#1 - Middleweight - 3 Rounds
Dennis Olsen (6-2) vs. David Branch (3-0)
Round 1: Slapping low kicks from Olsen are the only offense in the opening minute of the match. Branch catches a kick and puts Olsen on his back, now working from half guard. Branch moves to side control, then mount and lands some clean, hard shots and hammerfists until Olsen gives up his back. The Renzo Gracie product Branch sinks in a textbook rear naked choke and that's all she wrote for the New England boy.
David Branch (4-0) def. Dennis Olsen (6-3) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:27 of Round 1
#2 - Bantamweight - 3 Rounds
Nick Garcia (1-2) vs. Jimmie Rivera (2-1)
Round 1: 19-year-old Rivera - a Tiger Schulmann's fighter like headliner Lyman Good - is the clear crowd favorite from the intros. One section chants "U-S-A" for some reason. Rivera lands a right, then a left which puts Garcia on the mat, but it's a slip and they're back standing quickly. Rivera tags him with a few more left hands before Garcia ties him up against the cage with a waistlock. Now Rivera stringing together more combos while taking no punishment, but Garcia is undeterred. Garcia shoots a double and puts Rivera on his back, but Rivera soon scrambles and takes Garcia's back. He's forced to give up the position as Garcia rolls to the bottom of the cage, Rivera now stalled in half guard as Yves Lavigne stands them up with 90 seconds left in the frame. Left leg kick followed by a stinging right hand connects for Rivera. Garcia lands a right of his own, followed by a short flying knee. One more right hand from Garcia at the bell makes this a tight round. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Rivera.
Round 2: Both fighters throwing flurries in the first 90 seconds of the round, Rivera slightly edging Garcia. Now Rivera switches levels and takes the back of Garcia, who's on all fours with his side to a post. Yves stands them up and warns both fighters - for what, I'm unsure - and Rivera begins chopping away with leg kicks. Left hook catches Rivera, but he winds up in Garcia's full guard in the ensuing scramble. Rivera passes to the side with just under a minute remaining, now working a guillotine from the north-south position as Garcia tries to stand but avoid a knee to the face. The round ends without much more action. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Rivera.
Round 3: Rivera in the driver's seat, using his range to tag Garcia with leg kicks and right hands. Garcia shoots but leaves his neck out, and Rivera snares a guillotine. The choke comes loose after a slam from Garcia, and they're back to the feet. Now Rivera takes him down again, and immediately assumes hia back, sneaking hard shots under Garcia's left armpit. The crowd cheers as Rivera repeatedly tries to bring his forearm across Garcia's face, but Garcia slips out of it several times. With a minute left, Rivera finally relinquishes the position and takes side control. Garcia bucks him to half guard, but Rivera is soon on Garcia's back again. The bout ends, appropriately, with Rivera looking for a rear naked choke. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Rivera.
BloodyElbow.com scores the bout 30-27 Rivera
Jimmie Rivera (3-1) def. Nick Garcia (1-3) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#3 - Middleweight - 3 Rounds
Edwin Aguilar (20-13) vs. Uriah Hall (1-0)
Round 1: Hall begins to establish range with left jabs and a left high kick before Aguilar briefly puts him on his back. A right kick stings the body of Aguilar, but the follow up left high is blocked. Hall pushing the pace, pressing forward and throwing combinations. Aguilar tries some kicks of his own, but they're airmailed and sloppy. Hall catches one and throws Aguilar to the mat, then decides to allow him back up. Flashy spinning back kick from Hall, then a backfist for the matching pair. Aguilar puts Hall on his back with a single leg with 20 seconds left, but can't do anything with it. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Hall.
