Bellator 53 - Information, Results & Event Coverage

[keithlewis]

When Thiago Santos and Josh Burns step into the cage this Saturday at Bellator 53, one of the two will secure their spot as the heavyweight tournament alternate. While Mike Hayes secured his spot in the heavyweight semifinals with an impressive victory of Neil Grove, it may have come at a cost as Hayes received a 60-day medical suspension from the Louisiana State Commission and may be unable to compete when the tournament resumes at Bellator 56. With Hayes’ ability to continue in question, the fight between Santos and Burns, which airs LIVE and FREE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX at 9 p.m. ET from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma this Saturday could determine the fight to face Blagoi Ivanov later this month in the Semifinals of Bellator’s $100,000 Heavyweight Tournament. The undercard for this event can be seen streaming LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for Bellator 53 are on sale now and can be purchased at Stubwire.com and at the Buffalo Run Box Office.

Santos, who was originally slated for the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament this past weekend, encountered visa problems in his native Brazil and was unable to compete in the tournament quarterfinals. The visa issues are now behind the former Brazilian State Jiu-Jitsu Champion and “The Big Monster” is ready for a battle at Bellator 53.

“I just want to fight,” Santos said. “The issues with the visa are over. I’m here now, and just ready to try to get back into this tournament and get a shot at the title.”

For Burns, the Detroit native and knockout artist is looking to get back to his winning ways after suffering a tough defeat at the hands of Bellator Heavyweight Semifinalist Eric Prindle at Bellator 40. Burns understands chances like these don’t come around very often, and is ready to make the most out of this unique opportunity.

“I think I’ve got a lot to prove coming into this fight, and know this is a huge chance for me to show off what I’m really capable of,” said Burns. “I’m the first to admit my fight with Prindle was sloppy, but that wasn’t me. I’m ready for this fight, and I’m going to show everyone why I should have been in this tournament in the first place. Thiago has never fought anyone like me, and he really doesn’t know what he’s in for.”

The Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals will take place at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, and will feature Eric Prindle taking on Ron Sparks, with Blagoi Ivanov facing Hayes if he can overcome the current 60-day suspension and continue on the 29th, or the winner of Santos-Burns.

[keithlewis]

Bellator 53 Weigh-In Results:


Main Card (MTV2):

Luis Santos (170.5) vs. Ben Saunders (170.5)
Chris Lozano (169.75) vs. Douglas Lima (170.5)
Kenny Foster (146) vs. Ronnie Mann (145.75)
Josh Burns (262.5) vs. Thiago Santos (263.5)


Preliminary Card (Spike.com):

Darryl Cobb (185) vs. Giva Santana (185.5)
A.J. Matthews (175) vs. Rudy Bears (174)
Raphael Davis (206) vs. Myron Dennis (204.5)
Emanuel Brooks (160.5)* vs. Greg Scott (157)


* Originally scheduled as a 157-pound catchweight fight; now will be contested at 160.5 pounds with Brooks being fined a portion of his purse.

[keithlewis]

Saunders, Lima Secured Spots in Welterweight Finals


There were eight at the start but after Bellator 53 in Miami, OK, just two men remain in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament. Ben "Killa B" Saunders and Douglas Lima will advance to the welterweight finals after finishing each of their opponents in front of a sold out crowd inside the Buffalo Run Casino Resort.

“Our Welterweights were simply electric tonight” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Lima looked spectacular on his feet against a top, top tier striker in Chris Lozano and Ben Saunders on the ground was spectacular. Top to bottom this was an incredible show, and our Welterweight Finals should be something very special.”

Saunders scored an impressive victory with a dominating performance on the ground against veteran Luis Santos, a fighter with over 50 career wins. Santos succeeded in taking the fight to the mat but Saunders dictated the pace of the fight from his back with arm locks and a stiff underhook. In the third and final round, Saunders found himself in top position on the mat for the first time in the fight. He advanced to half guard and finished the fight by keylock to secure victory and his spot in the Welterweight Finals later this season.

"The Assassin" Chris Lozano was dealt just the second loss of his young career at the hands “The Phenom” Douglas Lima. More than half of Lozano's wins inside the cage have come via knockout, and it was evident by Lozano’s willingness to stand and trade with Lima. It backfired however in the second round as Lima caught Lozano coming in with a perfectly timed right cross following a failed left hook by Lozano. Lima knocked “The Assassin” out cold to advance to the finals of the Bellator Welterweight Tournament.

Josh Burns and Thiago Santos were fighting for a reserve spot in Bellator’s Heavyweight Tournament as semifinalist Mike Hayes, who knocked off Neil Grove at Bellator 52, may be under a 60-day suspension and unable to compete due to a broken orbital from his fight against Grove. Santos was on task from the beginning in his fight with Burns as he systematically pressured him against the cage, took him down, softened him up with numerous strikes and finished the fight by rear naked choke after Burns gave up his back. With the victory, Santos may join fellow heavyweights Ron Sparks, Blagoi Ivanov and Eric Prindle in the semifinals of the Heavyweight Tournament.

In a Season 6 Featherweight Tournament Qualifier fight, Ronnie "Kid Ninja" Mann defeated Kenny Foster in impressive fashion. Foster managed to take "Kid Ninja" to the ground twice in the first round, but Mann proved just as dangerous from his back as he's shown to be on his feet. He constantly worked for submissions until he caught his opponent in a triangle choke near the end of the opening round and forced Foster to tap. Mann dedicated the fight to the memory of his coach Shawn Thompkins who passed away on Aug. 14. Thompkins was a respected member of the MMA community and was also the coach of Bellator veteran Chris Horodecki.