Bellator 35 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 5, 2011 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California. The card kicked off Bellator Season Four and featured opening round fights in the Season Four Welterweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
On December 14, 2010, Bellator and MTV2 announced a three-year deal to broadcast Bellator's tournaments and special events. This will be the first Bellator event to air on MTV2.
Bellator's Women's Strawweight Champion Zoila Frausto fought in a non-title catchweight bout against Karina Hallinan.
At this event Steve Carl was expected to fight Jay Hieron in the opening round of the welterweight tournament. However, Carl injured himself during training and was removed from the tournament. His replacement was Anthony Lapsley.
Poppies Martinez was expected to fight at this event, but a bout never materialized.
The event drew an average of around 200,000 viewers on MTV2. Which helped MTV2 in several key advertising demographics including, an 83 percent increase among men aged 18 to 49, an 80 percent increase among men 18 to 34, and an 133 percent increase among men aged 25 to 34.
Results
Main Card
Welterweight Quarterfinal bout: Chris Lozano vs. Lyman Good
Good defeated Lozano via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).
Welterweight Quarterfinal bout: Anthony Lapsley vs. Jay Hieron
Hieron defeated Lapsley via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:39 of Round 1
Welterweight Quarterfinal bout: Jim Wallhead vs. Rick Hawn
Hawn defeated Wallhead via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).
Welterweight Quarterfinal bout: Brent Weedman vs. Dan Hornbuckle
Weedman defeated Hornbuckle via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Local Feature Fights
Women's (125 lbs.) bout: Zoila Gurgel vs. Karina Hallinan
Gurgel defeated Hallinan via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Catchweight (176 lbs) bout: Waachiim Spiritwolf vs. Jaime Jara
Spiritwolf defeated Jara via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 30–27). This bout aired the following week on Bellator 36.
Featherweight bout: Josh Herrick vs. Brandon Bender
Bender defeated Herrick via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:42 of Round 1
Bantamweight bout: Jesus Castro vs. Paul Ruiz
Ruiz defeated Castro via TKO (punches) at 1:17 of Round 1
Bellator 36 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 12, 2011, at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The card featured opening-round fights in the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
Toby Imada was originally scheduled to face French fighter Ferrid Kheder; however, Kheder refused to weigh in and Josh Shockley was moved up from the preliminary card to face Imada.
Shockley's original opponent, Kelvin Hackney, still weighed in, but was pulled off the card and paid his show money and win bonus. Hackney was expected to fight at Bellator 45.
The event drew an estimated 230,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main card
Lightweight Quarterfinal bout: Rob McCullough vs. Patricky Freire
Freire defeated McCullough via TKO (punches) at 3:11 of round 3.
Lightweight Quarterfinal bout: Toby Imada vs. Josh Shockley
Imada defeated Shockley via verbal submission (armbar) at 1:36 of round 1.
Lightweight Quarterfinal bout: Carey Vanier vs. Lloyd Woodard
Woodard defeated Vanier via TKO (punches) at 0:46 of round 2.
Lightweight Quarterfinal bout: Michael Chandler vs. Marcin Held
Chandler defeated Held via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:56 of round 1.
Local feature fights
Middleweight bout: Kelly Leo vs. Chad Leonhardt
Leonhardt defeated Leo via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of round 2.
Catchweight (150 lbs) bout: Matt Hunt vs. Kevin Aguilar
Aguilar defeated Hunt via TKO (punches) at 3:02 of round 1. This bout aired on the MTV2 broadcast following Imada vs. Shockley.
Catchweight (150 lbs) bout: Javone Duhon vs. Booker Arthur
Arthur defeated Duhon via verbal submission (elbows) at 2:31 of round 2.
Bellator 37 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 19, 2011 at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma. The card featured opening round fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2. The event drew an estimated 173,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Patricio Freire
Freire defeated Karakhanyan via KO (punches) at 0:56 of round 3.
Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Wilson Reis vs. Zac George
Reis defeated George via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:09 of round 1.
Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Daniel Mason-Straus vs. Nazareno Malegarie
Straus defeated Malegarie via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Kenny Foster vs. Eric Larkin
Foster defeated Larkin via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:15 of round 1.
Local Feature Fights
Middleweight bout: Jake Rosholt vs. John Bryant
Rosholt defeated Bryant via technical submission (rear naked choke) at round 1.