Round 2: Hall ties up against the cage and shoots a solid knee up the middle. More jabs from Hall as Aguilar taunts him and points to his chin. Hall taunts back with his hands up high, Nick Diaz style. Outstanding spinning back kick from Hall to the body of the Mexican native. A five-punch combo from Hall sends Aguilar bacing into the cage, then shooting for a single, which Hall slips. Hall absolutely mauling Aguilar with knees and punches against the fence now! But Aguilar stops the assault with a front kick to Hall's body, and Hall falls to his back. Aguilar mounts Hall and begins pounding away, but Hall escapes! Hall lets Aguilar back up and unloads with another bunch of punches as time runs out. What a round! BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Hall.
Round 3: Both fighters looking hot and tired after two rounds of non-stop action. Big right roundhouse from Hall grazes Aguilar's head but just misses the sweet spot. Hall catches an Aguilar teep kick and sweeps the other leg from under him. Now it's Aguilar moving forward but not connecting with anything solid. Hall just moves out of the way like a matador whenever Aguilar moves forward. A botched single leg from Aguilar finds him on the bad end of north-south position. He gets to his feet, but Hall unleasehes a torrent of winging right and left crosses. Aguilar just won't go down! Hall catches Aguilar with a finger in the left eye and time is called. Aguilar doesn't take long to recover, and Hall ends the fight just seconds later with a flurry of punches and right high kicks. Aguilar never went down, but the ref had no choice but to call it with the amount of punishment he was taking. Very impressive win for Hall over the veteran journeyman.
Uriah Hall (2-0) def. Edwin Aguilar (20-14) via TKO (Punches and Kicks) at 4:31 of Round 3
#4 - Bantamweight - 3 Rounds
Collin Tebo (1-0) vs. Nick Pace (1-0)
Round 1: Pace pushes Tebo against the cage immediately, looking much stronger than the Bostonian. Pace lifts him into the air for a slam, but Tebo flails and lands awkwardly. Pace takes his back as Tebo stands and shucks the rear naked choke. Seconds later, Pace charges across the cage and puts Tebo down with a brutal flying right knee. Highlight reel stuff for the "Pretty Boy" from Staton Island.
Nick Pace (2-0) def. Collin Tebo (1-1) via KO (Flying Knee) at 1:37 of Round 1
One minor production quibble: I sure wish they wouldn't play the intro to "Right Now" by Van Halen before every fight.
#5 - Welterweight - 3 Rounds
Vagner Rocha (1-0) +220 vs. Igor Gracie (1-1) -280
Round 1: After two full minutes of feeling out, Gracie shoots a single and puts Rocha on his back. Rocha pops back up but Gracie is still in control with a left underhook as Rocha wrestles him against the fence. The ref splits them up amidst boos with 90 seconds left. Now 30 seconds remaining, Igor shoots a double and carries Rocha half way across the cage before slamming him hard on the canvas. Gracie works for a submission, but there's not enough time left. He won what would have been a 10-10 round with that takedown. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Gracie.
Round 2: Some more sloppy striking as the second round opens up, Gracie connecting a few times before Rocha takes him down. The Brazilian looking for a triangle from the bottom, but Rocha shakes it and falls into closed guard. Gracie controlling Rocha's wrists, stalling the action on the ground. The ref stands 'em up with just under two minutes remaining. Igor takes Rocha down again, this time putting him on his head, but Rocha rolls up and looks for an armbar. Igor postures up and Rocha scrambles to his feet, reversing into Gracie's full guard with seconds left. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Rocha.
Round 3: Igor tries to pull guard, winds up standing with his back to the cage with Rocha looking to trip him up. The ref breaks them up and the boos begin to rain down. Rocha connects with a left that sends Gracie shooting for a double. Gracie turtling up with Rocha on his back. Igor stands and bucks Rocha over his shoulders, but Rocha continues to control the fight as they clinch against the cage. Unfortunately, that's about all they're doing at this point. One minute left, and a single knee from Rocha seems like a big deal. The fight ends with the crowd jeering loudly and Rocha in side control. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Rocha.
