][117][118]Quarterfinals (Bellator 49)
| Matchup | Result | Method and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Lozano vs. Brent Weedman | Lozano def. Weedman | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3), 3 rounds[116] |
| Ben Saunders vs. Chris Cisneros | Saunders def. Cisneros | TKO (knee and punches), R3, 0:29[116] |
| Luis Santos vs. Dan Hornbuckle | Santos def. Hornbuckle | Unanimous decision (30-27 x3), 3 rounds[116] |
| Douglas Lima vs. Steve Carl | Lima def. Carl | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3), 3 rounds[116] |
Semifinals (Bellator 53)
| Matchup | Result | Method and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas Lima vs. Chris Lozano | Lima def. Lozano | KO (punches), R2, 3:14[117] |
| Ben Saunders vs. Luis Santos | Saunders def. Santos | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3), 3 rounds[117] |
Final (Bellator 57)
Douglas Lima defeated Ben Saunders by TKO (strikes) at 1:21 of Round 2, overwhelming Saunders with powerful striking to claim the tournament crown.[118]Bantamweight Tournament Bracket
The Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament in Bellator MMA was a single-elimination competition featuring eight fighters, held across three events in 2011 to determine a challenger for the bantamweight title held by Zack Makovsky.[119] The quarterfinals took place at Bellator 51 on September 24 in Canton, Ohio, the semifinals at Bellator 55 on October 22 in Chicago, Illinois, and the final at Bellator 59 on November 26 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[120][121][122] Eduardo Dantas emerged as the tournament winner, defeating Alexis Vila in the final via unanimous decision (29-28 on all scorecards) after a back-and-forth battle where Dantas dominated with superior striking and grappling control in the later rounds.[122] The tournament bracket was structured as follows, with results noted for each matchup:Quarterfinals (Bellator 51)
- Alexis Vila def. Joe Warren by knockout (punch) at 1:04 of Round 1. Warren, the reigning Bellator featherweight champion dropping to bantamweight, was caught early by Vila's counterpunching.[120]
- Eduardo Dantas def. Wilson Reis by knockout (flying knee and punches) at 1:02 of Round 2. Dantas, a Nova União product, overwhelmed the veteran grappler with dynamic striking after surviving an early takedown attempt.[120]
- Marcos Galvão def. Chase Beebe by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds. Galvão controlled the standup exchanges and inflicted damage, edging out the former WEC fighter in a close grappling-heavy bout.[120]
- Ed West def. Luis Nogueira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. West outworked Nogueira with consistent pressure and volume striking throughout.[120]
Semifinals (Bellator 55)
- Eduardo Dantas def. Ed West by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds. Dantas advanced with effective counters and clinch work against West's forward pressure.[121]
- Alexis Vila def. Marcos Galvão by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds. Vila's power punching and takedown defense secured the narrow victory over his fellow Brazilian.[121]
Season 5 Events
Bellator 49
Bellator 49 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator MMA on September 10, 2011, at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[123][124] As the opening event for Season 5 tournaments, it featured quarterfinal bouts in the welterweight division, with the main card broadcast on MTV2 and prelims on Spike.com.[123] The event averaged 235,000 viewers.[123] The welterweight tournament quarterfinals headlined the card, determining the first four semifinalists. In the main event, Chris Lozano defeated Brent Weedman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) after three rounds of grappling exchanges and striking attempts.[125] Ben Saunders advanced with a third-round TKO over Chris Cisneros at 0:29, landing knees to the body followed by punches.[123] Luis Santos secured a unanimous decision (29-28 across the board) against Dan Hornbuckle in a competitive stand-up battle.[126] Douglas Lima rounded out the welterweight winners, taking a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) from Steve Carl in his Bellator debut.[126] Non-tournament bouts filled the undercard, including featherweight action where Alexandre Bezerra earned a second-round TKO via punches at 1:38 against Scott Heckman.[127] In welterweight, Giedrius Karavackas won by third-round TKO of LeVon Maynard at 1:32, using a head kick and follow-up punches.[123] Other undercard results included Joel Roberts submitting Brylan Van Artsdalen with a triangle choke at 1:47 of the second round.[123] Lester Caslow won by second-round TKO due to injury at 0:15 over James Jones.[123] In the heavyweight opener, Azunna Anyanwu stopped JA Dudley via second-round punches at 4:16.[123]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event: Chris Lozano def. Brent Weedman | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) | - | 3 | 5:00 |
| Ben Saunders def. Chris Cisneros | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | TKO (Knees and Punches) | - | 3 | 0:29 |
| Luis Santos def. Dan Hornbuckle | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | - | 3 | 5:00 |
| Douglas Lima def. Steve Carl | Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | - | 3 | 5:00 |
| Alexandre Bezerra def. Scott Heckman | Featherweight | TKO (Punches) | - | 2 | 1:38 |
