Bellator Fighting Championships 45
May 21, 2011
L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort,
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final/Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Christian M’Pumbu (18 – 3 – 1) defeated Richard Hale (17 – 4 – 1) by TKO via punches at 4:17 of the 3rd round. M’Pumbu blasted Hale with a left hook that sent Hale to the canvas. M’pumbu tried to finish the dazed Hale with a brabo choke, but Hale escaped. Hale started to gain momentum in the second round, controlling the passive M’Pumbu on the feet. This continued until midway into the 3rd round, when M’Pumbu again blasted Hale-this time with a strong right hand. Hale again crashed to the mat, and after a brief pause M’Pumbu followed him with hammerfists. Hale struggled to regain his guard but was unable to, forcing the ref to stop the bout. M’Pumbu, who is on a 3 fight win streak (all by TKO via punches), jumps 16 spots up from [#44] to [#28]. M’Pumbu became the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight champ with this victory. Hale, who had a 4 fight win streak broken by this loss, drops 16 spots from [#34] to [#50].
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Final
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Patricio Freire (17 – 1 – 0) defeated Daniel Straus (16 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision. Freire kept the distance close, not allowing Straus to use his reach and size advantage. Freire pressed Straus up against the fence and peppered him with knees to the body. Freire mocked Straus twice during the fight imploring Straus to come forward, garnering boos from the crowd. Ultimately, Straus was never able to implement his wrestling based game plan. Freire, who is on a 3 fight win streak after rebounding from his lone career loss to current Bellator featherweight champ [#4BW] Joe Warren, jumps 6 spots up from [#12] to [#6]. Freire will now get a rematch against Joe Warren. Straus, who had a tremendous 12 fight win streak broken by this loss, drops 8 spots from [#16] to [#24].
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Sam Alvey (15 – 2 – 0) won a contentious split decision over Karl Amoussou (12 – 5 – 1). The 1st round was all Amoussou, who landed powerful kicks and a slick judo throw. He transitioned to mount and landed elbows that opened Alvey up. These cuts would gush torrents of blood for the remainder of the fight. Amoussou slowed in the 2nd round, and Alvey started to find his stride. However, it was not until the 3rd round that Alvey truly got into the driver’s seat. Alvey took Amoussou down near the end of the 3rd frame and flailed away in guard as the round came to a close. Alvey, who is on a 4 fight win streak (2 by split decision), moves from [#92LHW] to [#92MW]. Alvey qualified for the upcoming Bellator middleweight tournament with this win. Amoussou, who is 2-2-1 in his last 5, holds his rank at [#128].
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Shawn Jordan (10 – 2 – 0) defeated John Hill (3 – 2 – 0) by TKO via punches and elbows at 1:56 of the 1st round. Jordan, who has won 7 of his 10 victories by TKO (2 by submission), enters the heavyweight “Top 250” at [#172]. Hill, who had not fought in over 1 1/2 years, remains unranked.
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Tim Ruberg (6 – 0 – 0) won a unanimous decision over Mike Fleniken (3 – 4 – 0). Ruberg, who has stopped all but his last opponent, jumps 21 spots from [#205] to [#184]. Fleniken, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (1-4 in his last 5), remains unranked.
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Luis Santos (49 – 6 – 0) won a unanimous decision over Nicolae Cury (4 – 2 – 0). Santos, who is on an 8 fight win streak, drops 3 spots from [#66] to [#69]. Cury, who has won 3 of his 4 victories by submission, moves 5 spots up from [#491] to [#486].
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Rene Nazare (9 – 0 – 0) defeated Kelvin Hackney (9 – 2 – 0) by submission due to a rear-naked choke at 4:44 of round 1. Nazare, who has stopped 7 of his 9 opponents in his undefeated career, jumps 19 spots up from [#117] to [#98]. Previously ranked [#376] Hackney, who had a 5 fight win streak snapped by this loss, drops off the rankings.
Catchweight (140 lbs)
Joseph Abercrombie (3 – 1 – 0) defeated Ben Parpart (1 – 2 – 0) by submission via rear-naked choke at 1:11 of round 1. Abercrombie has submitted his opponents in all 3 of his victories. Both Abercrombie and Parpart remain unranked.