BloodyElbow.com scores the bout 29-28 Rocha
Vagner Rocha (2-0) def. Igor Gracie (1-2) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
#6 - Welterweight - 3 Rounds
Justin Torrey (4-0) vs. Matt Makowski (5-1)
Round 1: The Boston boy Torrey showing nice knees and front kicks right out of the gate. Makowski ties up and trips him, falling into Torrey's half guard. Back to the feet and Torrey charges for a flying knee, only to be leg kicked down by Makowski. "Weapon X" backs his man into the fence with a flurry, but Torrey charges right back out and makes Makowski pay for a flying armbar attempt with a hard takedown. Makowski is soon back on his feet and chops Torrey down with a hard leg kick. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Makowski.
Round 2: Torrey drops Makowski to his knees with a knee to the body, catching him in a guillotine on the way back up. Makowski escapes, and the two return to parrying single punches and kicks. Nice front kick from Torrey; Makowski answers with a left kick to the gut. Torrey catches a Makowski kick and sweeps the leg, rushing to mound and proceeding to pound away until the bell rings. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Torrey.
Round 3: Torrey catches Makowski with a left hook and begins smothering him with ground and pound, lifting him up and slamming him back to earth a couple times for good measure. Torrey in full mount now, but he's up high and Makowski is absorbing most of the punishment. Makowski is able to buck free and back to his feet, and the action is paused for his corner to wash off his mouthpiece. The fight restarts and Torrey rushes a wobbly Makowski with a flying knee. Another flying knee, and now Torrey is just trying to sweep the legs clean out from under Makowski. Torrey lifts Makowski high with a double leg and plants him at the base of the fence. Now in side control, Torrey is trying his hardest to end this with punches and elbows, but Makowski is defending ably and even works back to his feet. Makowski jumps for another flying triangle, although both fighters are far too sweaty now to even get close. Torrey sweeps the legs one last time at the end of the round. BloodyElbow.com scores the round 10-9 Torrey.
BloodyElbow.com scores the bout 29-28
Justin Torrey (5-0) def. Matt Makowski (5-2) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
#7 - Welterweight - 3 Rounds
Marcelo Alfaya (10-5) vs. Jake Ellenberger (20-4)
Jake Ellenberger is a late, late replacement for Mazaffar Abdurakhmanov, who was a late replacement for Dan Hornbuckle, who was "removed for medical reasons." Pretty great last minute replacement if you ask me.
Round 1: Ellenberger stuffs a takedown attempt early on, then cracks the Brazilian with a murderous right hook. Alfaya is out cold on the ground with his eyes open as Ellenberger connects with a few more right hands. After a scary moment, Alfaya is able to leave the cage on his own, albeit shakily. Huge props to Ellenberger, who steps in on less than a day's notice for his fourth straight win.
Jake Ellenberger (21-4) def. Marcelo Alfaya (10-6) at 0:42 of Round 1
#8 - Welterweight Tournament Final Bout - 5 Rounds
Omar De La Cruz (6-1) +255 vs. Lyman Good (9-0) -325
Time for the big one. Most of the arena is on its feet as we hear "Right Now" for the tenth time. Lyman Good reportedly had some issues cutting to 170, but looked good at yesterday's weigh-ins. De La Cruz emerges to a squelching Pitbull remix with a Dominican flag draped across his shoulders. The whole place lights up and erupts for Good, who wastes no time getting to the ring with speed metal blaring in the background.
Round 1: Good puts Omar on his back just seconds in, working from closed guard. De La Cruz keeping active from the bottom as Lyman attempts to posture up and pound on him. Good landing some solid left hands, now some hard rights. De La Cruz isn't defending, eating more and more clean shots with his guard open, and Yves Lavigne stops it!
Lyman Good (10-0) def. Omar De La Cruz (5-2) via TKO (Punches) at 1:23 of Round 1
Lyman Good is your inaugural Bellator Welterweight Champion. He'll defend his belt against the winner of next year's welterweight tournament.