| Giedrius Karavackas def. LeVon Maynard | Welterweight | TKO (Head Kick and Punches) | - | 3 | 1:32 |
| Joel Roberts def. Brylan Van Artsdalen | Middleweight | Submission (Triangle Choke) | - | 2 | 1:47 |
| Lester Caslow def. James Jones | Light Heavyweight | TKO (Injury) | - | 2 | 0:15 |
| Azunna Anyanwu def. JA Dudley | Heavyweight | TKO (Punches) | - | 2 | 4:16 |
Bellator 50
Bellator 50 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on September 17, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[128] The event marked the opening round quarterfinals of the promotion's Season 5 Middleweight Tournament, with the main card airing live on MTV2 and preliminary bouts streamed on Spike.com.[108] It drew 114,000 viewers on MTV2.[128] The main event featured Russian middleweight Alexander Shlemenko, a former tournament winner, against Croatian striker Zelg Galešić in a 185-pound tournament quarterfinal. Shlemenko secured a quick victory via guillotine choke submission at 1:55 of the first round, advancing to the semifinals and improving his record to 40-6.[107] Post-fight, Shlemenko emphasized his focus on victory, stating, "The most important thing for me was to win."[108] The co-main event saw American wrestler Brian Rogers overpower Victor O'Donnell with a head kick and follow-up punches, earning a first-round TKO stoppage at 1:56 to advance in the tournament.[128] Rogers, who entered with a 7-2 record, later defended the referee's decision amid crowd boos, noting his knockout power with seven first-round finishes.[108] In another quarterfinal, Bryan Baker outlasted Jared Hess to win by third-round TKO via strikes at 2:52, while Vitor Vianna edged Sam Alvey by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a closely contested bout that went the full 15 minutes.[107] Baker, advancing to 14-3, expressed interest in a potential rematch with Shlemenko, saying, "I'm looking to get my revenge match against Shlemenko."[108] The undercard included non-tournament action across multiple weight classes, highlighted by Brett Cooper's quick third-round TKO of Valdir Araujo at 0:35 via punches, which was noted as a standout performance.[129] Other prelim bouts featured submissions and decisions, with referees Jorge Alonso and Troy Waugh officiating throughout the 11-fight card.[128]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Shlemenko vs. Zelg Galešić | Middleweight | Shlemenko def. Galešić | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 | 1:55 |
| Vitor Vianna vs. Sam Alvey | Middleweight | Vianna def. Alvey | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Bryan Baker vs. Jared Hess | Middleweight | Baker def. Hess | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 2:52 |
| Brian Rogers vs. Victor O'Donnell | Middleweight | Rogers def. O'Donnell | TKO (Head Kick & Punches) | 1 | 1:56 |
| Brett Cooper vs. Valdir Araujo | Middleweight | Cooper def. Araujo | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 0:35 |
| Rad Martinez vs. Brian van Hoven | Lightweight | Martinez def. van Hoven | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Ailton Barbosa vs. Ryan Keenan | Welterweight | Barbosa def. Keenan | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 1:55 |
| Cristiano Souza vs. John Kelly | Welterweight | Souza def. Kelly | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| JP Reese vs. Martin Brown | Lightweight | Reese def. Brown | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Marcel Goncalves vs. Dietter Navarro | Featherweight | Goncalves def. Navarro | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:01 |
| Shah Bobonis vs. Marcos Da Matta | Featherweight | Bobonis def. Da Matta | TKO (Punch) | 3 | 2:04 |
Bellator 51
Bellator 51 took place on September 24, 2011, at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, marking the start of the quarterfinal round for the Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament.[9][130] The event featured 10 bouts, with the main card broadcast on MTV2 and prelims streaming on Spike.com, drawing an average viewership of 158,000 for the televised portion.[130] As part of Bellator's tournament format, the bantamweight quarterfinals showcased high-profile competitors, including former featherweight champion Joe Warren transitioning to the 135-pound division. All four quarterfinals occurred on this card, with winners advancing to the semifinals.[131] The headline bout pitted Olympic wrestler Joe Warren against Alexis Vila in a bantamweight tournament quarterfinal. Vila, a Cuban judo black belt, delivered a stunning first-round knockout at 1:04 with a left hook that dropped Warren, ending the former champion's undefeated streak in Bellator and advancing Vila to the semifinals.[132][120] In the co-main event, Eduardo Dantas secured a semifinal spot by knocking out Wilson Reis with a flying knee at 1:02 of the second round, highlighting Dantas's striking prowess in another tournament quarterfinal.[132] The remaining bantamweight quarterfinals saw Marcos Galvão edge out Chase Beebe via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds of grappling exchanges, with Galvão's control time proving decisive in advancing him,[132] and Ed West defeating Luis Alberto Nogueira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), advancing West to the semifinals.[132] Non-tournament prelims included quick finishes, such as Dan Spohn's 9-second knee knockout of Dane Bonnigson and Joey Holt's flying knee stoppage of Clint Musser at 4:07 of the first round.