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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Alright, here we go! The Minnesota Wild picked up a meaningless win in a shootout tonight and now Bellator Fighting Championships can finally be broadcast here on Fox Sports North. Some of you will undoubtedly have already seen the event tonight, but read along for our round by round report of the four fight televised card and the first quarterfinal bouts in the featherweight and lightweight divisions for Bellator Fighting Championships season two!
-I liked the opening video, it set the stage very well for what's at stake and what's in store for the event tonight. Sean Wheelock runs down the tournament structure with a graphic before bringing in Jimmy Smith as his color commentator.
[Commercial Break]
FIGHT ONE: BAO QUACH VS. GEORGI KARAKHANYAN (FEATHERWEIGHT QUARTERFINAL)
PRE FIGHT: Karakhanyan, in a preview hype video, talked about taking his first fight on short notice and winning with the only submission he knew at that time, the guillotine choke. He said he used to run around hitting his head on the wall, leading his mom to give him his nickname "insane." Quach said he came from a bad record and flipped it around. He said he used people telling him he should quit as motivation. He said he feels he trains harder than any of his opponents, and said if he's still walking, he's still fighting.
ROUND ONE: Quach comes out and lands an early leg kick. Georgi throws a kick high but Quach catches the second kick thrown and knocks him down with a punch. Quach pounces and gets down into Georgi's guard. Quach lands a few shots in the guard but Georgi walks up the cage and gets to his feet. He comes forward and lands some good punches in a flurry on Quach. Quach responded. Quach finally got a clinch and pushed Karakhanyan to the cage. Georgi turned it back and took Quach down. Quach scrambled and grabbed a hold of Karakhanyan's head. He stayed patient and tried to move to Karakhanyan's back. Georgi got back up to his feet and they separated. Both fighters started unleashing punches against each other and Karakhanyan is landing some really good shots. Quach stays in it and gets Georgi back to the ground. He got Karakhanyan's back and started landing some vicious knees to the thighs and ass of Karakhanyan. Karakhanyan got back up again and landed another hard punch, pushing Quach back. He pushed forward and landed a vicious knee to the jaw. He stays on Quach and drops him with another knee to the jaw. He finished with a couple of punches on the ground and the fight is all over. Hell of a finish and a great start to the first event of the second season.
[Commercial Break]
WINNER: Karakhanyan via KO at 4:05 of the first round
POST FIGHT: Karakhanyan said he was trying to circle around and take his time in the fight and that's what he did. He said as soon as he clinched he was going for the knees. He apologized for adding a few punches on the ground.
STAR RATING: (***-) Nice highlight reel KO for Karakhanyan to start off this second season for Bellator. That was a fun brawl for a while, a little sloppy, but it was fun with a vicious finish.
[Commercial Break]
FIGHT TWO: ERIC MARRIOTT VS. JOE WARREN (FEATHERWEIGHT QUARTERFINAL)
PRE FIGHT: Marriott said he doesn't see Warren finishing the fight, and says Warren will only win by laying on him for three rounds and turning it into a wrestling match. He didn't get the full on video package treatment. Warren said ex-wrestling teammates Randy Couture and Dan Henderson got him into MMA. He said his wife thought he'd be good at the sport. He said one Title he hasn't won is an Olympic Gold, and he said he's going to do that in 2012. He said he will be the best in the world, he just needs a little time.
ROUND ONE: Warren shoots in almost immediately and pushes Marriott to the cage. He completes the takedown and starts throwing punches in Marriott's guard. Warren kept busy in the guard as Marriott tried to throw his legs up. Warren postured up and threw knees to Marriott's thighs. Warren stayed in the guard and kept throwing punches and and knees. He pushed Marriott to the cage and kept throwing munches. Marriott tried to grab for a leg lock but Warren popped out and Marriott got to his feet. Warren shot back in and pushed Marriott to the cage. Marriott turned him around but Warren again turned him, picked him up and slammed him nicely. He moved to side control. Marriott got back to closed guard, but Warren turned him back into the cage and has his neck contorted really badly for a bit. Warren postures up and Marriott went for an armbar. He had it locked but Warren picked him up and dropped him down to break the hold. Marriott thre up for a triangle with thirty seconds left and tried to lock it in tight. Warren's in trouble here as time is running out on the round. Warren survives to the end of the round. I think. The screen just cut to a video package before the bell sounded!
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Marriott. The near submissions took that for Marriott after Warren controlled the first four minutes.
