Bellator Results from Grand Canyon University Arena

Phoenix, A.Z. (September 20, 2013) – The final results are in for Bellator MMA’s event live from Grand Canyon University Arena as Douglas Lima earned a $100,000 tournament prize and a guaranteed title shot with his devastating knockout victory over Ben Saunders  in the Welterweight Tournament Final.

The event also featured the Bellator Season 9 Welterweight Tournament with Brent Weedman, Ron Keslar, Rick Hawn and War Machine advancing to the semifinal rounds. Ron Keslar will face War Machine and Brent Weedman will fight Rick Hawn in the semifinals on October 18^thfrom U.S. Cellular Center from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final: Douglas Lima defeats Ben Saunders via KO (head kick) - Round 2, 4:33

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: War Machine defeats Vaughn Anderson via technical submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 4:01

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Rick Hawn defeats Herman Terrado via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Ron Keslar defeats Sergio Junior via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Brent Weedman defeats Justin Baesman via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:20

Lightweight Feature Fight: Efrain Escudero defeats Zack Surdyka via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)

Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Travis Marx defeats Brandon Bender via TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches) – Round 2, 4:28

Lightweight Feature Fight: LaRue Burley defeats Bubba Jenkins via TKO (Punches) – Round 3, 3:40

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Clifford Starks defeats Joe Yager via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) – Round 3, 5:00

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Liam McGeary defeats Beau Tribolet via KO (Punch) – Round 1, 0:27

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Siala-Mou “Mighty Mo” Siliga defeats Dan Charles via TKO (Punches)- Round 3, 1:26

Welterweight Feature Fight: Adam McDonough defeats Johnny Buck via TKO (Spinning Back-Kick and Punches) – Round 1, 4:51

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA           

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 115 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom.  In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 150 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes.  Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.

Bellator Host Live Weigh-Ins Thursday, September 19th at 5:00 p.m. PST from Grand Canyon University

Weigh-Ins will be streamed online at Bellator.com

Phoenix A.Z. (September 18, 2013) – The weigh-in and pre-fight press conference for Bellator MMA will take place Thursday at 5:00 p.m. PST inside the lobby of Grand Canyon University. Bellator MMA will take place from Grand Canyon University Arena on Friday, September 20th with the first fight taking place at 4:00 p.m. PST and streaming LIVE on Spike.com. The televised portion of the night will begin at 6:00 p.m. PST and will air LIVE on Spike TV.

All participants from Friday night’s event will be on hand, as well as Bellator CEO & Chairman Bjorn Rebney.

The event will be emceed by Bellator cage announcer Michael C. Williams and Bellator color commentator Jimmy Smith.

As always the weigh-in is open to both the public and media.

MAIN CARD

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final: Douglas Lima (24-5) vs. Ben Saunders (16-5)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: War Machine (13-4) vs. Vaughn Anderson (16-1-1)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Rick Hawn (15-2) vs. Herman Terrado (11-2)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Brent Weedman (21-8-1) vs. Justin Baesman (14-3)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Ron Keslar (10-3) vs. Sergio Junior (29-11)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Travis Marx (20-4) vs. Brandon Bender (11-0)

Featherweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (4-0) vs. LaRue Burley (2-0)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Beau Tribolet (7-2) vs. Liam McGeary (4-0)

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mighty Mo (3-2) vs. Dan Charles (6-0)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Johnny Buck (12-8) vs. Adam McDonough (8-0)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Joe Yager (5-2) vs. Clifford Starks (8-2)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Efrain Escudero (19-7) vs. Zack Surdyka (5-1)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA    

Rick Hawn and Ron Keslar Enter Welterweight Tournament As Riddle, Scanlon Injured

Keslar Battles Sergio Junior, Hawn Meets Herman Terrado September 20th

Newport Beach, CA. (September 16, 2013) – Injuries over the last three weeks have forced Mark Scanlon and Matt Riddle out of Bellator’s Season 9 Welterweight Tournament. They have been replaced by Rick Hawn and Ron Keslar. Hawn will now face Herman Terrado, while Keslar will battle Sergio Junior on September 20^th from Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University. The night will also feature the long awaited Welterweight Tournament Finals as Douglas Lima battles Ben Saunders and the tournament debut of War Machine.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by visiting the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office or www.GCUArena.com,with tickets starting at just $25. The event will be broadcast live on Spike starting at 6 p.m. PST on Spike, as well as in Spanish language on mun2.