[132] Women's flyweight action featured Jessica Eye defeating Casey Noland by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), noted for its competitive stand-up striking.[132] A notable undercard fight saw Frank Caraballo claim the interim NAAFS featherweight championship with a first-round TKO over Dustin Kempf due to a knee injury at 1:19, adding regional title implications to the Bellator platform.[132] Other results included Jessie Riggleman's split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) against Farkhad Sharipov and John Hawk's second-round TKO (retirement) of Allan Weickert.[132] The event underscored Bellator's emphasis on tournament progression, with four bantamweight winners—Vila, Dantas, Galvão, and West—advancing amid a card dominated by knockouts and close decisions.[120]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method/Round/Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis Vila vs. Joe Warren | Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Vila def. Warren | KO (Punch) / R1 / 1:04 | Advances Vila to semifinals |
| Eduardo Dantas vs. Wilson Reis | Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Dantas def. Reis | KO (Flying Knee) / R2 / 1:02 | Advances Dantas to semifinals |
| Marcos Galvão vs. Chase Beebe | Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal | Galvão def. Beebe | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) / R3 / 5:00 | Advances Galvão to semifinals |
| Ed West vs. Luis Alberto Nogueira | Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal | West def. Nogueira | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) / R3 / 5:00 | Advances West to semifinals |
| Jessica Eye vs. Casey Noland | Flyweight | Eye def. Noland | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) / R3 / 5:00 | - |
| Jessie Riggleman vs. Farkhad Sharipov | Lightweight | Riggleman def. Sharipov | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) / R3 / 5:00 | - |
| Dan Spohn vs. Dane Bonnigson | Light Heavyweight | Spohn def. Bonnigson | KO (Knee) / R1 / 0:09 | - |
| John Hawk vs. Allan Weickert | Middleweight | Hawk def. Weickert | TKO (Retirement) / R2 / 5:00 | - |
| Joey Holt vs. Clint Musser | Welterweight | Holt def. Musser | KO (Flying Knee) / R1 / 4:07 | - |
| Frank Caraballo vs. Dustin Kempf | Featherweight | Caraballo def. Kempf | TKO (Knee Injury) / R1 / 1:19 | For Interim NAAFS Featherweight Title |
Bellator 52
Bellator 52 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on October 1, 2011, at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[133] The event marked the quarterfinal round of the Season 5 Heavyweight Grand Prix, a single-elimination tournament designed to determine a challenger for heavyweight champion Cole Konrad.[134] Broadcast on MTV2, it drew 269,000 viewers, contributing to the promotion's growing visibility during its fifth season.[135] The main card consisted of four heavyweight tournament bouts, all scheduled for three five-minute rounds. In the night's featured matchup, American wrestler Mike Hayes edged out British fighter Neil Grove by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), advancing with effective takedowns and ground control despite Grove's early striking pressure.[136] Bulgarian judo black belt Blagoy Ivanov submitted Zak Jensen via guillotine choke at 2:35 of the second round, showcasing his grappling dominance after weathering initial exchanges.[136] Eric Prindle outpointed Abe Wagner by unanimous decision (29-28 across all cards), relying on superior cardio and clinch work to secure the win in a competitive striking affair.[136] The co-main event saw undefeated Ron Sparks knock out Mark Holata with punches at 1:24 of the first round, delivering a highlight-reel finish that propelled the Michigan native forward.[136] The preliminary card featured four non-tournament fights streamed on Spike.com. Matt Van Buren stopped Nick Nichols via TKO (punches) at 2:29 of the second round, capitalizing on ground-and-pound after a grappling-heavy opening.[136] Justin Frazier defeated Liron Wilson by TKO (punches) at 1:50 of the first, overwhelming his opponent with heavy strikes.[136] Josh Quayhagen took a unanimous decision (30-27 x3) over Brazilian kickboxing champion Cosmo Alexandre, using wrestling to neutralize striking threats.[136] In featherweight action, Genair da Silva submitted Bryan Goldsby with a brabo choke at 3:51 of the first round, transitioning seamlessly from scrambles.[136] The tournament victors—Hayes, Ivanov, Prindle, and Sparks—advanced to the semifinals, setting up high-stakes heavyweight clashes later in the season.[101] No injuries or controversies marred the card, which highlighted Bellator's emphasis on international talent in the heavyweight division.Bellator 53