ROUND TWO: Warren got another takedown early after some early jabs by Marriott. Warren pushed him back to the cage. He threw some more knees to the thighs while in the guard. Warren postured up and landed a few more punches. He's just smothering Marriott on the cage. He postured up and Marriott tried to scramble. Marriott landed a few punches from the bottom, but Warren landed some more in response. Warren rained down some more punches from the guard. Warren moved to half guard and kept landing punches and elbows. Marriott moved back to full guard. He stayed in Marriott's guard, landing punches and knees until the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Warren. He stayed active in top position almost the entire round.
[Commercial Break]
ROUND THREE: Warren got another early takedown and briefly had side control before Marriott got him into his guard. Warren landed some more knees to the legs and landed some more punches to the head of Marriott against the cage. Marriott pushed Warren off and got to his feet, but Warren got right back on him and got a body lock and pulled Marriott to the ground. He got into half guard. Marriott tried to kick his legs up and Warren just stayed postured up, landing punches and keeping position. Marriott grabbed an armbar again and again Warren picked him up and dropped down onto him. Warren continued his assault as he moved to half guard. Warren tried to get to side control but Marriott got him back to guard and tried again for the armbar but didn't get it. Warren stayed postured and kept working with punches and position. Warren stayed on him with punches as Marriott tried to scramble. Marriott worked back to his feet with seconds left. He tried for a high knee right before the end of the round but it didn't connect and the bell rang.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Warren. He again kept control and overpowered Marriott throughout the round.
[Commercial Break]
WINNER: Warren via unanimous decision, (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
POST FIGHT: Warren said he's real happy to get the win and move on and he'll be 100% better the next time out. He said twice he's been in a triangle as tight that Marriott had him in, but he knew how much time he had left. He gave Marriott credit for sticking around the entire 15 minutes.
STAR RATING: (**) The first round was exciting with a near comeback victory from Marriott, but the remainder of the fight was just Warren keeping busy in top control. Impressive, yes; exciting, not so much.
[Commercial Break]
-Jimmy Smith interviews two friends of Roger Huerta at cageside, Jeremy Shockey and Mickey Rourke.
[Commercial Break]
FIGHT THREE: ROGER HUERTA VS. CHAD HINTON (LIGHTWEIGHT QUARTERFINAL)
PRE FIGHT: I'm very surprised this isn't the night's main event here. Hinton said he sees himself as the no name, old guy underdog. He said he's going to make a lot of noise and people will know who he is after this fight. Huerta talked about his abusive childhood and the turnaround that came with his adoptive mother. This is a great emotional back story, but a strange pre-fight video here. Seems more suited for a countdown type special and not something to air right before the fight, but it does give his background heading into this one.
ROUND ONE: Huerta comes out to the center of the cage and tries to walk Hinton down. Hinton lands the first punch and Roger pushes him to the cage. Hinton turns him around and presses Huerta against the cage. Huerta landed a knee that looked to be low but Hinton kept going in the clinch. They trade knees in the clinch. Hinton pushes Huerta back to the cage but Huerta turns him around and lands a knee to the body. They get separation. Huerta lands a good straight kick. Huerta takes Hinton down and nearly grabs his back in a scramble. Hinton gets back to his feet. Hinton grabs a leg and tries to get Huerta down. Huerta nicely somersaults to get out and back to his feet. Huerta grabs a Thai clinch and lands a couple of knees. Hinton gets the position himself and lands some really good knees to the body. Roger lands a good combination and forces Hinton to let go. Hinton shot in and took Huerta down into his half guard. Huerta scrambled and got to his feet. Hinton landed a knee but then Huerta tagged him with a good combination. Hinton takes Huerta down but he's cut open. He tries to take Huerta's back but Huerta pulls him down his back and winds up on top and in Hinton's half guard. Huerta starts throwing with a flurry of punches. He stands up and the round ends.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Huerta. Hinton had a couple of takedowns and some good knees in the round, but Huerta controlled more of the action and landed the harder, more effective strikes.
[Commercial Break]
ROUND TWO: Huerta lands a good early leg kick and a big right. Hinton lands a high kick but Huerta tags him with a right. They start swinging wildly. Huerta lands some good punches but he's leaving himself open for a bad counter. He then shoots in and takes Hinton down. Huerta gets into his half guard and starts throwing down punches. Hinton tries to kick him off but Huerta drops back down into his guard and lands a big right. Huerta postured up again and rained down with a ton of big shots. Huerta passes and nearly gets to side control. Hinton got butterfly guard but Huerta is just dropping down with a ton of punishment here. Huerta postures up and drops down with more punches and Hinton is getting tagged really bad here. Huerta continues the assault. He moves to side control with a minute and a half left in the round. He goes for the crucifix and lands some big left hand shots. Huerta is beating Hinton up here. Huerta keeps landing punches as Hinton is trying to survive. Huerta stays in side control and moves to the mount with fifteen seconds left. He throws a bunch more short punches and Hinton just barely survives the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-8 Huerta. Total domination on the ground and he landed a ton of punishment there.
