Bellator MMA return to action tonight with an important evening of fights as the middleweight and featherweight finals are determined. For those of you unable to watch the action unfold MMA Sucka will have you covered with round-by-round and blow-by-blow results.
Follow along, contact us on Twitter at @justinfauxmma, @shawn_w_smith or @mmasuckajer and let the chaos ensue.
Bellator Season 8 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Mike Richman vs. Alexandre Bezerra
Round 1
Bezerra gets tagged with a jab coming in before shooting for his first takedown, Richman defending it well. Richman tries to force a guillotine-choke but Bezerra breaks free. The submission ace goes back to the well, looking for the takedown on Richman. Bezerra gets it to the floor with a waist lock and lands some good shots on the mat. Richman is active from his back but Bezerra manages to get mount and transitions to take his back, looking for a rear-naked-choke. Bezerra throws punches to create an opening, attempting the choke again to no avail. Bezerra continues to hit him and look for the choke but Richman is playing good defense on the mat with the submission ace. Bezerra closes the round with light punches as the round expires.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-8 Bezerra
Shawn Smith scores it 10-9 Bezerra
Justin Faux scores it 10-8 Bezerra
Round 2
Richman begins to batter Bezerra with his punches, Bezerra is walking right into them. Bezerra shoots for a takedown but is stuffed easily from Richman. “The Marine” Richman ribs to the body nicely. Bezerra lands a few good shots but the technical prowess of Richman is too much in a standing contest. “Popo” Bezerra has a bloodied nose but tags Richman who counters with a beautiful two-punch combo that snaps his head back. Richman is picking him apart on the feet, Bezerra answering back with a fine shot. Bezerra is the aggressor late, pushing forward and tagging Richman who is patient and answers back.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Richman
Shawn Smith scores it 10-9 Richman
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Richman
Round 3
Richman opens with a left-hand to the ribcage, Bezerra answers with a haymaker. Popo is having success with his leg kick and goes upstairs with punches but is getting hurt with the short, powerful shots from Richman. Popo shoots for a takedown and gets it down, very smart move. Richman battles to get up and Bezerra fights to side control, looking for a kimura before transitioning to take the back. Richman transitions to take top position before standing up and forcing a kickboxing match. With a minute on the clock, Richman digs a body shot, Bezerra tries for a takedown and gets tagged with a hard punch. Richman is unloading in the closing stages of the fight, Bezerra landing back as the fight concludes.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Bezerra (29-27 Bezerra)
Shawn Smith scores it 10-9 Richman (29-28 Richman)
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Richman (28-28 draw)
Official score: Mike Richman def. Alexandre “Popo” Bezerra by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bellator Season 8 Middleweight Tournament Semifinal: Brett Cooper vs. Dan Cramer
Round 1
Cramer lands with a great right-hand that floors Cooper. Cramer goes to the mat with his big bearded adversary who is looking to sweep. Cramer takes guard again, stepping over to half-guard, briefly getting a crucifix position and landing punches. Cramer is in side control before Cooper transitions to take the back after a mistake from Cooper. Cramer is on the back of Cooper but isn’t aggressive, not really landing punishment. Cooper has his hooks in and lands punches before Cooper explodes and gets top position with seconds left on the clock. Cooper unloads with shots, looking to steal the round but it might be too little, too late.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Cramer
Shawn Smith scores it 10-9 Cramer
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Cramer
Round 2
Cooper is the one looking for the takedown this round, pressing the action against the fence as he fishes for a leg. Cramer unloads with a pair of knees before Cooper turns the tables in their battle for position against the cage. Cramer again with a knee before Cooper tries to force it to the floor again. Cooper tries for the takedown a little more before senior referee John McCarthy steps in, forcing a break. Cooper goes back to the well, pushing the fight against the fence and eating knees before Cramer tries a trio of punches before eating one in return. Cooper drops down for the takedown again. Cramer hits with the knee again, opens a cut over the eyelid of Cooper. Cramer stuns him with a charging punch but is tied up by Cooper as the round expires.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Cramer
Shawn Smith scores it 10-9 Cramer
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Cramer
Round 3
Cramer tags Cooper with a nice shot early, narrowly avoiding an uppercut. Cramer, an ATT product charges with punches, only conneting with one. Cramer stuffs a takedown attempt from Cooper who lands with a big right-hand and drags the fight to the mat. In side control, Cooper doesn’t get anything done before Cramer gets it back to the feet. The Kings MMA product again presses Cramer against the fence, tagging Cramer with an uppercut , following up with another shot, Cramer is staggered backwards as Cooper unloads with a pair of punches with Cramer falling forward as he was out, major comeback.