Bellator 53 took place on October 8, 2011, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, marking the fourth event of Bellator MMA's Season 5 and featuring the semifinals of the promotion's welterweight tournament.[137][138] The event was broadcast on MTV2 for the main card, with preliminary bouts streaming on Spike.com, and it drew an average viewership of 103,000, the lowest for the season to that point.[137] The main event pitted welterweight tournament participants Ben Saunders against Luis Santos, with Saunders securing a submission victory via keylock in the third round at 1:45, advancing to the final.[137][138] In the welterweight tournament co-main event, Douglas Lima defeated Chris Lozano by TKO (punches) in the second round at 3:14, also moving on to the final.[137][138] The main card also included a lightweight bout where Ronnie Mann submitted Kenny Foster with a triangle choke in the first round at 3:51, and a heavyweight matchup ending with Thiago Santos submitting Josh Burns via rear-naked choke in the first round at 2:23.[137][138] The preliminary card featured six fights across various weight classes, highlighted by David Rickels' submission win over Levi Avera via triangle choke in the second round at 1:06, which marked an early appearance for the fighter later known as "The Caveman."[137] Other notable prelim results included EJ Brooks defeating Greg Scott by TKO (punches) in the second round at 2:40 and Raphael Davis knocking out Myron Dennis in the second round at 0:29.[137] The full fight card and results are summarized below:| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event: Ben Saunders vs. Luis Santos | Welterweight Tournament Semifinal | Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos | Submission (Keylock) | 3 | 1:45 |
| Co-Main: Douglas Lima vs. Chris Lozano | Welterweight Tournament Semifinal | Douglas Lima def. Chris Lozano | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 3:14 |
| Ronnie Mann vs. Kenny Foster | Lightweight | Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 3:51 |
| Thiago Santos vs. Josh Burns | Heavyweight | Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:23 |
| EJ Brooks vs. Greg Scott | Welterweight | EJ Brooks def. Greg Scott | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 2:40 |
| Giva Santana vs. Darryl Cobb | Lightweight | Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:00 |
| AJ Matthews vs. Rudy Bears | Middleweight | AJ Matthews def. Rudy Bears | Unanimous Decision (3 rounds) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Raphael Davis vs. Myron Dennis | Welterweight | Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis | KO (Punch) | 2 | 0:29 |
| David Rickels vs. Levi Avera | Lightweight | David Rickels def. Levi Avera | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 2 | 1:06 |
| Luis Nogueira vs. Zak Laird | Featherweight | Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 0:51 |
Bellator 54
Bellator 54 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on October 15, 2011, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[139] The event marked the semifinals of the promotion's Season 5 Middleweight Tournament, featuring high-stakes bouts to determine the finalists for the $100,000 grand prize.[140] Broadcast on MTV2, it drew 185,000 viewers, representing an 80 percent increase from the previous week's event.[141] The main event pitted defending Season 4 Middleweight Tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko against Brian Rogers in a striking-heavy semifinal clash. Shlemenko, known for his aggressive style, overcame an early takedown attempt by Rogers and secured a technical knockout victory via knees to the body at 2:30 of the second round, advancing to the tournament final.[142] In the evening's co-main event, Vitor Vianna faced Bryan Baker, delivering a quick finish with a barrage of punches that forced a referee stoppage just 54 seconds into the first round, earning Vianna a spot in the final against Shlemenko.[143] Non-tournament bouts rounded out the card, including a bantamweight matchup where Zach Makovsky submitted Ryan Roberts via north-south choke at 4:48 of the first round, showcasing Makovsky's grappling prowess.[139] Other preliminary fights featured decisions and submissions, with standouts like Tim Carpenter's first-round knockout of Ryan Contaldi via punch. The event proceeded without major controversies, though an undercard altercation involving lightweight Eduardo Dantas was noted but did not impact the main proceedings.[144] The full fight results are summarized below:| Bout | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight Semifinal: Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers | Shlemenko def. Rogers | TKO (knees to the body) | 2 | 2:30 |
| Middleweight Semifinal: Vitor Vianna vs. Bryan Baker | Vianna def. Baker | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:54 |
| Bantamweight: Zach Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts | Makovsky def. Roberts | Submission (north-south choke) | 1 | 4:48 |
| Lightweight: Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare | Kirwan def. Nazare | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Middleweight: Duane Bastress vs. Daniel Gracie | Bastress def. Gracie | TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) | 2 | 5:00 |
| Light Heavyweight: Tim Carpenter vs. Ryan Contaldi | Carpenter def. Contaldi | KO (punch) | 1 | 2:16 |
| Catchweight (187 lbs): Joey Kirwan vs. Lewis Rumsey | Kirwan def. Rumsey | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 1:40 |
| Catchweight (140 lbs): Claudio Ledesma vs. Brian Kelleher | Kelleher def. Ledesma | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Women's Featherweight: Andria Wawro vs. Adrienne Seiber | Wawro def. Seiber | Unanimous decision (30-27 x3) | 3 | 5:00 |
Bellator 55
