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 »
Jan 082012
- Jeet Kune Do practitioner and UFC veteran Ben Saunders (left) is one of eight welterweights competing in Bellator’s Season 6 tournament for a shot at current champ Ben Askren’s belt. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
The 170lbs. division is gearing up for another season-long Bellator tournament set to kick off in March. With a wealth of returning talent, two towering giants, a UFC veteran, and a wrecking machine all set to meet inside the Bellator cage, the fireworks are sure to fly. Eight hungry contenders will enter but only one will earn a title shot.
Returning to the cage after his tournament finale loss to eventual champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (19-4) is “Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-3). A Bruce Lee-inspired approach to fighting has lead the man who owns some of the deadliest knees and elbows in MMA to the finals before, and this time Saunders will make the needed adjustments to rectify the mistake. Saunders has the talent, the range, and the aggression to beat anyone at any time but in Season 6 he will have even more motivation to prove it. Continue reading »
Nov 132011
"The Phenom" Douglas Lima (white trunks) reigned victorious in his main event bout against fellow Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finalist "Killa B" Ben Saunders (black trunks). Lima will now get a crack at 170lbs. champ Ben Askren's belt in a future event. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
A pair of Season 5 Tournament finales crowned another set of tourney champions of their rightful place to fight for Bellator gold in last night’s most recent offering from the Chicago-based mixed martial arts promotion. Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada served as the witness and the battle grounds for former MFC Welterweight Champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (19-4) to take on UFC veteran ”Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-4) in the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament finals match-up that also served as the main event. The 170lbs. marquis affair was preceded by a battle between Season 2 Middleweight Tournament Champion “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (33-4) and multi-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion Vitor Vianna (12-2) in the 185lbs. tournament finals. Light heavyweights John Hawk (6-4) and Roger Hollett (12-3) faced off for a spot in the upcoming light heavyweight tournament that begins next year. Kicking off the main card on MTV2 was Shark Fights and UFC veteran Douglas Evans (12-8) versus Bellator veteran Alexandre Bezerra (12-1) fighting for a spot in the upcoming 145lbs. tournament. Continue reading »
Nov 122011
(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—
Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Finals Fight
Ben Saunders vs. Douglas Lima: Lima via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 1:21
Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Finals Fight
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna: Shlemenko via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight
John Hawk vs. Roger Hollett: Hollett via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Catchweight (146lbs.) Feature Fight
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Doug Evans: Bezerra via Submission (Heel Hook), Round 1, 4:04 Continue reading »
Nov 122011
Alexandre Bezerra (blue gloves) comes into his Bellator 57 match undefeated in the promotion and will likely remain that way. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
Tonight at Bellator 57 it’s back to the Casino Rama in Orilla, Ontario, Canada for not one but two tournament finales that grants one contender a homecoming to his former stomping grounds. Former MFC Welterweight Champion “The Phenom” Douglas Lima (18-4) earned his salt in the MFC promotion making him a fan favorite in the region. Standing across from him is UFC veteran, “Killa B” Ben Saunders (12-3). Both men have fought their ways to the finals and now only the other stands in their way for the big payday and the title shot against champion Ben Askren (9-0). Aside from the 170lbs. tournament finals, the promotion’s stacked and dangerous middleweight division will also prepare for glory. Season 2 Tournament winner and Russian striking machine “The Storm” Alexander Shelmenko (32-4) will meet multi-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion Vitor Vianna (12-1) in the tournament finals with the winner gaining the task of attempting to dethrone the champion “Shango” Hector Lombard (28-2). Supporting the two finales are a pair of bouts that could earn the winners a spot in the upcoming season’s tournaments. NAAFS veteran and owner of one Bellator victory John Hawk (6-3) will meet Extreme Cage Combat and MFC veteran Roger Hollett (11-3) in a light heavyweight affair, and Shark Fights and UFC veteran Douglas Evans (12-7) faces Bellator veteran Alexandre Bezerra (11-1). Bezerra is looking to stay unbeaten in his Bellator career while Evans is looking to get back on the comfortable side of victory road. Continue reading »
Oct 162011
Alexander Shlemenko (blue gloves) bested Brian Rogers (red gloves) in an ultra fast-paced, technical fire fight at Bellator 54 and punched his ticket to the tournament finals. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
The Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament semi-finals went off with a bang in Atlantic City, New Jersey as Bellator 54 anchored ship last night at the Boardwalk Hall. “The Beast” Bryan Baker (13-3) took on Vitor Vianna (12-1) and “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (32-4) slugged it out with “The Predator” Brian Rogers (8-3) for a chance to advance to the finals and a shot at Bellator gold. Bellator Bantamweight Champion “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (14-2) stepped back into the cage for another non-title fight against the powerhouse Ryan Roberts (16-11). The main card featured on MTV2 was started off in the lightweight division with a bout featuring Bellator veteran “The Brazilian Bomber” Rene Nazare (8-1) and the Bellator first-timer “The Hunter” Jacob Kirwan (9-3). 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 172011
(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—
Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Jared Hess vs. Bryan Baker: Baker via TKO (Strikes), Round 3, 2:52
Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Victor O’Donnell vs. Brian Rogers: Rogers via TKO (Kick and Punches), Round 1, 1:56
Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Zelg Galesic vs. Alexander Shlemenko: Shlemenko via Submission (Standing Guillotine Choke), Round 1, 1:55
Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Sam Alvey vs. Vitor Vianna: Vianna via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 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 »
Jul 142011
MMA Gospel’s Matt Homeyer chatted with Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard about where he stands amongst the top 185ers in the world. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
“Shango” Hector Lombard (27-2) is a name that has been on the lips of MMA fans more and more recently and oddly enough it hasn’t been to talk about another one of “Shango’s” highlight reel knockouts, but rather the fact that the Bellator Middleweight Champion called out “The Great” Nate Marquardt (31-10) shortly after Nate’s release from the UFC. Lombard, who is considered by many fans to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, seemed to jump at the fact that Marquardt had been released by the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion and was almost instantly looking to fight against the former UFC middleweight contender. Just days after Lombard called out the former top contender, Matt Homeyer of MMA Gospel talked to the current Bellator champ about what drew him into MMA, the upcoming Bellator Season 5 tournament, and, of course, Nate Marquardt. Continue reading »
May 052011
Vitor Vianna is a six-time Brazilian National submission fighting champion and a two-time world champion whose acquisition will add yet another highly decorated combat athlete to Bellator's deepening ranks. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
Two-time World and six-time National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Vitor Vianna (10-1-1) has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships, according to a press release from the organization. A fast rising contender from Brazil who turned to MMA in 2004, Vianna has finished all but two of his opponents and is now making his debut in the major spotlight. The middleweight owns a second degree black belt and has trained strictly under Rodrigo Medeiros and Daniel Gracie (5-3). Continue reading »