Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima more than proved tonight. there worth in what is quite arguably Bellator’s toughest tournament as they both advanced to the the finals of the Bellator Welterweight Finals.
Saunders (12-3-2 MMA, 3-0 BFC) defeated Luis Santos via submission (keylock) at 1:35 of Round 3 and Lima (20-4 MMA, 2-0 BFC) defeated Chris Lozano via KO at 3:14 of Round 2.
Saunders rotated between triangle-choke and omaplata attempts while shutting down most of Santos’ offense while dominating the first two rounds. Saunders then escaped some trouble to begin the third but was able to stave off Santos and punch his ticket into the finals.
Lima survived an early onslaught in the fight, but was able to control the rest of the round with his jab and was able to bloddy Lozano by the end of the first.
Lima was able to continue what he was doing from the first in the second and hit Lozano with a vicious right that floored Lozano and put a halt to the fight.
The finals between Lima and Saunders has not been determined as of right now.
Ronnie Mann (21-4-1 MMA, 3-1 BFC) secured his spot into the 2012 season-six featherweight tournament with a first-round submission victory over Kenny Foster in a tourney-qualifier bout.
Foster scored takedowns early in the fight, but Mann sought out a triangle choke. On the second attempt, he got it, and Foster tapped out at the 3:52 in the first round.
In the night’s first televised fight, Thiago Santos (9-1 MMA, 1-0 BFC) likely fought his way back into this season’s heavyweight tournament with a first round submission victory over Josh Burns.
Santos was slated for the initial field of eight, but he missed the opening round of the tournament due to visa issues. But with semifinalist Mike Hayes appealing a 60-day medical suspensions due to a broken orbital bone he suffered in his opening-round win, Bellator officials booked the tourney-reserve fight.