Bellator 55 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on October 22, 2011, at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona.[145] As the seventh event of Bellator's Season 5, it primarily featured the semifinals of the organization's bantamweight tournament, determining the finalists who would compete for a shot at the bantamweight title held by Zach Makovsky.[146] The event was broadcast live on MTV2, drawing an average viewership of 168,000, with an additional 45,000 viewers for the immediate replay.[147] The bantamweight tournament semifinals headlined the card. In the first bout, Cuban fighter Alexis Vila edged out Brazilian Marcos Galvão via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds of competitive grappling and striking exchanges, advancing to the final.[145] In the co-main event semifinal, Brazilian Eduardo Dantas similarly defeated American Ed West by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), showcasing superior wrestling control to secure his spot in the tournament final against Vila.[148] These outcomes set up a high-stakes bantamweight final in the subsequent event, highlighting the tournament's emphasis on international talent. The main event was a non-tournament lightweight bout between Efrain Escudero and Cesar Avila, where Escudero quickly submitted Avila via guillotine choke at 1:55 of the first round, marking a dominant performance by the former Ultimate Fighting Championship contestant.[145] Another featured fight saw Travis Wiuff defeat light heavyweight Christian M'Pumbu by unanimous decision (30-27 x3), positioning Wiuff as a contender in the division ahead of potential title opportunities.[147] The full results of the event, including preliminary bouts, are summarized below:| Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | Efrain Escudero | Cesar Avila | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 1:55 |
| Bantamweight | Alexis Vila | Marcos Galvão | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Bantamweight | Eduardo Dantas | Ed West | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Light Heavyweight | Travis Wiuff | Christian M'Pumbu | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Ricardo Tirloni | Steve Gable | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 3:54 |
| Heavyweight | Richard Hale | Carlos Flores | KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:18 |
| Middleweight | Kobe Ortiz | Edgar Garcia | KO (Punch) | 1 | 4:06 |
| Lightweight | Erin Beach | Roscoe Jackson | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 3:52 |
| Featherweight | Jade Porter | Nick Piedmont | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Middleweight | Steve Steinbeiss | Dano Marcus Moore | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:52 |
Bellator 56
Bellator 56 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on October 29, 2011, at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.[149] As the eighth event of Bellator's fifth season, it featured the promotion's welterweight championship main event alongside the semifinals of the Season 5 heavyweight tournament, which determined the finalists for the $100,000 grand prize and title shot.[150] The event aired live on MTV2 in the United States, with preliminary bouts streamed on Spike.com, drawing 154,000 viewers for the main card broadcast.[149] In the main event, welterweight champion Ben Askren defended his title against Jay Hieron in a closely contested five-round bout. Askren, known for his dominant wrestling, controlled much of the fight on the ground but faced resistance from Hieron's striking and grappling counters. The match went the full distance, with judges scoring it 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47, awarding Askren a split decision victory to retain the belt. Askren later expressed frustration with his performance, citing Hieron's toughness as a factor in the razor-thin margin.[150] This defense marked Askren's second title retention in the division, solidifying his reign during Season 5.[151] The co-main event pitted heavyweight tournament semifinalists Thiago Santos against Neil Grove. Santos, a Brazilian striker with submission skills, overwhelmed Grove early, securing a rear-naked choke at 0:38 of the first round to advance to the final. In the other semifinal, Eric Prindle faced Ron Sparks in a high-stakes clash. Prindle, leveraging his power punching, dropped Sparks with strikes just 0:40 into the opening round, earning a knockout victory and booking a showdown with Santos in the tournament final at Bellator 59. These rapid finishes highlighted the heavyweight bracket's volatility, with both winners improving to 2-0 in the tournament.[150] The undercard included several preliminary bouts, notably a light heavyweight bout where Kelvin Tiller earned a split decision win over Dan Spohn. Other matches featured prospects across various divisions, contributing to the event's depth in talent development.[152]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron | Welterweight Championship | Ben Askren def. Jay Hieron | Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) | 5 / 5:00 |
| Thiago Santos vs. Neil Grove | Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal | Thiago Santos def. Neil Grove | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 / 0:38 |
| Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks | Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal | Eric Prindle def. Ron Sparks | KO (punch) | 1 / 0:40 |
| Jeremy Spoon vs. Adam Schindler | Catchweight (145 lbs) | Jeremy Spoon def. Adam Schindler | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Marcio Navarro vs. Rudy Bears | Middleweight | Marcio Navarro def. Rudy Bears | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Kelvin Tiller vs. Dan Spohn | Light Heavyweight | Kelvin Tiller def. Dan Spohn | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Emanuel "E.J." Brooks vs. Willian de Souza | Welterweight | E.J. Brooks def. Willian de Souza | Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Jacob Aiken vs. Jeimeson Saudino | Lightweight | Jacob Aiken def. Jeimeson Saudino | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 / 3:26 |