Hawn moves back to welterweight after an impressive run at lightweight that saw the former Olympian win the Season 6 Lightweight Tournament and fight for the Bellator Lightweight Title against Michael Chandler in January. After suffering defeat at the hands of Chandler, Hawn battled long time veteran Karo Parisyan in April and collected another finish with a devastating knockout victory. With a 15-2 record and a Bellator Tournament run already under his belt, Hawn knows he’ll have a target on his back, even as a late replacement.

“I’m just excited to back in the Bellator Tournament again and looking forward to fighting at welterweight and making a run in this tournament. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. The field is really deep this season, I know it’s going to be a tough road.”

Keslar joins Bellator riding a four fight win streak, and will try his hand at his first Bellator Tournament. A standout at the famous American Kickboxing Academy, Keslar will have his hands full with Brazilian submission ace Sergio Junior on September 20^th.

“We are only three weeks into our season, and it’s no secret our tournaments have been hit hard with injury,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “With that said, it speaks to the depth we’ve created here to be able to add in talent like Rick Hawn and Ron Keslar less than a week before the fight. This is still an incredibly deep field of talent, and Friday should be a great night of fights.”

The full fight card for Bellator MMA can be found below:

MAIN CARD

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final: Douglas Lima (24-5) vs. Ben Saunders (16-5)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: War Machine (13-4) vs. Vaughn Anderson (16-1-1)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Rick Hawn (15-2) vs. Herman Terrado (11-2)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Brent Weedman (21-8-1) vs. Justin Baesman (14-3)

Bellator Welterweight Opening Round: Ron Keslar (10-3) vs. Sergio Junior (29-11)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Travis Marx (20-4) vs. Brandon Bender (11-0)

Featherweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (4-0) vs. LaRue Burley (2-0)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Beau Tribolet (7-2) vs. Liam McGeary (4-0)

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Mighty Mo (3-2) vs. Dan Charles (6-0)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Johnny Buck (12-8) vs. Adam McDonough (8-0)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Joe Yager (5-2) vs. Clifford Starks (8-2)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Efrain Escudero (19-7) vs. Zack Surdyka (5-1)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA          

Bellator Hosts 100th Event September 20th Live From Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University Arena

Newport Beach, CA. (August 22, 2013) – The Toughest Tournament in Sports continues from Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University Arena on Friday, September 20^th live on Spike. The long awaited Bellator MMA Welterweight Tournament Final between Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima will take place along with the opening rounds of the Fall Welterweight Tournament and a full card of Phoenix’s top-talent.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by visiting the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office or www.GCUArena.com,with tickets starting at just $25. The event will be broadcast live starting at 6 p.m. PST on Spike, as well as in Spanish language on mun2.

After making his Bellator debut in July and defeating Mike Barreras with second round knockout, Bubba Jenkins will return to the cage and face LaRue Burley. A former NCAA wrestling champion and known for his dominating ground game, Jenkins holds a 4-0 professional record and has won three of his four fights by first round submission.

The night will also feature a battle between fan favorite Efrain Escudero and Zach Surdyka.  Although Surdyka has posted only one professional lost, he will have to hold off the seasoned Escudero, who has recorded 12 submission victories in his 19 professional wins.

The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com starting at 4:30 p.m. PST.

