Bellator FC 13 - Info, Weigh-Ins & Results

[Keithlewis]

A Miami-Dade County firefighter is among eight local Florida-based mixed martial artists who will get their chance on the big stage this Thursday during Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 2 kick-off show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

John Kelly, a 31-year-old married father of three from North Miami, is undefeated in four fights since making his pro debut last February and attributes much of his success to his training as a firefighter.

“Fighting fires and fighting in a cage are actually very, very similar experiences,” Kelly said. “When you’re in a dark room and you can’t see anything and its 300 or 400 degrees, every sense that you have is telling you to get out of there. It’s the same thing in the cage. There’s times when it would make a lot of sense just to give up and tap out, but all the training that you go through and dedicate yourself to tells you to keep going.”

The unique work schedule that firefighters keep (Kelly works one 24-hour shift and then has two days off) also allow him to maintain a full-time training regimen while supporting his family.

“I’m very lucky because fighting is my passion and I don’t think I could fight and be competitive and still support my family if I wasn’t a firefighter,” he said. “So now I’m just trying to keep winning and see where it takes me. Bellator is a dream come true for me, to be fighting for a great organization like this is just surreal.”

Kelly will put his perfect record on the line versus Port St. Lucie’s Michael Byrnes, Jr., (1-2-1) during the local main event of Thursday night’s show.

The event will also feature four nationally televised first round bouts in Bellator’s eight-man single-elimination lightweight and featherweight tournaments.

Other local feature fights include:

- American Top Team product Chris Manuel (6-3-2) of Coconut Creek, Fla., versus former University of Iowa all-American wrestler Ralph Acosta (5-4) of Orlando, Fla.;

- Local graphic designer and MMA rising star Moyses Gabin (4-2) of Hollywood, Fla., versus veteran karate expert and local martial arts instructor Jeff Savoy (0-1) of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and

- Francisco Soares (3-1) of Miami, Fla., versus Vagner Rocha (3-0) of Pembroke Pines,, Fla., in a battle between two Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists.

The evening’s nationally televised tournament fights include:

- MMA superstar and former Sports Illustrated cover subject Roger Huerta (20-3-1) vs. undefeated Cincinnati brawler Chad Hinton in the First Round of Bellator’s lightweight tournament;

- Former pro soccer star Georgi Karakhanyan (12-1-1) vs. MMA veteran Bao Quach (17-9-1) in a First Round matchup in the eight-man featherweight tournament;

- Former World Champion Greco-Roman wrestler Joe Warren (2-1) vs. Midwestern veteran Eric Marriott (17-2) in another featherweight tournament First Round matchup;

- Scandinavian strong man Janne Tulirinta (12-3) vs. former all-American college wrestler Carey Vanier in the first round of the Lightweight tournament.

Each of the tournament bouts will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net nationwide and will be featured during weekly Saturday-night Bellator highlight shows on NBC and Telemundo.

[Keithlewis]

One day before the much-anticipated debut of Bellator Fighting Championships’ second season, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino played host to the official weigh-in for Bellator 13 on Wednesday evening.

Bellator 13 will be broadcast live nationwide on Thursday on FOX Sports Net and during special Bellator highlight shows on Saturday night on NBC and Telemundo.

The card’s main event is a match-up between MMA superstar Roger Huerta and undefeated Cincinnati native Chad Hinton.

Bellator FC 13 Weigh-In Results:

Main Card:

-Roger Huerta (155.25) vs. Chad Hinton (155.25)
-Joe Warren (144.5) vs. Eric Marriott (144.75)
-Bao Quach (145.25) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (145)
-Carey Vanier (154.5) vs. Joe Duarte (156)


Local Feature Fight Card:

-Ralph Acosta (139.75) vs. Chris Manuel (135.5)
-Moyses Gabin (184) vs. Mikey Gomez (187)*
-John Kelly (170.25) vs. Edson Diniz (172.25)
-Vagner Rocha (168.5) vs. Francisco Soares (171.25)

*Gabin has agreed to fight at a catchweight of 187 lbs.





http://www.tomhillphotos.com/

[Keithlewis]

Bellator FC 13 - Results:


Roger Huerta def. Chad Hinton via Submission - Kneebar RD. 2

Georgi Karakhanyan def. Bao Quach via KO RD. 1

Joe Warren def. Eric Marriott via Decision

Carey Vanier def. Joe Duarte via TKO - Strikes RD. 3


Vagner Rocha def. Francisco Soares via TKO -Stikres RD. 2
Edson Diniz def. John Kelly via Submission - Kneebar RD. 1
Mikey Gomez def. Moyses Gabin via Decision
Chris Manuel def. Ralph Acosta via Submission - Guillotine Choke RD. 3

[Keithlewis]

[EzFlyer]

def gotta watch for georgi. good prospect.

warren's gotta improve his top game. anyone w/a dangerous guard can beat him.