| Aaron Ely vs. Owen Evinger | Bantamweight | Aaron Ely def. Owen Evinger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 / 3:45 |
| Daniel Gallemore vs. Derrick Ruffin | Heavyweight | Daniel Gallemore def. Derrick Ruffin | TKO (retirement) | 2 / 5:00 |
Bellator 57
Bellator 57 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator MMA on November 12, 2011, at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.[153] It marked the conclusion of the Season 5 welterweight and middleweight tournaments, with winners earning $100,000 prizes and title shots against the respective champions.[154] The main card broadcast on MTV2 averaged 129,000 viewers, continuing a downward trend from prior weeks.[155] In the main event welterweight tournament final, Douglas Lima defeated Ben Saunders via knockout (punches) at 1:21 of the second round.[153] Lima, entering with a 20-4 record, utilized sharp boxing to drop Saunders with a right cross before finishing with ground strikes, securing his spot against undefeated champion Ben Askren.[154] Saunders, a former The Ultimate Fighter contestant with an 11-4-2 record, had advanced through the bracket with submissions but could not withstand Lima's power.[153] The co-main event featured the middleweight tournament final, where Alexander Shlemenko outpointed Vitor Vianna by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).[153] Shlemenko, a Russian striker with a 42-7 record and prior Season 2 tournament winner, controlled the fight with superior wrestling and striking volume, earning a rematch opportunity against champion Hector Lombard.[154] Vianna, undefeated at 12-1-1 entering the bout, showed resilience but was unable to mount significant offense.[153] Other main card bouts included Canadian light heavyweight Roger Hollett edging John Hawk by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a competitive matchup.[153] Featherweight Alexandre Bezerra submitted Douglas Evans via heel hook at 4:04 of the first round, showcasing his grappling prowess.[153] Lightweight Chris Horodecki and Mike Corey fought to a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28).[153] The preliminary card featured several finishes, highlighting emerging talent. Light heavyweight Matt Van Buren submitted Shawn Levesque with a rear-naked choke at 4:38 of the first round.[153] Lightweight Dave Jansen tapped Ashkan Morvari via rear-naked choke in the second round at 2:47.[153] Featherweight Denis Purić won by TKO (injury) against Chuck Mady at the end of the second round.[153] Additional prelims included Josh Shockley submitting Eric Moon with a guillotine choke at 0:35 of the first round and Taylor Solomon knocking out Mike Sledzion at 1:10 of the first.[153]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Lima vs. Ben Saunders | Welterweight Tournament Final | Lima def. Saunders | KO (Punches) | 2 | 1:21 |
| Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna | Middleweight Tournament Final | Shlemenko def. Vianna | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Roger Hollett vs. John Hawk | Light Heavyweight | Hollett def. Hawk | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Alexandre Bezerra vs. Douglas Evans | Featherweight | Bezerra def. Evans | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 4:04 |
| Chris Horodecki vs. Mike Corey | Lightweight | Draw | Majority Draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Matt Van Buren vs. Shawn Levesque | Light Heavyweight | Van Buren def. Levesque | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:38 |
| Dave Jansen vs. Ashkan Morvari | Lightweight | Jansen def. Morvari | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 2:47 |
| Denis Purić vs. Chuck Mady | Featherweight | Purić def. Mady | TKO (Injury) | 2 | 5:00 |
| Josh Shockley vs. Eric Moon | Lightweight | Shockley def. Moon | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 0:35 |
| Taylor Solomon vs. Mike Sledzion | Lightweight | Solomon def. Sledzion | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:10 |
Bellator 58
Bellator 58 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator MMA on November 19, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.[156][157] The event marked the tenth and final weekly card of Bellator's Season 5 tournament format, broadcast on MTV2 for the main card and Spike.com for prelims, drawing an average viewership of 269,000.[157] It featured nine bouts across multiple weight classes, including the promotion's lightweight title fight and non-tournament matchups, with a focus on emerging talent and title implications.[158] The main event pitted defending Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez against undefeated challenger Michael Chandler, who had won the Season 4 lightweight tournament by defeating Patricky Freire at Bellator 44.[158][157] Alvarez, a former EliteXC lightweight champion with a 22-2 record entering the fight, aimed to solidify his reign, while Chandler (8-0) sought to claim the belt in his promotional debut title shot.