Lightweight bout: Jeremy Spoon vs. Jerrod Sanders
Spoon defeated Sanders via submission (rear naked choke) at 0:26 of round 2.
Featherweight bout: Roli Delgado vs. Jameel Massouh
Delgado defeated Massouh via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).
Lightweight bout: Brandon Shelton vs. Adam Snook
Shelton defeated Snook via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:45 of round 1.
Bellator 38 was mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on March 26, 2011 at Harrah's Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. The card featured the opening round fights in the Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
This event showcased the inaugural light heavyweight tournament.
Originally, Blagoi Ivanov was set to fight John Brown on the undercard. However, Brown pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Johnathan Ivey. Ivey was then pulled off the card for a suspension by the Georgia Athletic Commission. Ivanov instead fought William Penn.
The event drew an estimated 150,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout: Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie
Carpenter defeated Gracie via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout: D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis
Linderman defeated Davis via TKO (Punches) at 3:40 of round 3.
Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout: Rich Hale vs. Nik Fekete
Hale defeated Fekete via Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke) at 1:55 of round 1.
Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout: Chris Davis vs. Christian M'Pumbu
M'Pumbu defeated Davis via TKO (strikes) at 3:34 of round 3.
Local Feature Fights
Lightweight bout: Jimmy Van Horn vs. Austin Lyons
Lyons defeated Van Horn via submission (armbar) at 2:10 of round 1.
Catchweight (150 lbs) bout: Jake Underwood vs. Tim Galluzzi
Underwood defeated Galluzzi via submission (triangle choke) at 1:04 of round 1.
Light Heavyweight bout: Brian Albin vs. Cody Donovan
Donovan defeated Albin via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Heavyweight bout: Blagoi Ivanov vs. William Penn
Ivanov defeated Penn via TKO (punches) at 2:58 of round 1.
Middleweight bout: Amaechi Oselukwue vs. Abe Wilson
Oselukwue defeated Wilson via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Bellator 39 was a mixed martial arts held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 2, 2011 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The card featured one semi-final fight in both the Bellator Season Four Welterweight and Lightweight Tournaments. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
The lightweight semifinal bout between Toby Imada and Patricky Freire was originally set to take place at Bellator 40.
In a last-minute change not announced by the promotion, Luiz Azeredo stepped in to replace Matt Veach in a preliminary card matchup.
The event drew an estimated 174,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Lightweight Championship bout: Eddie Alvarez (c) vs. Pat Curran
Alvarez defeated Curran via unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, 50–45) to retain the Bellator Lightweight Championship.
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Rick Hawn vs. Lyman Good
Hawn defeated Good via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 30–27).
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Toby Imada vs. Patricky Freire
Freire defeated Imada via KO (Flying Knee & Punches) at 2:53 of round 1.
Catchweight (175 lbs) bout: Ben Saunders vs. Matt Lee
Saunders defeated Lee via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 1:24 of round 3.
Local Feature Fights
Middleweight bout: Dan Cramer vs. Greg Rebello
Cramer defeated Rebello via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). This was a "dark" fight, after the main event.
Welterweight bout: Mike Winters vs. Ryan Quinn
Quinn defeated Winters via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26).
Lightweight bout: Dave Jansen vs. Scott McAfee
Jansen defeated McAfee via submission (D'arce choke) at 4:58 of round 1.
Lightweight bout: Luiz Azeredo vs. Renê Nazare
Nazare defeated Azeredo via TKO (Injury) at 5:00 of round 1.
Bantamweight bout: John McLaughlin vs. Blair Tugman
McLaughlin defeated Tugman via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Bellator 40 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 9, 2011 at First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The card featured fights in the Welterweight and Lightweight Bellator Season Four Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren competed in a non-title bout against Nick Thompson at this event.
A lightweight semifinal bout between Toby Imada and Patricky Freire was originally set to take place on this card. However, the fight was moved to Bellator 39 and replaced with the welterweight semifinal fight between Brent Weedman and Jay Hieron. The Hieron-Weedman fight was rescheduled because Weedman needed to receive clearance for a facial laceration suffered in his Bellator 35 victory over Dan Hornbuckle.
Former Sengoku fighter Ronnie Mann was expected to make his Bellator debut at this event. However, visa issues kept Mann from entering the United States and his fight has been pushed back to the Bellator 42 card.
