Bellator 18 Re-Cap

Bellator 18
Bellator Fighting Championships
Monroe Civic Center
Monroe, LA
May 13, 2010
Fox Sports South

This week we will have the Semi-Finals of the Featherweight division. Last years runner-up Wilson Reis will face Patricio Pitbull and Joe Warren will fight Georgi Karakhanyan. Also on the show Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard will fight in Bellator for the first time since winning the championship.

Featherweight Semi-Final Fight- Joe Warren (3-1) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (13-1-1)

Warren advanced in the first round by defeating beating Eric Marriott by decision. Georgi fought on the same show and beat Bao Quach by TKO in the very first round. Georgi is on a 9 fight win streak.

R1- Warren quickly charged in and got a take down in the first 10 seconds. Georgi grabbed a leg submission but Warren powered out of the move. Georgi went for a spinning arm bar so Warren got up and then took Georgi down again. Georgi briefly got back to his feet with a minute and a half left in the round but quickly got taken back down to the mat. Really really controlled this round and he's up 10-9 on my score card.

R2- Warren picked up Georgi and Georgi grabbed a guillotine but Warren was able to break out of the hold and complete a take down. Georgi tried to get up and Warren completed a sick slam. Georgi went for an arm bar but Warren survived. Warren really controlling where the fight goes and I've got him 20-18.

R3- Warren nailed a slam in the first 30 seconds of the round. Georgi got to his feet and landed a driving knee but Warren absorbed it and pushed forward for another take down. Georgi caught Warren in a guillotine in the final minute but Georgi lost it with about 40 seconds left in the fight. I've got to give this fight to Warren. He didn't come close to finishing but he dominated where the fight went and grinded out a victory.

Judges score cards: 30-27 on all score cards

Winner: Joe Warren by Decision (Unanimous)

Featherweight Semi-Final Fight- Wilson Reis (10-1) vs. Patricio Pitbull (13-0)

Reis advanced in the first round by choking out Shad Lierley in the 3rd round of their fight. Pitbull also won his fight over Will Romero by submission. Big Nog is in the corner of Pitbull for the fight.

R1- Reis hit a good left early. Reis got a take down inside of two minutes. Good action on the ground between these two jiu jitsu fighters and Pitbull is able to reverse and briefly take top position. Very competitive first round. I've got Reis 10-9.

R2- Pitbull threw Reis off during a clinch and then landed a knee but Reis grabbed him and clinched again. Pitbull landed a couple knees and a jab. Pitbull very aggressive in this round and is getting the better of Reis. Fight is 19-19 on my score card going into the third round.

R3- They clinched early in the round and Pitbull hit a Magnum TA style belly-to-belly suplex. Pitbull gave up his position with three minutes left to go in the round. Pitbull is starting to find a home for some of his strikes. Reis got a take down with one minute left in the round but Pitbull quickly got back to his feet. Pitbull finished the round on top and then stood up to bang but there was only 10 seconds left. I've got Pitbull taking this round and thus the fight.

Judges score cards: 29-28 on all score cards

Winner: Patricio Pitbull by Decision (Unanimous)

190lb Catchweight Fight- Hector Lombard (24-2-1) vs. Jay Silva (5-3)

Jay Silva is a last minute replacement for Paulo Filho and that's the reason this is a catchweight fight. Lombard is the reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion. He has a background in Judo. Lombard trains at American Top Team. He has 2 decision losses on his record, both came in 2006 against Gegard Mousasi and Akihiro Gono. Lombard is unbeaten in his last 18 fights.

"I got a feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good night"- Jay Silva
"I hope he stands up with me like he stands up with everyone else"- Jay Silva

R1- They came out, Silva threw a quick jab and then backed off. Lombard lunged in and connected with an overhand right and then hit him with a left hand and this one was over. Big time performance by Hector Lombard.

Winner: Hector Lombard by KO R1 0:06

178lb Catchweight Fight- Charlie Rader (11-5) vs. Christian Fulgium (12-6)

Rader has won 9 of his 11 fights by knockout. Fulgium has 6 submissions and 6 knockouts in his 12 wins. Both fighters are from Louisiana and both guys have a background in wrestling.

R1- Rader hit a good jab when Fulgium was coming in and it briefly knocked him off balance. Rader got a take down one minute into the fight. Rader landed some elbows from half guard. Rader continued to land some strikes and Fulgium gave up his back. Rader continued to land strikes once he got Fulgium down again and finished him with strikes. Good showing for Rader.

Winner: Charlie Rader by TKO (Strikes) R1 3:27