[159][160] The bout, refereed by Troy Waugh, unfolded as a high-intensity war, with both fighters exchanging heavy strikes and takedowns over four rounds. Chandler absorbed significant punishment but capitalized in the fourth round, dropping Alvarez with punches before securing a rear-naked choke submission at 3:06, becoming the new champion in what was widely regarded as one of 2011's most thrilling fights.[158][157] Co-main event featured undefeated middleweight Hector Lombard (28-3-1) against Trevor Prangley (21-6-1) in a non-title catchweight bout at 195 pounds, highlighting Lombard's knockout power.[156] Lombard dominated with superior wrestling and striking, finishing Prangley via TKO (punches) at 1:06 of the second round, extending his win streak to 25 and reinforcing his status as a top contender.[158][157] Other notable preliminary bouts included featherweight tournament semifinalist Marlon Sandro submitting Rafael Dias via arm-triangle choke in the first round at 3:56, advancing toward the Season 5 featherweight crown, and strawweight prospect Jessica Aguilar earning a unanimous decision victory over Lisa Ellis (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).[158][157] The full results are summarized below:| Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight (Title) | Michael Chandler | Eddie Alvarez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 4 | 3:06 |
| Catchweight (195 lbs) | Hector Lombard | Trevor Prangley | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:06 |
| Strawweight | Jessica Aguilar | Lisa Ellis | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Featherweight | Marlon Sandro | Rafael Dias | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 1 | 3:56 |
| Middleweight | Brett Cooper | Jared Hess | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Welterweight | Valdir Araujo | Ailton Barbosa | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Catchweight | Cosmo Alexandre | Avery McPhatter | KO (knees) | 1 | 0:20 |
| Middleweight | Jonas Billstein | Herbert Goodman | DQ (illegal kick) | 2 | 3:21 |
| Bantamweight | Fabio Mello | Farkhad Sharipov | Unanimous decision (30-27 x3) | 3 | 5:00 |
Bellator 59
Bellator 59 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Bellator Fighting Championships that took place on November 26, 2011, at the Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[161] The event aired live in prime time on MTV2 and featured the finals of the organization's Season 5 bantamweight and heavyweight tournaments, along with a lightweight tournament semifinal.[162] It drew 265,000 viewers on MTV2, marking a solid audience for the promotion's tournament finale.[163] The main event was the heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos, which ended in a no contest at 1:24 of the first round after Santos landed an accidental low blow to Prindle's groin, halting the fight.[161] Prindle, who had advanced with a first-round knockout of Mike Hayes in the semifinals, was unable to continue, leaving the tournament unresolved at the time; the bout was later ruled a no contest by the promotion.[164] In the co-main event bantamweight tournament final, Eduardo Dantas defeated Alexis Vila via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds, capturing the Season 5 bantamweight tournament championship.[161] Dantas, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, controlled the fight with superior grappling and striking volume, solidifying his status as a top prospect in the division.[122] Vila, who had earned his spot with a knockout of Ed West in the semifinals, pressed forward aggressively but could not overcome Dantas's technical edge.[165] A lightweight tournament semifinal saw Marcin Held edge out Phillipe Nover by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), advancing to the final with his relentless wrestling and ground control despite Nover's submission attempts.[161] In another lightweight bout, Patricky "Pitbull" Freire secured a stunning first-round knockout victory over Kurt Pellegrino at just 0:50 with a series of unanswered punches, showcasing his explosive striking power.[164] The undercard included welterweight action where Levon Maynard outpointed Chris Wing via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) through dominant wrestling, while Karl Amoussou stopped Jesus Martinez with punches at 2:20 of the first round in a catchweight bout.[161] Additional prelims featured Gregory Milliard defeating Brandon Saling by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a middleweight clash, Scott Heckman submitting Brylan Van Artsdalen with a guillotine choke at 1:38 of the first in featherweight, and Lucas Pimenta knocking out Doug Gordon with elbows at 0:40 in a catchweight fight.[166]| Bout | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round/Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event | Heavyweight Tournament Final | No Contest (Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos) | Accidental Groin Kick | 1 / 1:24 | Tournament unresolved |
| Co-Main Event | Bantamweight Tournament Final | Eduardo Dantas def. Alexis Vila | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 | Dantas wins Season 5 title |
| Lightweight Tournament Semifinal | Lightweight | Marcin Held def. Phillipe Nover | Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 | Held advances |
| Lightweight | Lightweight | Patricky Freire def. Kurt Pellegrino | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 0:50 | - |
| Catchweight (175 lbs) | Catchweight | Karl Amoussou def. Jesus Martinez | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 2:20 | - |