The event drew an estimated 218,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Welterweight bout: Ben Askren vs. Nick Thompson
Askren defeated Thompson via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Brent Weedman vs. Jay Hieron
Hieron defeated Weedman via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Lloyd Woodard vs. Michael Chandler
Chandler defeated Woodard via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Local Feature Fights
Welterweight bout: Tyler Stinson vs. Nate James
Stinson defeated James via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).
Lightweight bout: Cody Carrillo vs. Michael Osborn
Osborn defeated Carillo via TKO (strikes) at 1:27 of round one.
Heavyweight bout: Eric Prindle vs. Josh Burns
Prindle defeated Burns via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round two to earn a spot in Bellator's Season Five Heavyweight Tournament. The bout aired on the main broadcast.
Welterweight bout: Dylan Smith vs. David Rickels
Rickles defeated Smith via submission (triangle choke) at 3:32 of round one.
Bellator 41 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships on April 16, 2011 at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona. The card featured two semi-final fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
Tony Johnson was expected to fight Carlos Flores at the event, but for unknown reasons was replaced by Rudy Aguilar.
The event drew a season low of 132,000 average viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Catchweight (137 lbs) bout: Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvão
Warren defeated Galvão via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28. 29–28)
Featherweight Semifinal bout: Wilson Reis vs. Patricio Freire
Freire defeated Reis via KO (punches) at 3:29 of round 3.
Bantamweight bout: Zach Makovsky vs. Chad Robichaux
Makovsky defeated Robichaux via TKO (strikes) at 2:02 of round 3.
Featherweight Semifinal bout: Daniel Mason-Straus vs. Kenny Foster
Straus defeated Foster via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48 of round 3.
Local Feature Fights
Heavyweight bout: Rudy Aguilar vs. Carlos Flores
Flores defeated Aguilar via TKO (punches) at 1:19 of round 1. This bout took place after the main event.
Bantamweight bout: Anthony Birchak vs. Tyler Bialecki
Birchak defeated Bialecki via submission (D'arce choke) at 4:06 of round 1.
Featherweight bout: Michael Parker vs. Nick Piedmont
Piedmont defeated Parker via split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28).
Middleweight bout: Brendan Tierney vs. Dano Moore
Tierney defeated Moore via submission (armbar) at 0:49 of round 1.
Bellator 42 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on April 23, 2011 at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma. The card featured the semi-finals in the Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
Bellator Heavyweight champion Cole Konrad was scheduled to compete in a non-title "super fight" bout against Paul Buentello at this event. However, it was revealed that Buentello had to pull out of the bout due to a back injury.
Former Sengoku fighter Ronnie Mann was expected to make his Bellator debut at Bellator 40. However, visa issues kept Mann from entering the United States and the fight was moved to this card.
Chris Guillen was originally set to fight Mark Holata, but Guillen suffered a last minute injury and was replaced by Tracy Willis.
The event drew an estimated 199,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Light Heavyweight Semifinal bout: Rich Hale vs. D.J. Linderman
Hale defeated Linderman via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
Featherweight bout: Ronnie Mann vs. Josh Arocho
Mann defeated Arocho via unanimous decision (30–25, 30–27, 30–27).
Light Heavyweight Semifinal bout: Tim Carpenter vs. Christian M'Pumbu
M'Pumbu defeated Carpenter via TKO (punches) at 2:08 of round 1.
Bantamweight bout: Luis Nogueira vs. Jerod Spoon
Nogueira defeated Spoon via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28. 29–28).
Local Feature Fights
Featherweight bout: Owen Evinger vs. Brandon Shelton
Shelton defeated Evinger via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:35 of round 1. This bout was fought after the main broadcast was finished due to time constraints.
Catchweight (190 lbs) bout: Chris Bell vs. Jared Hess
Hess defeated Bell via submission (triangle choke) at 1:40 of round 1. The bout aired on the main broadcast.
Bantamweight bout: Shane Howell vs. Mark Oshiro
Howell defeated Oshiro via submission (D'arce choke) at 4:15 of round 1.
Heavyweight bout: Mark Holata vs. Tracy Willis
Holata defeated Willis via submission (strikes) at 0:49 of round 1.
Bellator 43 was a mixed martial arts held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 7, 2011 at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The card featured the final fight in the Bellator Season Four Welterweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
A heavyweight bout between Neil Grove and The Ultimate Fighter 10 alumnus, Zak Jensen was scheduled for this event; however, Grove pulled out of the bout on May 3 due to an injury.
