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BELLATOR 109 LIVE RESULTS: Hansen's round by round report for "Shlemenko vs. Marshall" event
Nov 22, 2013 - 11:00:00 PM BELLATOR 109 LIVE RESULTS: Hansen's round by round report for "Shlemenko vs. Marshall" event

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By: Rich Hansen, MMATorch Columnist


BELLATOR 109
NOVEMBER 22, 2013
LIVE FROM BETHLEHEM, PA


- Tonight is the last Bellator event of 2013, and they're going out with a bang. No Tito Ortiz, no Rampage Jackson, so you just KNOW this card won't suck.


FIGHT ONE (LIGHTWEIGHTS): TERRY ETIM VS. PATRICK CENOBLE

- Both fighters have extremely long reaches. Since they're both used to having major reach advantages on their opponents it will be interesting to see who adapts better.

- Keith Peterson is the referee for this fight.

ROUND ONE: Etim immediately shoots and trips Cenoble with an ankle pick takedown. Full guard. Etim postures up and jumps on Cenoble's back as Cenoble scrambles to get up. Cenoble turned and Etim has full mount. Nice hip escape from Cenoble and Etim downgrades to half-guard. And full guard now. Etim is stacking up Cenoble, looking to dive in with a big punch. Cenoble's getting pressed hard into the fence. Nice elbow from Etim. Etim postures up and gets Cenoble's back again when Cenoble tried to get up. Etim has the figure four around Cenoble's hips and has 2:30 left to work. He's got a neck crank the Cenoble had to struggle to loosen. Cenoble rolls to a belly down position, but Etim's still riding his back. Cenoble is up to one knee, but still has Etim on his back. Etim has been warned twice so far; once for using the cage, once for holding Cenoble's glove. One minute remains in this round. This is really dull. You can hear individual fans' individual complaints. The round ends. 10-9 Etim Had he landed more than a dozen strikes, it could've been 10-8. Cenoble did literally nothing.

ROUND TWO: Etim lands two high kicks in the first fifteen seconds then shoots for the takedown. Cenoble fleed like the French to avoid it. Etim dodged a right uppercut and took Cenoble down like Joe Rogan going after a heckler. Tight closed guard here from Cenoble. Peterson tells them to work, so Etim sits up. Short elbow from Etim. Cenoble's moving less than someone who doesn't move very much. Etim easily moves to side control. 2:30 remains. Peterson continues to urge the fighters to work. Etim gets suckered back into full guard. PEterson stands them up with two minutes left. I'm watching the clock more than someone who loves to watch the clock. Etim shoots behind a head kick and gets the takedown. Half-guard. Make that side control. Etim is just laying there, allowing Cenoble to spin to his back and get standing. Cenoble lands a low leg kick. That might be the first thing he's landed all night. 10-9 Etim This is so bad.

ROUND THREE: Etim shoots in behind a left hook and gets the world's easiest takedown. Half-guard. Cenoble might want to consider a career in kickboxing instead of MMA, because he's making Etim look like a world-beater here, and literally all Etim is doing is taking him down. Side control. And lots of booing from the crowd. Etim is working for a Salaverry. Cenoble is moving his hips about as much as Charo. At her own funeral, I mean. Etim takes Cenoble's back and has a body triangle. 2:30 left. 1:30 left. Don't worry, you didn't miss anything. 0:40 left. Etim gets sloppy and Cenoble turns. Cenoble's on top, but he's not in a position to do anything. 10-9 Etim. 30-27 Etim This was the worst fight that has ever been on television.

WINNER: Terry Etim by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)

STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: I just said this was the worst fight that has ever been on television. Do I need to expound on that? Well, yes, yes I do. Bellator is CLEARLY trying to put on this shittiest fights possible, just to make people think that Rampage vs. Tito would be palatable by comparison.

As to the scoring, the 29-28 card was the singular worst card I've ever seen. It was so bad that Johny Hendricks just called Georges St-Pierre and apologized for complaining about the GSP decision.


FIGHT TWO (LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL): WILL BROOKS VS. ALEXANDER "TIGER" SARNAVSKIY

- Alexander Shlemenko is cornering Sarnavskiy, despite having a fight of his own in about an hour. That's pretty cool.

ROUND ONE: Sarnavskiy fought off Brooks's first takedown attempt. Brooks pushed Sarnavskiy into the cage, but Sarnavskiy turned Brooks into the cage. Brooks pushes Sarnavskiy off of him and lands a loud body kick. Brooks is being very aggressive, using his hands. Brooks gets Sarnavskiy down for about a half second, but Sarnavskiy stands and presses Brooks into the cage. Le sigh. Brooks lifts Sarnavskiy into the air, but Sarnavskiy lands on his feet. brooks tries again after a couple of knees and gets on top. Full guard, right along the cage. Sarnavskiy gets back to his feet with the help of the wall. Books lands a high kick. Brooks grabs a plumb and uses it to trip Sarnavskiy in the middle of the cage. Brooks is doing a good job of being unpredictable, and he's more fluid in transitions than ever before. Brooks postures up and lands a few punches. Brooks clears the legs and dives back down. Half-guard. The round ends. 10-9 Brooks I am shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, to see a Russian with crappy takedown defense.

