Bellator Fighting Championships 42
April 23, 2011
Lucky Star Casino,
Concho, Oklahoma, United States
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Richard Hale (17 – 3 – 1) defeated D.J. Linderman (9 – 2 – 0) by split decision. The bout was back and forth on the feet much of the time. The fight tipped in favor of Hale when he fell into mount on top of Linderman in the 3rd round. The larger Hale was able to switch between mount and back control as Linderman struggled to break free. Hale jumps 16 spots up from [#51] to [#35]. Hale is on a 4 fight win streak, and is 8-1-1 in his last 10. He will face [#42] Christian M’Pumbu in the finals of the season 4 light heavyweight tournament. Linderman drops 9 spots from [#29] to [#38]. Linderman was on a 4 fight win streak prior to this loss.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
British prospect Ronnie Mann (19 – 2 – 1) defeated Josh Arocho (6 – 10 – 0) by unanimous decision. Mann used superior striking and grappling to outclass Arocho in virtually every aspect of the fight. Arocho would not be finished, and fought valiantly until the closing bell. Mann, who is on a 3 fight win streak and is 8-1 in his last 9 fights, jumps 21 spots up from, [#84 ] to [#63]. Look to see Mann in the upcoming featherweight tournament. Arocho, who was ranked at [#406LW], falls off the rankings. Arocho is 1-4 in his last 5.
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Christian M’Pumbu (17 – 3 – 1) defeated Tim Carpenter (7 – 1 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 2:08 of the 1st round. M’Pumbu, who is on a 2 fight win streak and is 6-1 in his last 7, moves up 7 spots from [#49] to [#42]. M’Pumbu struck early and often, using his reach to effectively counterstrike . M’Pumbu will meet [#35] Richard Hale in the finals of the season 4 light heavyweight tournament. Carpenter drops 22 spots from [#114] to [#136].
Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Brazilian prospect Luiz Alberto Nogueira (11 – 1 – 0) defeated Jerrod Spoon (5 – 2 – 1) by unanimous decision. Nogueira, who is on a 7 fight win streak, jumps 6 spots up from [#69] to [#63]. Add another name to the growing Bellator bantamweight division. Spoon, who was on a 5 fight winning streak prior to this loss (4 by stoppage), remains unranked.
Catchweight (190 lbs)
Season 2 middleweight tournament finalist Jared Hess (11 – 2 – 1) defeated Chris Bell (10 – 4 – 0) by submission due to triangle choke at 1:40 of the 1st round. Hess, who is 3-2 (all wins coming by way of choke) drops 1 spot from [#70] to [#71]. Bell, who has lost 3 in a row all by submission, remains unranked.
Untelevised Preliminary Bouts
Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Shane Howell (10 – 7 – 0) defeated Mark Oshiro (12 – 4 – 0) by submission due to brabo choke at 4:15 of round 1. Previously ranked [#22FLY] Howell, who is 6-1 in his last 6 (all wins coming by stoppage-5 by submission), enters the bantamweight “Top 150” at [#75]. Oshiro, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (both by submission), falls from [#145] off the bantamweight “Top 150.”
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Mark Holata (11 – 2 – 0) defeated 3 day late replacement Tracy Willis (7 – 4 – 0) by submission due to knees and punches at just 0:49 of the 1st round. Holata, who is on an 8 fight win streak, moves up 10 spots from [#66] to [#56]. Willis, who is on a 4 fight losing streak, remains unranked.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Brandon Shelton (17– 5 – 0) defeated Owen Evinger (6 – 1 – 0) by submission due to rear naked choke at 2:35 of round 1. Previously unranked Shelton, who is 3-1 in his last 4, moves into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#232]. Evinger, who tasted defeat for the first time, remains unranked.