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD:

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final: Ben Saunders (16-5) vs. Douglas Lima (24-5)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Sergio Junior (29-11) vs. Matt Riddle (7-3)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Mark Scanlon (9-2) vs. Herman Terrado (11-2)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Justin Baesman (14-3) vs. Brent Weedman (21-8-1)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Vaughn Anderson (16-1-1) vs. War Machine (13-4)

PRELIMINARY CARD:

Featherweight Feature Fight:  LaRue Burley (2-0) vs. Bubba Jenkins (4-0)

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Dan Charles (6-0) vs. Mighty Mo (3-2)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Liam McGeary (4-0) vs. Beau Tribolet (7-2)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Clifford Starks (8-2) vs. Joe Yager (5-2)

Welterweight Feature Fight: Johnny Buck (12-8) vs. Adam McDonough (8-0)

Bantamweight Feature Fight: Brandon Bender (11-0) vs. Travis Marx (20-4)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Zack Surdyka (5-1) vs. Efrain Escudero (19-7)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA    

Lima vs. Saunders Final Headlines Loaded September 20th Event Live From Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University Arena

Plus the Opening Round of Bellator’s Fall Welterweight Tournament

Newport Beach, CA. (July 26, 2013) – The long awaited Bellator MMA Welterweight Tournament Final between Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima will take place live on Spike, Friday, September 20^th from Phoenix’s Grand Canyon University Arena. The night will also feature the opening round of the Bellator’s highly anticipated Fall Welterweight Tournament.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office or www.GCUArena.com,with tickets starting at just $25. The event will be broadcast live starting at 6 p.m. PST on Spike, as well as in Spanish language on mun2. The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com starting at 4:30 p.m. PST.

With a combined record of 40-10, Bellator veterans Saunders and Lima will face off after a number of delays due to injury. A crowd favorite, Saunders cruised through the semifinal with a first round KO against Raul Amaya to punch his ticket to the tournament final.

"I can't wait for this fight,” Lima said. “I have been injured back to back, but this time I'll be 100% and we going to have one of the best fights of the year. I am ready to fight for the belt and I am coming hard!”

Having already climbed his way through a previous Welterweight Tournament, Lima knows what is takes to earn his title shot at the Bellator Welterweight World Championship and Saunders is the only obstacle standing in his way.

Crowd favorite and MMA veteran Matt Riddle will make his Bellator debut against Brazilian standout Sergio Junior. Known for his strong wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu background, Riddle joins Bellator after coming off four-straight victories with the UFC and is ready to face some of the best talent in the Bellator cage.

“This division is just so stacked, and I am so excited to be able to fight in this tournament,” Riddle said. “Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now, and I want to be a part of it.”

With a stacked Welterweight Tournament, former Bellator Tournament Finalist Brent Weedman looks to make his way through the tournament as he faces Justin Baesman, who steps into the Bellator cage for the first time in his professional career.

“My injury in the last tournament left me with unfinished business,” Weedman said. “I am glad that there is so much talent in this tournament, because nobody cares if you beat someone they've never heard of. I want tough competition to showcase my abilities.”

The Welterweight Tournament field is also rich with new blood as the always electrifying War Machine will battle Canadian Vaughn Anderson, who holds an impressive 16-1 professional record. After making his Bellator debut in June, War Machine is anxious to showcase to the nation the type of fighter he is.

“I am very excited to be a part of this tournament after my previous two attempts to be in a tournament fell through,” War Machine said. “As they say, the third time is the charm and this is my time. My opponent, Vaughn Anderson, has a very impressive record, but when I watched his fights all I could do was smile. For me, he is a match made in heaven and I am going to wreck him.”

The night will round out with new Bellator blood as England’s own Mark Scanlon will face knockout artist Herman Terrado. Scanlon will need to hold off Terrado’s heavy hand as he has won four of his last five fights via knockout.

“Phoenix is a location we’ve had on our radar for a long time and we wanted to deliver a stacked card for our first visit to Grand Canyon University,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “We’ve got a lot of familiar faces to go along with some new Bellator arrivals, and like always, our welterweight field continues to be loaded with talent.”

Bellator MMA Main Card:

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final: Ben Saunders (16-5) vs. Douglas Lima (24-5)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Brent Weedman (21-8-1) vs. Justin Baesman (14-3)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: War Machine (13-4) vs. Vaughn Anderson (16-1-1)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Matt Riddle (7-3) vs. Sergio Junior (29-11)

Bellator Welterweight Tournament Opening Round: Mark Scanlon (9-2) vs. Herman Terrado (11-2)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/BellatorMMA