| Welterweight | Welterweight | Levon Maynard def. Chris Wing | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 / 5:00 | - |
| Catchweight (175 lbs) | Catchweight | Lucas Pimenta def. Doug Gordon | KO (Elbows) | 1 / 0:40 | - |
| Featherweight | Featherweight | Scott Heckman def. Brylan Van Artsdalen | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 / 1:38 | - |
| Middleweight | Middleweight | Gregory Milliard def. Brandon Saling | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 / 5:00 | - |
Title Fights and Champions
Light Heavyweight Inaugural Championship
The inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship was determined through an eight-man single-elimination tournament during Season 4 of the promotion, marking the first time the 205-pound division was featured in Bellator's tournament format. Announced in December 2010, the tournament offered the winner $100,000 and the title belt, with quarterfinal bouts held at Bellator 38 on March 26, 2011, in Tunica, Mississippi. Semifinals took place at Bellator 42 on April 23, 2011, in Concho, Oklahoma, and the final occurred at Bellator 45 on May 21, 2011, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[167][72][168] The quarterfinals showcased a mix of submissions, knockouts, and decisions, advancing four fighters to the semifinals. In one bout, Richard Hale submitted Nik Fekete via inverted triangle choke at 1:55 of the first round, demonstrating his grappling prowess. Tim Carpenter edged out Daniel Gracie by split decision after a competitive three-round affair. Christian M'Pumbu secured a TKO victory over Chris Davis with punches at 3:34 of the third round, while D.J. Linderman stopped Raphael Davis via TKO (punches) at 3:40 of the third round.[167]| Quarterfinal Matchup | Result | Method/Round/Time |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete | Hale wins | Submission (inverted triangle choke)/R1/1:55 |
| Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie | Carpenter wins | Split decision (3 rounds) |
| Christian M'Pumbu vs. Chris Davis | M'Pumbu wins | TKO (punches)/R3/3:34 |
| D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis | Linderman wins | TKO (punches)/R3/3:40 |
Welterweight Tournament and Title Defense
The Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, held throughout early 2011, determined the challenger for the promotion's welterweight title held by Ben Askren. Featuring an eight-man single-elimination bracket, the tournament showcased a mix of established veterans and rising prospects competing for a $100,000 prize and a title opportunity. The quarterfinal round took place at Bellator 35 on March 5, 2011, at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.[43] In the quarterfinals, former champion Lyman Good defeated Chris Lozano by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), relying on his striking and grappling to control the fight over three rounds. Jay Hieron submitted Anthony Lapsley via rear-naked choke at 3:39 of the first round in a bout marked by controversy over the stoppage, as Lapsley protested the verbal tap. Rick Hawn outpointed Jim Wallhead by unanimous decision (30-27 across all cards), using effective judo throws and ground control to secure the win. Brent Weedman edged Dan Hornbuckle by unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards), grinding out a victory through wrestling dominance despite Hornbuckle's submission attempts.[43] The semifinals were split across two events. At Bellator 39 on April 2, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Rick Hawn advanced by defeating Lyman Good via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27), in a closely contested match where Hawn's takedowns narrowly outweighed Good's striking output. On April 9, 2011, at Bellator 40 in Hinckley, Minnesota, Jay Hieron defeated Brent Weedman by unanimous decision (29-28 across all cards), utilizing superior boxing and takedown defense to outlast Weedman's pressure.[59] The tournament final headlined Bellator 43 on May 7, 2011, at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma, where Jay Hieron captured the tournament crown by defeating Rick Hawn via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Hieron's crisp striking and resilience against Hawn's wrestling clinched the victory in another razor-close affair, earning him the right to challenge Askren later in the year. As tournament winner, Hieron faced Askren for the title at Bellator 56 on October 29, 2011, but lost by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), allowing Askren to retain the championship.| Round | Fight | Result | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Lyman Good vs. Chris Lozano | Good def. Lozano (UD: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | Bellator 35 | March 5, 2011 |
| Quarterfinal | Jay Hieron vs. Anthony Lapsley | Hieron def. Lapsley (Submission: RNC, R1 3:39) | Bellator 35 | March 5, 2011 |
| Quarterfinal | Rick Hawn vs. Jim Wallhead | Hawn def. Wallhead (UD: 30-27 x3) | Bellator 35 | March 5, 2011 |
| Quarterfinal | Brent Weedman vs. Dan Hornbuckle | Weedman def. Hornbuckle (UD: 29-28 x3) | Bellator 35 | March 5, 2011 |
| Semifinal | Rick Hawn vs. Lyman Good | Hawn def. Good (SD: 29-28, 28-29, 30-27) | Bellator 39 | April 2, 2011 |
| Semifinal | Jay Hieron vs. Brent Weedman | Hieron def. Weedman (UD: 29-28 x3) | Bellator 40 | April 9, 2011 |
| Final | Jay Hieron vs. Rick Hawn | Hieron def. Hawn (SD: 29-28, 28-29, 29-28) | Bellator 43 | May 7, 2011 |