[Commercial Break]
ROUND THREE: Huerta lands a couple of good straight kicks early. He gets Hinton on the run and lands a big left. He gets a bit too creative and Hinton takes his back standing. Huerta somersaults from a standing position in a slick move to get out of it. He gets on top of Hinton. Hinton's leg is there for the taking and Huerta grabs onto a knee bar and forces Hinton to tap. Nice win.
[Commercial Break]
WINNER: Huerta via submission (kneebar) at :56 of the third round
POST FIGHT: Huerta talked about Hinton's strength and said it just goes to show that age isn't a factor. He said he wanted to get the TKO victory, but the leg was there and it was a clear path to the W.
STAR RATING: (***) A ton of exciting stuff from Huerta in that fight. It was competitive in the first but then Huerta started really laying on the punishment in the second and picked up a submission that Hinton kind of handed to him with that knee bar. But a good start to Huerta's time in Bellator.
[Commercial Break]
FIGHT FOUR: JOE DUARTE VS. CAREY VANIER (LIGHTWEIGHT QUARTERFINAL)
ROUND ONE: Vanier goes for a body kick early but slipped. Duarte tried to get after him but Vanier got to his feet and pushed him to the cage. They separated and Vanier took the inside. He pushed in and landed a good body kick. Both guys are tentative and feeling each other out here. Vanier lands a good kick again. Vanier dropped down and shot in for a nice takedown.He gets into Duarte's half guard. Vanier lands a couple of strikes but Duarte scrambled and got to his feet to land a couple knees in the clinch. Vanier stayed on him against the cage and landed a couple knees of his own before Duarte turned him around and separated. Vanier landed a leg kick. Vanier shot in, lifted Duarte up and slammed him to the canvas. Duarte was able to scramble and get ot his feet again. Vanier landed a good straight kick. Duarte tried to push in but Vanier shot in again. This time it got stuffed. They got in close and Duarte landed a good knee in the clinch. Duarte landed a good overhand right with ten seconds left.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Vanier. Good start for him with the takedowns, but he needs to do more than just get Duarte down. He needs to find a way to keep him there.
[Commercial Break]
ROUND TWO: Vanier landed a good leg kick early as Duarte tried to walk him down. Duarte missed a big right and then stuffed a takedown attempt. Vanier landed a good straight left and then popped out. Vanier tagged Duarte with a good straight left again. He went for a head kick but it was blocked. Vanier got in for the clinch again and they traded knees. Duarte tripped him up and briefly got him down but Vanier popped right back up. The crowd started to boo the tentative action. Duarte landed a good body kick and then a second. Vanier kept walking on the outside as Duarte was trying to load up a right hand punch. Vanier landed a good short combination. He gets the clinch again and tries to land a high knee. Vanier drops down some big foot stomps and body shots. Finally he takes Duarte down. Duarte tried to get a guillotine locked in. Vanier dropped some lefts down to the face of Duarte. He dropped some short hammer fists as the round was coming to a close. Duarte tried to grab a kimura as time was running out in the round, but Vanier held off the attempt as the round came to a close.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Vanier. Another good round for him here in this fight.
[Commercial Break]
ROUND THREE: Vanier comes right out to the center of the cage. He lands a good two punch combo. Vanier shot in for another takedown and started landing some good hammerfists from the half guard. He's throwing some big power here as he keeps positiong and lands hammerfists. He lands some really big lefts that looked to hurt Duarte. Vanier is doing a ton of damage here. Vanier keeps throwing punches and hammerfists. Vanier postures up and starts throwing more punches that are connecting. Vanier stays on Duarte as he tries to curl up and keeps landing punches. Duarte got back up to his feet and tried to lock a guillotine as he dropped back to the ground, but Vanier was in side control and got out. He starts throwing a ton of punches. Duarte tries to move back to his feet but Vanier stays on him. He lands some big punches to the side of the head of Duarte and he's not really covering up and the ref stops it.
[Commercial Break]
WINNER: Vanier via TKO at 4:14 of the third round
STAR RATING: (**) Not a bad fight at all, but not terribly exciting until the end when Vanier was really putting the hurt on him. Good win for Vanier, though, to move on in the tournament.
-Well, that was a good start to the second season for Bellator. It's just unfortunate there are many (like me) that can't watch the fights live in their markets. We'll have plenty more on this card and Saturday's UFC 112 event tomorrow, so check back throughout the day and this weekend for more commentary on these results and the event on Saturday.
[Roger Huerta photo by www.TomHillPhotos.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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