Brett Cooper def. Dan Cooper by KO (strikes) at 3:19 of round 3
Bellator Season 8 Middleweight Tournament Semifinal: Doug Marshall vs. Sultan Aliev
Round 1
Marshall fires a wide leg kick, Aliev shoots for a takedown that is defended by Marshall. The Russian presses him against the cage and gets it down with an inside trip. Aliev connects with a short shot, stacking Marshall who has a high closed guard. Aliev uses his aggression against him, as he explodes takes side control but soon goes back to full guard. Marshall gets up using the cage but Aliev keeps hold of his waist. Marshall gets tripped to the floor again. Aliev connects with some nice right-hands with Marshall pressed against the cage. Herb Dean warns Aliev to work and there’s a late stand-up. Aliev ducks a looping punch and slams Marshall to the floor again as the round expires.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Aliev
Carlin Bardsley scores it 10-9 Aliev
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Aliev
Round 2
Marshall wobbles Aliev with the head kick. Sensing blood, Marshall goes forward and gets smothered to the ground again. Sultan sits in full-guard and lands punches. Marshall wraps the action up and forces a stand-up. Marshall looks for his kill shot immediately, seeking a powerhouse uppercut. Marshall lands a leg kick, Aliev counters with a straight right-hand. Marshall is hunting his Russian counterpart who is avoiding most of his shots before scoring a late takedown. Marshall gets it back to the feet, is thrown to the mat but gets straight back up. Aliev tries another takedown but Marshall sprawls and keeps it standing. Aliev goes for another takedown, Marshall landing a hard shot to the sternum as the round closes.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Aliev
Carlin Bardsley scores it 10-9 Aliev
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Aliev
Round 3
Marshall connects with a hard left-hook before Aliev attempts a takedown but is fenced off. Aliev grabs a waist lock and drags it down. Marshall gets his back taken but he turns and explodes out, throwing a thunderous left-hand that misses before Aliev pushes him against the fence again. Pushed against the fence, Aliev lands a shot. Marshall just puppy dog eyes and argued with Herb Dean, a ridiculous strategy. The Russian holds top position before Herb Dean gives the stand-up. A minute on the clock to steal the fight, within seconds being pushed against the fence again. Pushed against the fence Marshall gets the stand-up. Marshall throws a huge flying knee, Aliev flops to the floor to avoid it and eats some powerful shots as the fight concludes.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Aliev (30-27 Aliev)
Carlin Bardsley scores it 10-9 Aliev (30-27 Aliev)
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Aliev (30-27 Aliev)
Doug Marshall def. Sultan Aliev by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Bellator Season 8 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Marlon Sandro vs. Magomedrasul Khasbulaev
Round 1
“Frodo” takes the center of the cage, Sandro comes in close and eats a hard shot. Frodo grabs a hold of Sandro, throws a knee, Sandro answers back with a groin shot that floors him as he is wincing in pain. After a long break, the fight is back on. Frodo throws a leg kick, hitting an outside trip on Sandro, almost falling into an omoplata. Sweet again, Frodo grabs an arm but Sandro gets out of danger. Frodo connects with a shot to Sandro, Sandro shoots in and leaves an opening for an armbar. Sandro breaks free, Frodo is relentlessly looking for an omoplata, sweeps for a kimura and wrenches on the arm but Sandro escapes again. The round closes with Frodo hammer fisting Sandro.
Jeremy Brand scores it 10-9 Khasbulaev
Carlin Bardsley scores it 10-9 Khasbulaev
Justin Faux scores it 10-9 Khasbulaev
Round 2
Round 3
