In Episode 9, the two remaining quarter-final fights took place, with Team Lesnar taking both bouts.

In a rematch from the first round, Chuck O’Neil defeated Zachary Davis with a 20-18 unanimous decision. Davis suffered torn retinas in both eyes, requiring emergency surgery and effectively ending his fighting career.

In the last quarter-final, Anthony Ferguson defeated Ryan McGillivray with a TKO in the first round.

The current win tally is 5 Team Dos Santos, 7 Team Lesnar. Ramsey Nijem is the only remaining contestant from Team Dos Santos.

The semi-final matchups will take place in the next week’s episode (all rankings approximated as-of the show’s taping):

[#113] Anthony Ferguson vs [#289] Chuck O’Neil

[#247 LW] Ramsey Nijem vs [#441] Chris Cope

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Ultra X Combat – International Grand Prix
May 20, 2011
Exhibition Park,
Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Gregor Gracie (5 – 1 – 0) defeated Tiago Tosato (9 – 11 – 0) by submission in round 1.  Gracie, who is on a 3 fight win streak (all by 1st round submission), flies 77 spots up the ranks from [#435] to [#358].  Tosato, who is 2-6 in his last 8, remains unranked.

Middleweight (185 lbs)

Norman Paraisy (9 – 1 – 1) defeated Paulo Filho (22 – 4 – 1) by unanimous decision.  Paraisy, who is 4-0-1 in his last 5,  moves from [#167WW] into the middleweight “Top 350” at [#51].  Filho, who is 2-3 in his last 5,  moves from [#42LHW] into the middleweight “Top 350” at [#59].
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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].
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Rock and Brawl
May 14, 2011
Kouvola Hockey Arena,
Kouvola, Kymenlaakso, Finland

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Attila Vegh (22 – 4 – 2) defeated Marcus Vanttinen (20 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Vegh, who is on a 2 fight win streak (3-1-1 in his last 5) jumps 15 spots up from [#53] to [#38].  Vanttinen, who was on an 11 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 17 spots from [#47] to [#64].

(To Be Updated)

Lightweight (155 lbs)

[#112] Juha Pekka Vainikainen (17 – 5 – 0) defeated [#209FW] Josh Pulsifer (14 – 6 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Vainikainen is on a career best 6 fight win streak (5 by stoppage).  Pulsifer is on a 2 fight losing streak, preceded by a 4 fight win streak (3 by submission via Brabo choke).
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In Episode 8, the first two quarter-final fights took place, with Team Lesnar and Team Dos Santos splitting the wins.  Team Lesnar’s Chris Cope defeated Shamar Bailey with a 20-18 unanimous decision, while Team Dos Santos’ Ramsey Nijem forced a tapout from Clay Harvison with a rear naked choke in the first round.

Next week the remaining two quarter-final fights will take place, and semi-final matchups will be announced.

The current win tally is 5 Team Dos Santos, 5 Team Lesnar.

Here’s who remains:
(all rankings are approximated as-of the show’s taping, and not necessarily reflecting the fighters’ current rankings)

[#113] Anthony Ferguson
episode 6: moved on to quarter-finals with a first round TKO (upkick) win over Justin Edwards

[#182] Justin Edwards
episode 3: alternate taking place of Keon Caldwell
episode 6: lost to Anthony Ferguson by TKO (upkick)

[#179] Myles Jury
episode 1: forced to withdraw due to an injury

[#200] Ryan McGillivray
episode 3: moved on to quarter-finals with a majority decision win (20-18, 20-18, 19-19) over Len Bentley

[#247 LW] Ramsey Nijem
episode 4: moved on to quarter-finals with a second round submission (rear naked choke) win over Charlie Rader
episode 8: moved on to semi-finals with a first round submission (rear naked choke) win over Clay Harvison

[#289] Chuck O’Neil
episode 1: alternate taking place of Miles Jury
episode 6: lost to Zachary Davis with a first round submission (triangle choke). Brought back for the wild card fight with Javier Torres
episode 7: moved on to quarter-finals with a second round submission (D’Arce choke) win over Javier Torres in the wild card bout

[#321] Charlie Rader
episode 4: lost to Ramsey Nijem with a second round submission (rear naked choke)

[#364] Shamar Bailey
episode 1: moved on to quarter-finals with a 20-18 unanimous decision win over Nordin Asrih
episode 8: lost a 20-18 unanimous decision to Chris Cope

[#387] Clay Harvison
episode 5: defeated Michael Bowman with a unanimous decision (20-18)
episode 8: lost to Ramsey Nijem with a first round submission (rear naked choke)

[#441] Chris Cope
episode 2: moved on to quarter-finals with a 29-28 overtime unanimous decision win over Javier Torres
episode 8: moved on to semi-finals with a 20-18 unanimous decision over Shamar Bailey

[#475] Len Bentley
episode 3: lost a majority decision win (20-18, 20-18, 19-19) to Ryan McGillivray

[NR] Nordin Asrih
episode 1: lost a unanimous decision (20-18) to Shamar Bailey

[NR] Michael Bowman
episode 5: lost a unanimous decision (20-18) to Clay Harvison

[NR] Keon Caldwell
episode 2: withdrew from competition

[NR] Zachary Davis
episode 6: moved on to quarter-finals with a first round submission (triangle choke) win over Chuck O’Neil

[NR] Javier Torres
episode 2: lost an overtime unanimous decision (29-28) to Chris Cope
episode 6: brought back for a wild card fight with Chuck O’Neil
episode 7: lost to Chuck O’Neil with a second round submission (D’Arce choke) in the wild-card bout

Xtreme Fighting Organization 39
May 13, 2011
Sears Centre Arena,
Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Jeff Curran (34 – 13 – 1) defeated Billy Vaughan (9 – 9 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Curran, who is 4-1 in his last 5, moves 5 spots up the ranks from [#67] to [#62].  Vaughan, who is on a 4 fight losing streak, remains unranked.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner (17 – 5 – 1) defeated Tyler Combs (13 – 8 – 1) by technical submission via north-south choke at 1:30 of round 1.  Varner, who is 1-3-1 in his last 5, moves from [#116LW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#109].  Combs, who is on a 2 fight losing streak, moves from [#285LW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#354].
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