ROUND TWO: Has there ever been a less desirable tournament to win than this one? The winner earns the right to sit and wait for Alvarez vs. Chandler 3, then for Dave Jansen to fight that winner. THEN for Pat Curran to get a gift title shot, just because. Brooks gets a takedown about a minute in. Occasional ground and pound from Brooks. Certainly enough to keep the referee at bay. Brooks is doing a good job staying chest to chest, knowing that Sarnavskiy has good submissions. Sarnavskiy is pretty well stuck. Brooks is doing too good a job of keeping Sarnavskiy stuck on the fence. Sarnavskiy wiggles a little, and Brooks gets on his back. Brooks lands a series of short elbows. Full mount. Brooks lands a few strikes before the bell mercifully ends the round. 10-8 Brooks. 20-17

ROUND THREE: Brooks shoots low for a double leg, and gets it. Not as easy as Etim was doing to Cnoble, but not exactly hard, either, ya dig? Brooks is on top in full guard, and has Sarnavskiy stuck right on the cage. Smother. Elbow. Smother. Punch ribs. Smother. Elbow. Forearm. Punchie punchie. Sarnavskiy's cut open and his face is a mess. And it's bloody too, Zing. Brooks gets to mount with 40 seconds left. Brooks rolls and gets his back, looking for the choke. Nah. Let's punch some more. 10-8, 30-25

WINNER: Will Brooks by unanimous decision (30-36, 30-27, 30-27)

STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (**-) That was a one-sided slaughter. Brooks destroyed a Russian with takedowns and ground and pound with far less style and panache than Ben Askren did in July, but it still moves him into a title shot in a year or two. I hope Brooks doesn't mind not fighting for a large percentage of his prime.


FIGHT THREE (WELTERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL): RICK HAWN VS. RON KESLAR

- It's Big Dan! He's in the cage! Carnage is sure to follow!

ROUND ONE: Keslar hurts Hawn with a short knee. Hawn falls down and eats about fifteen seconds of ground and pound before getting his wits about him. Keslar's on top in half-guard. Hawn explodes almost to his feet, but Keslar used excellent leverage to get Hawn back to the mat. Lots of right hands from Keslar. Hawn gets back to his feet, but Keslar is still on him. Hawn is pressing Hawn into the cage, throwing occasional knees to the body. Hawn breaks free and we're in the middle of the cage with a two and a half minutes left. Hawn is sticking with his boxing game here, flicking the jab to find his range. Hawn is starting to find his range, especially with his right hand lead. Keslar gets inside and puts Hawn onto the fence again. The round ends. 10-9 Keslar Close round, and quite fun.

ROUND TWO: They've both found their range, as both fighters come out swinging. Keslar eventually gets inside and puts Hawn into the cage. It's interesting to see someone choose to clinch Hawn. Keslar eats a sharp left that made him look like my Junior Brodgeman bobblehead doll. Hawn is really finding a home for his left now. Despite the reach and height disadvantage, Hawn is the far superior boxer. Keslar is coming forward aggressively to get inside. He lands a ncie knee, but Hawn circles out of further trouble. Keslar is really eating that jab. Keslar gets in and grabs a body lock clinch. Hawn gets pushed into the fence. Keslar is selling out for the takedown, but it's not there. Big Dan is getting impatient. fifteen seconds was all he could take. That's such bullshit, Dan. Quadruple jab from Hawn, and they all landed. Hawn circles away from a Keslar step-knee. Keslar's neck is going to be sore from how often it's snapping back. 10-9 Hawn. 19-19 Keslar's getting tired.

ROUND THREE: Keslar got outstruck 34-12 in the second. Hawn is circling, jabbing, and having an easy time of it. Big right from Hawn, which allowed him to land several uppercuts. Huge right. Hawn smells blood. More uppercuts. Another uppercut. Keslar is dead on his feet. Aaaaaand, he aint on his feet no more, as a Rick Hawn right hand felled Keslar. TIMBER!!!!

WINNER: Rick Hawn by KO at :55 of the third round.

STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (**+) This was a really fun fight. Rick Hawn moves on to face Douglas Lima for the Bellator weltwerweight championship. Hawn is the type of guy who would have been able to give Ben Askren fit, but Bellator doesn't like having top ten fighters on their roster. They like developing them and letting them go.


FIGHT FOUR (MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP): CHAMPION ALEXANDER SHLEMENKO VS. DOUG "RHINO" MARSHALL

- Gotta love Big Dan saying, "good look to both of yous." Jersey, baby!

ROUND ONE: Shlemenko shoots from a mile away and gets an easy takedown. Shlemenko gets to his feet right away but has his back on the fence. Shlemenko lands a few knees and eats an ellbow before separating. Marshall is dancing on the outside as Shlemenko comes straight forward. Shlemenko shoots a single form a mile out. Doesn't get Marshall down, but he does have him pressed on the fence. Marshall gets free, and eats a spinning back fist. Marshall is missing with some hellacious haymakers. Takedown, Shlemenko. He's 2.3 on takedowns, and we're two minutes in. Shlemenko gets swept, and Marshall is on his feet. Shlemenko are a low blow that Big Dan missed. Marshall offers an apology, and Shlemenko is fine. Shlemenko is starting to confuse Marshall with the takedowns, which is allowing Shlemenko to open up with his strikes. Nice short right from Rhino. Heavy leg kick by Marshall. Shlemenko gets inside and puts Marshall on the cage. Big righ hand from Marshall as they separate. Huge liver punch from Shlemenko! That crippled Marshall, who is staggered. Marshall dodges trouble for a few moments, but then he eats another left hand to the body and Marshall crumpled in pain. That's a knockout for alexander Shlemenko. USA! USA! USA!

WINNER: Alexander Shlemenko by KO at 4:28 of round one.

STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (***-) That was tons of fun. Shlemenko could have take Marshall's liver out of his body, stuck it in a Cuisinart, blended it up, set it on fire, and all of that still wouldn't have been as devastating as those two punches he landed. I love watching Shlemenko work the body as much as anything in MMA. And I've been on his bandwagon since he KO'd Bubba McDaniel in October 2007. I'm telling you, find that video. My favorite KO of all-time.