There’s no denying it, UFC on Fox was the fight show everyone was watching on Saturday night. In California, Junior Cigano beat Cain Velasquez and became the promotion’s new heavyweight champion. However, Saturday was also a big day for Bellator.
The only major MMA organization not controlled by UFC parent company Zuffa saw the medium heavyweight GP final come to a conclusion, with Brazil’s Douglas Lima stalking Ben Saunders and finishing with a second-round knockout, winning the title and reaching the landmark of nine-straight wins, with six coming by way of knockout or submission.
Also for a GP title, but in the middleweight division, Russia’s Alexander Shlemenko overcame Vitor Vianna. After three rounds, Shlemenko was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
Alexandre Popó kept up his good run and won his seventh fight in a row by submitting Douglas Evans with a first-round heelhook.
Check out the complete results:
Bellator 57
Ontario, Canada
November 12, 2011
Main card:
Douglas Lima defeated Ben Saunders via KO in R1;
Alexander Shlemenko defeated Vitor Vianna via unanimous decision;
Roger Hollett defeated John Hawk via split decision;
Alexandre Popó subbed Doug Evans via heelhook in R1.
Under card:
Mike Corey and Chris Horodecki fought to a draw;
Dave Jansen subbed Ashkan Morvari via rear-naked choke in R1;
Denis Puric defeated Chuck Mady via TKO in R2;
Josh Shockley subbed Eric Moon via guillotine in R1;
Taylor Solomon defeated Mike Sledzion via KO in R1;
Matt Van Buren subbed Shawn Levesque via rear-naked choke R1.