FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Live Event Reports BELLATOR 21 RESULTS: Carter's Report of the Lightweight Tournament Finals

Jun 10, 2010 - 8:45:48 PM

By Alvin Benjamin Carter III, MMA Torch Specialist

I am covering Bellator 21 form Boston, and it has been preempted by the Celtic's pre-game show. I'll be covering the rest of the action which will feature the Lightweight Tournament Final of Pat Curran vs. Toby Imada. Here is the rest of the action from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Fight 1: Sarah Schneider vs. Megumi Fujii

Round 1 Fujii and Schneider exchange a few jabs, and Fujii kicks and Schneider blocks and throws Fujii across to the cage. Fujii gets up and they lock and hit the ground. Fujii is in Schneider guard. She puts Fujii in a body triangle form the guard, and Fujii knees Schieider leg from inside the guard. Fujii tries to post up. She picks up Schneider while in guard and slams Schneider down hard. Schneider is not active and the ref stands them up. Fujii hits a good combination, and she takes Schneider down. Fujii passes to side controls an then to mount. Fujii ends up back in side control, and then Schneider gets Fujii in a tight closed guard. Schneider puts a body lock on Fujii from guard and Fujii's ground and pound opens a cut on Schneider nose. The ref stands them up when action stalls, and then the bell rings.


Round 2:
Schneider immediately jumps to take Fujii's back, but Fujii ends up in Schneider's guard. Schneider attempts a triangle choke, but it won't go. Schneider has a high closed guard and Fujii pounds her way out of the guard. Fujii gets side mount, and attempts to posture up with a knee on belly to strike Schneider, but she ends up in Schneider guard. The ref stands them up. Fujii lands a big right hand and then takes Schneider down. Schneider misses a guillotine opportunity. Schneider holds Fujii in a very tight guard, but she is not really going for submissions. The ref stands them up again. Schneider throws a spinning back-fist and misses, and Fujii takes Schneider down again. Fujii works light ground and pound, and Schneider locks up Fujii with a tight rubber guard. Fujii posts up and lands two big right hands before the bell rings.


Round 3:
Schneider jabs and throws a kick that is blocked. Schneider throws two jabs and connects with a cross, but does not continue to pressure Fujii. Fujii takes Schneider down, and she works to full mount and is working ground and pound. Schneider gives up her back, and then rotates back around and Fujii continues to pound Schneider from full mount. The ref stops it and Schneider seems upset. She did not seem to be hurt, but she was not defending herself.


Megumi Fujii def. Sarah Schneider via TKO - Rd 3 1:58

Post Fight: She says she is very happy, and it is exciting to fight here in front of the American crowd. She says she wants to show her skill in the Bellator Women's 115 lbs. Tournament, and become the champion. When asked about how she felt about getting her first TKO, she said she wants more.

Fight Rating:**+ This was not that exciting, and Schneider did not present much of an offense. The main thrill of this fight was seeing Fujii get the win via TKO. It will add some contrast to her sixteen submission wins and three decisions.


Fight 2: Pat Curran vs.Toby Imada (Lightweight Tournament Final)

Round 1:
The both dance and establish space with jabs. Curran throws a light kick to the leg. Imada fakes a kick. Curran kicks and Imada counters with a right hand. They exchange hands, and Imada gets a glancing uppercut, and they clinch with Curran against the cage. Imada works knees and tries to take Curran down. Curran throws some nice blows while tied up on the cage. Imada takes down Curran with an inside leg sweep and Curran gets right back up. Imada keeps Curran on the cage, and Curran hits the body while his back is on the cage. They exchange knees to the stomach from the clinch. Curran turns Imada around to the cage and more knees are exchanged. Imada attempts to throw Curran, and Curran hits Imada with a two body shots and then a big left hook and Imada stumbles. He does not appear to be to hurt. They lock up in the center of the cage, and then the bell rings.

Round 2:
Imada eats a nice combo. He comes back with a jab and a hook, but Curran evades. They dance and Toby lands a partial outside leg kick. Curran throws a strong kick to the body. Curran went in for the takedown, but it does not happen. Curran lands a jab. Imada lands a body kick. Then Imada lands a leg kick and ducks under Curran's counter hook. Imada drives Curran down to the ground, and Curran pops right back up. Imada has Curran on the cage, and he knees Curran in the thigh. Curran knees Imada in he body. They keep exchanging. Curran throws a head shot while on the fence. Imada maintains the standing body lock and the ref separates them. Curran throws a right kick and a right hand. They both lock and the ref stops so Curran can get his mouth piece. They restart. Curran throws a head kick, and Imada evades. Curran misses with a right, and Imada throws a combo. Curran throws a front kick, and Imada moves in as the bell rings.

Round 3:
Imada lands a leg kick. Imada lands a good right hand, and then as Imada stalks Curran lands a big shot to Imada's head. Imada is bleeding from his eyebrow, and he has a big mouse under that right eye. Curran did not capitalize and backs off. Imada goes for the takedown, and Curran slips and reverse getting Imada down and he returns to his feet. They clinch, and Curran backs up. Imada throws a low kick and a head kick. Imada throws a left, and now they are in the center of the cage. Imada lands a body kick, and then he misses one. Curran throws a kick to create distance. Imada's eye is bleeding badly, but he is staying aggressive. Imada lands a left/right combo, and he is keeping Curran to the perimeter of the cage. Imada clinches and lands two big knees. He takes Curran down and almost mounts. Curran gets up, and then loses his balance. As the two start to engage, the bell rings.

Pat Curran def. Toby Imada via Split Decision (29-28 Imada, 29-28 Curran, 29-28 Curran)

Post Fight: Pat Curran says that this was one of the toughest fights he ever had. It was a close fight. The crowd boos. He says the fight is a lot harder than he thought it was going to be. He had to watch out for his throws. Bjorn Rebney comes out and congratulates Pat Curran, and he presents him with a check for $100,000. Eddie Alvarez is in the ring and seems skeptical of the decision when asked about what he thought of Curran's performance. Alvarez says it could have gone wither way, and that is why you don't leave it to the judges. Curran says he is going to bulk up and have a good camp to get ready for Eddie Alvarez.

Fight Rating: ***- I thought this fight was going to go to Imada. He generally controlled where the fight happened, and Curran was often backing up (even when striking). Imada did appear to be the most damaged because of his eye, but Imada did control the fight. Curran's hometown crowd even booed the decision. Nevertheless there was some good wrestling and Imada had some nice take downs. I am very interested in seeing how Curran will fair against Eddie Alvarez.

Preempted Fight Result: Mike "300" Hayes def. Steve Banks via Unanimous Decision

ALERT: Every Tuesday night, listen to the MMATorch Livecast from 9-10:30 p.m. ET or listen now to the most recent shows by clicking here. Listen live this coming Tuesday as Jamie Penick, Rich Hansen, and Matt Pelkey discuss the latest MMA happenings. Online listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mmatorch or call into the show at 646-716-8090 to either just listen or participate.