Bellator 79 takes place tonight coming live tonight from Casino Rama in scenic Orillia, Ontario. The main attractions are the semi-finals of the featherweight and heavyweight tournaments, with Shahbulat Shamalaev vs. Mike Richman and Richard Hale vs. Thiago Santos, respectively.
Main Card:
Ryan Ford vs. Kyle Baker
Round 1 – Crowd is firmly behind Ford. Ford blitzes Baker and then takes him down to the mat. Ford lands some solid shots. Baker closes his guard. Ford back to his feet and throws down a big right on Baker. Baker looking for rubber guard. More rights from Ford. Baker back to the feet and Ford is swarming him. Baker is just getting pummeled but he’s hanging in there. Baker won’t let go of Ford’s leg and takes the positional advantage to side control. Back to the feet and Baker lands a couple before Ford starts winging away again. Both men swinging wildly. Baker ends the round on Ford’s back with some elbows. Really fun round.
The Doctor checking on Baker and he’s good to go.
Round 2 – A mouse under Baker’s right eye. Ford with an uppercut. Baker goes to the body. Ford trying to find a home for that right hand. Baker holds Ford against the fence. Baker lands some knees. Baker working to the body. Yves Lavigne separates them. Ford lands a good push kick to the body. Baker pushes him back into the cage and lands a knee. Baker takes Ford’s legs out and takes Ford’s back. Baker looking for the RNC. Baker alternating between throwing shots and seeking the choke. Ford escapes and is back in Baker’s guard as the round ends.
Round 3 – Baker stalking Ford but Ford lands a couple and gets a takedown. baker bounces back up. Ford lands an uppercut with Baker coming in. Ford working on a single leg but abandons it. Ford with another takedown. Baker has Ford’a arms tied up. Yves Lavigne stands them up. Ford takes him back down. Baker reverses and in Ford’s guard with less than half a roudn to go. Baker has Ford’s back again. baker looking for the RNC again. Ford escapes and is back in Baker’s guard. Ford postures up but Baker lands some upkicks. Ford with some huge shots to end the round. Good fight and much closer than the pro-Ford crowd expected.
Winner: Ryan Ford by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 X2)
Jacob Ortiz vs. Douglas Lima
Round 1 – Ortiz with his hands dangerously low. Ortiz catches a kick and lands a right. Lima with a leg kick. Lima drops him with a right and has mount on the ground. Lima working him over. Lima now with Ortiz’s back. Lima pounding away. Lima looking for the RNC. Ortiz fights out and winds up on top in Lima’s guard. Lima with a nice upkick as Ortiz gets to his feet. Both men on their feet and Ortiz’s hands are still way too low. Lima fires off some punches and lands a knee in the clinch and time winds down.
Round 2 – Lima again lands a right to start the round. Lima lands the right again. Ortiz swings at air. Hard body kick by Lima. Ortiz’s hands continue to be in the hip region. Lima with a couple of lefts and goes for a head kick. Stiff jab from Lima. Another one. Another right from Lima. Lek kick puts Ortiz on the mat. Lima looking for the d’arce choke. Ortiz attempts to hold him against the cage. Crowd getting restless. Lima lands a knee and puts an absolute pummeling on Ortiz to end the round.
Doc checks Ortiz and sends him back out.
Round 3 – Lima landing at will, because Ortiz REFUSES to keep his hands above his waist. Leg kick from Lima. Combo from Lima and another stiff jab. Hard leg kick from Lima. Ortiz may have landed one in that exchange. Ortiz swings wildly and does a watusi. Lima with a kick upstairs. Ortiz bleeding on both sides of his face. Hard right from Lima. Lima with a big flurry. Lima with a right. Now a leg kick. Hard right hand from Lima. Right from Lima staggers Ortiz and Lima pounces. A knee, some perfunctory shots and the ref has seen enough.
Winner: Douglas Lima by TKO (knee and punches) at 4:50 R3
Shahbulat Shamhalaev vs. Mike Richman
Round 1 – Shamhalaev will be referred to as Shabba from here on out. Shabba with a leg trip that takes Richman down but he bounces back up. Shabba with a leg kick. Shabba with a right . Shabba lands with a HUGE right and that’s the end of Richman.
Winner: Shahbulat Shamhalaev by KO (punch) at 1:45 R1
Richard Hale vs. Thiago Santos
Round 1 – Hale paws with a jab. Santos swings and connects. Santos grabs a standing guillotine and hale changes colour. Hale escapes, goes for a thai clinch and Santos takes him down. Santos in side control. Hale fights back to the feet and lands a knee to the body. Santos trying to drag him back down. Hale with some body shots. Dan Mirgliotta separates them. Santos wades in and Hale drops him. Hale on Santos’ back throwing away and Dan Mirgliotta stops it. Hale plays to the crowd and the Ontario faithful are loving him.
Winner: Richard Hale by TKO (punches) at 3:31 R1
