Bellator Fighting Championships 43
May 7th, 2011
First Council Casino,
Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Jay Hieron (22 – 4 – 1) won an extremely close and contentious split decision over Rick Hawn (11 – 1 – 0). Round 1 belonged to Hieron, who out-struck his Olympic foe for the first 5 minutes. Round 2 started to swing in Hawn’s favor. It was this round that would cause the fight to be such a close call. Hawn stalked the backpedaling Hieron and struck him often throughout the 3rd round. It was not enough to make the judges see the fight in his favor. Hieron, who is on a 10 fight winning streak, holds his ranking at [#10]. He will now face Bellator welterweight champion [#21] Ben Askren for the title. Hawn, who tasted defeat for the first time, moved up 4 spots from [#49] to [#45].
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Bryan Baker (15 – 2 – 0) defeated UFC veteran Joe Riggs (34 – 13 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 3:53 of round 2. Except for a duo of flying knees from Baker, there was little action in the 1st round. Riggs was able to connect with straight punches, but did not have an answer for Baker in the 2nd round. Baker swarmed the dazed Riggs midway through the round and knocked him out against the fence when he dropped his hands. Baker, who on a 2 fight win streak (9-1- in his last 10), moves 7 spots up from [#37 ] to [#30]. Baker will be in the Bellator season 5 middleweight tournament. Riggs, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (both by T/KO from punches), drops 7 spots from [#100] to [#107].
Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Former WEC bantamweight champ Chase Beebe (18 – 7 – 0) defeated Jose Vega (9 – 5 – 0) by submission due to guillotine choke at 4:06 of the 1st round. Beebe, who is on a 4 fight win streak (3 by choke based submissions), repeatedly tried for standing guillotines earlier in the bout with no luck. Once in the clinch, Beebe willed his way towards yet another guillotine attempt, but this time he dragged Vega down to the floor. The guillotine was tight and Vega had to tap. Beebe, who qualified for the Bellator season 5 bantamweight tournament, moves from [#44FW] to [#14]. Vega, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (2-4 in his last 6), drops 11 spots from [#41] to [#52].
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Ron Sparks (7 – 0 – 0) defeated Vince Lucero (19 – 21 – 1) by submission due to a keylock at 2:18 of round 1. Sparks landed chopping lowkicks, knocking Lucero to the floor. Sparks followed and put his weight on Lucero in side mount. He forced the submission midway into the 1st round. Sparks, who has finished 6 of his 7 victories, leaps 39 spots forward from [#205] to [#156]. Lucero, who is on a 6 fight losing streak (1-8-1 in his last 10), remains unranked.
Preliminary Bouts
Middleweight (185 lbs)
David Rickles (8 – 0 – 0) defeated Richard Bouphanouvong (1 – 4 – 0) by submission due to triangle choke at 1:11 of round 2. Rickles, who has won 5 of his 8 fights by submission, moves from [#328WW] and enters the middleweight “Top 350” at [#306]. Bouphanouvong, now on a 4 fight losing streak, remains unranked.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Michael Osborn (4– 3 – 0) defeated Mike Schatz (3 – 4 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 1:58 of round 1. Both fighters remain unranked.