Mar 182012
Mar 162012
(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—
Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy: Falcao via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Vitor Vianna vs. Brian Rogers: Rogers via KO (Flying Knee), Round 1, 4:14
Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O’Donnell: Vasilevsky via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos: Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
Jan 252012
- Brian Rogers (blue trunks) will bring his heavy hands to the Bellator cage to face off with fellow Season 6 tournament competitor and Jiu-Jitsu specialist Vitor Vianna. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
After gathering returning contenders and signing new talent, Bellator Fighting Championships has set the match-ups for the first round of the Season 6 Middleweight Tournament. With Bellator king “Shango” Hector Lombard (31-2) scheduled for his second title defense and rematch with “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (34-5) in the late spring or early summer, both he and his challenger have eyes on yet another title contender who will rise from the eight fighters to earn the chance for a shot at the gold around Lombard’s waist. Continue reading »
Sep 182011
Russian kickboxer Alexander Shlemenko (top) advances to the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament semi-finals after submitting Zelg Galesic less than two minutes into the opening round. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills and Sherdog)
Last night the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida saw the return of the middleweights as the Bellator Season 5 185lbs. tournament went underway. The reemergence of previous contenders and several newcomers went to battle for the right to stamp their place in the Final Four. “Smiling” Sam Alvey (14-3) and Wand Fight Team’s Vitor Vianna (11-1) started off the tournament bracket. “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (31-4) took on fellow striker Zelg Galesic (9-6) in a bout that was sure not to make it out of the first round. Bellator newcomers “The Predator” Brian Rogers (8-2) of Team Strong Style and fellow Ohioan Victor O’Donnell (12-2) looked to impress in their debuts and raise their stock as high profile middleweights. The main event saw “The Beast” Bryan Baker (13-2) take on Jared Hess (12-3) in a lock out battle to determine who would move on. Here is a quick look at how the night went down. Continue reading »
Sep 162011
Long reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard will watch closely as eight top level fighters enter the Season 5 tournament for a crack at his gold. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Tomorrow night the famed Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino hosts yet another Bellator event: the Bellator 50 and the Season 5 Middleweight Tournament quarter-finals. ”Shango” Hector Lombard (28-2), with the championship belt hoisted across his shoulder, reigns at 185lbs. and only one man will earn the chance to challenge for his gold strap. Stacked with Bellator veterans, a former title challenger, and new faces from around the globe, the tournament seems geared to ensure that man is the toughest test yet of Hector’s reign. “The Beast” Bryan Baker (12-2), a giant and powerful middleweight, has overcome many hardships to unleash “The Beast” inside the cage. Standing across from him is the hard nosed and gritty Jared Hess (12-2), the man who was the runner-up in the first season but was cut down short in the second season due to a freak knee injury. Russian striker “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (30-4) will bring his flashy spinning back fists and kicks into the cage to welcome Croatian kickboxer and DREAM and Cage Rage veteran Zelg Galesic (9-5), a man who has never been out of the first round in his entire career. Perhaps one of the most decorated Jiu-Jitsu champions in the world, Vitor Vianna (10-1), will bring his high level grappling with him as he makes his Bellator debut against “Smiling” Sam Alvey (14-2). Starting off the tournament are two newcomers in Strikeforce veteran Brian Rogers (7-2) and Victor O’Donnell (12-1). Both men love to strike and have secured most of their pro wins by TKO. Only four men can move on to the semi-finals but with such talent that is involved in this tournament, anything goes.
Jul 302011
Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (black shorts) has dominated the Bellator middleweight division with both of his iron fists; now he will watch again as eight men battle for a chance at his belt. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Bellator’s most popular host, The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida, will welcome perhaps the most talented division of all the Bellator ranks. The middleweight tournament is set and eight men will enter the cage to fight their way to the top. Ruled by the aggressive and powerful champion “Shango” Hector Lombard (27-2), the middleweight division has to produce a truly gifted challenger to make it worth his while and Bellator has done just that with eight of the best the world has to offer. With several returning fighters and plenty of new faces looking to take Bellator by storm, Season 5 is perhaps the deepest tournament pool to date. Continue reading »