Bellator Fighting Championships 43
May 7th, 2011
First Council Casino,
Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Jay Hieron (22 – 4 – 1) won an extremely close and contentious split decision over Rick Hawn (11 – 1 – 0). Round 1 belonged to Hieron, who out-struck his Olympic foe for the first 5 minutes. Round 2 started to swing in Hawn’s favor. It was this round that would cause the fight to be such a close call. Hawn stalked the backpedaling Hieron and struck him often throughout the 3rd round. It was not enough to make the judges see the fight in his favor. Hieron, who is on a 10 fight winning streak, holds his ranking at [#10]. He will now face Bellator welterweight champion [#21] Ben Askren for the title. Hawn, who tasted defeat for the first time, moved up 4 spots from [#49] to [#45].
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Bryan Baker (15 – 2 – 0) defeated UFC veteran Joe Riggs (34 – 13 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 3:53 of round 2. Except for a duo of flying knees from Baker, there was little action in the 1st round. Riggs was able to connect with straight punches, but did not have an answer for Baker in the 2nd round. Baker swarmed the dazed Riggs midway through the round and knocked him out against the fence when he dropped his hands. Baker, who on a 2 fight win streak (9-1- in his last 10), moves 7 spots up from [#37 ] to [#30]. Baker will be in the Bellator season 5 middleweight tournament. Riggs, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (both by T/KO from punches), drops 7 spots from [#100] to [#107].
[#6 MW] 
[#12 MW] 
[#13 W125] 
[#11 SW] 