A local feature bout between George Burton and John Bryant was also scratched.
The event drew an estimated 182,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Welterweight Tournament Final bout: Jay Hieron vs. Rick Hawn
Hieron defeated Hawn via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) to win Bellator's Season Four Welterweight Tournament.
Middleweight bout: Joe Riggs vs. Bryan Baker
Baker defeated Riggs via KO (punch) at 3:53 of round 2 to earn a spot in Bellator's Season Five Middleweight Tournament
Bantamweight bout: Jose Vega vs. Chase Beebe
Beebe defeated Vega via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:06 of round 1 to earn a spot in Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament
Heavyweight bout: Vince Lucero vs. Ron Sparks
Sparks defeated Lucero via submission (keylock) at 2:18 of round 1.
Local Feature Fights
Catchweight (179 lb) bout: Rich Bouphanouvong vs. David Rickels
Rickles defeated Bouphanouvong via submission (triangle choke) at 1:11 of round 2. This bout aired on the broadcast.
Lightweight bout: Mike Schatz vs. Michael Osborn
Osborn defeated Schatz via TKO (referee stoppage) at 1:58 of round 1
Bellator 44 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 14, 2011, at Harrah's Resort. The card featured the final fight in the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
EliteXC and Ring of Combat veteran James Jones was expected to fight at this event, but a bout did not materialize.
Lyman Good was scheduled to face Dan Hornbuckle in a welterweight bout. However, on May 6, Good pulled out of the fight due to an injury.
A scheduled bout between Anthony Morrison and Bryan Goldsby was canceled due to Morrison weighing-in 10 pounds over weight.
The event drew a season high of 325,000 average viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Lightweight Tournament Final bout: Patricky Freire vs. Michael Chandler
Chandler defeated Freire via unanimous decision (29–27, 29–27, 29–27). Chandler was docked one point in round 3 due to kicks to the groin.
Middleweight bout: Hector Lombard vs. Falaniko Vitale
Lombard defeated Vitale via KO (punch) at 0:54 of round 3.
Welterweight bout: Giedrius Karavackas vs. Sam Oropeza
Karavackas defeated Oropeza via submission (scarf hold armlock) at 3:59 of round 3.
Middleweight bout: Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper
Shlemenko defeated Cooper via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–28, 29–28).
Local Feature Fights
Heavyweight bout: Randy Smith vs. Jamall Johnson
Johnson defeated Smith via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:16 of round 2.
Featherweight bout: Anthony Leone vs. Jeff Lentz
Lentz defeated Leone via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Middleweight bout: Jay Silva vs. Gemiyale Adkins
Silva defeated Adkins via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).
Bellator 45 was a mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on May 21, 2011 at the L'Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The card featured final round fights in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight and Light Heavyweight Tournaments. The event was distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Background
Kalvin Hackney, whose fight was canceled at Bellator 36, was moved to fight at this event.
A bout between Thiago Santos and Derrick Lewis was scrapped after Santos suffered an injury.
The event drew an estimated 264,000 viewers on MTV2.
Results
Main Card
Light Heavyweight Tournament Championship bout: Rich Hale vs. Christian M'Pumbu
M'Pumbu defeated Hale via TKO (punches) at 4:17 of round 3.
Featherweight Tournament Final bout: Patricio Freire vs. Daniel Mason-Straus
Freire defeated Straus via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).
Middleweight bout: Karl Amoussou vs. Sam Alvey
Alvey defeated Amoussou via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
Local Feature Fights
Heavyweight bout: Shawn Jordan vs. Johnathan Hill
Jordan defeated Hill via TKO (strikes) at 1:56 of round 1. This bout was fought after the main event due to time constraints.
Middleweight bout: Tim Ruberg vs. Michael Fleniken
Ruberg defeated Fleniken via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Welterweight bout: Luis Santos vs. Nicolae Cury
Santos defeated Cury via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Lightweight bout: Renê Nazare vs. Kelvin Hackney
Nazare defeated Hackney via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:44 of round 1.
Catchweight (140 lbs) bout: Joseph Abercrombie vs. Ben Parpart
Abercrombie defeated Parpart via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:11 of round 1.
^ 1: Josh Shockley replaced Ferrid Kheder after Kheder refused to weigh-in.
^ 1: Anthony Lapsley replaced Steve Carl after Carl was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury.
