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The action-packed event played to a boisterous sellout crowd on a warm and windswept spring night at the Kansas City Power & Light District, an open-air entertainment venue in the heart of Kansas City’s resurgent downtown.
Afterwards, Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney revealed that Schambari will face Baker in a rematch of a split decision victory for Baker and Hess will take on Shlemenko during the tournament’s semifinal round on May 27th.
“We had another great night, in a magical, electrifying venue here in Kansas City,” Rebney said. “The four fighters who advanced will now face each other to determine who earns their way to the Final round of our Middleweight tournament and who ultimately earns the right to face our champion, Hector Lombard, for the middleweight title.”
One of the nights dominant performances belonged to Baker, the former WEC standout, who took opponent Sean Loeffler (18-5) to the ground early on in Round 1, neutralized him with a series of body shots, forced him to give up his back and then finished him with an impressive ground-and-pound just 2:43 into the fight. It was Baker’s seventh consecutive first round stoppage victory.
Afterward, the Victorville, Calif., native said he’s gunning for a rematch with Schambari, who Baker defeated via a controversial split decision during a WEC fight in December 2007.
“I want to see what he’s learned,” Baker (12-1) said of Schambari. “I’ve beat him once and I’m gonna beat him again.”
In his fight, Schambari, a former competitive powerlifter and childhood Jr. Olympic level swimmer, used his tremendous strength to submit former TUF contestant Luke Zachrich (10-2) via arm triangle just 3:34 into Round 1, improving his pro record to 12-1.
“I was driving my shoulder and my bicep into his carotid artery,” Schambari told Bellator color commentator Jimmy Smith after the fight. “I could hear that he was starting to choke so I just squeezed as hard as I could. Now I’m looking forward to facing Bryan again. It’s my chance to set right what once went wrong.”
In the nights most unorthodox fight, Shlemenko, who signed with Bellator last week and arrived stateside on Sunday, used a powerful spinning back-fist to open a cut on the bridge of Matt Major’s nose early on in Round 1 and never turned back, putting on a striking clinic and dominating a three-round standup fight that ended with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.
Afterward, Shlemenko, who improved his pro record to a remarkable 28-4, said he is already looking forward to his semifinal round matchup with Hess.
“I’m going to prepare to knock the guy out,” he said through his translator.
Hess, a former standout wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma used a crafty guillotine choke against the cage to submit former University of Iowa wrestler and IFL champ Ryan McGivern (13-7) at 1:54 into Round 2. It was Hess’s second straight win since his loss to reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard in the Bellator Season 1 finals last June.
“I knew [McGivern] was a wrestler too, so I knew it was going to go to the ground,” Hess (11-1-1) said afterward as his parents looked on from cage-side seats. “The guillotine just felt right. I cinched it up and waited for him to tap.”
The evening marked the conclusion of Bellator’s Season 2 quarterfinal round. Only four fighters now remain in each of Bellator’s eight-man tournaments at featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight.
The semifinal round begins in the lightweight division next Thursday at Boston’s historic Wang Theatre where UFC veteran and MMA fan favorite Roger Huerta takes on emerging star Pat Curran and “Submission of the Year” title holder Toby Imada faces former all-American college wrestler Carey Vanier. The night will be punctuated with a Super Fight between Bellator World Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and tough UFC veteran Josh “the Dentist” Neer. Tickets are available at citicenter.com.
Fans who missed Thursday night’s action can watch all the best moments this weekend during special highlight shows on NBC, Telemundo and the cable network mun2. Check your local listings for exact dates and times.
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Bellator 16 will be broadcast live in prime time nationwide on Thursday on FOX Sports Net and during special Bellator highlight shows this Saturday night on NBC, Telemundo and mun2.
The card’s Main Event is a first round matchup in Bellator’s eight man-middleweight tournament featuring WEC veteran Bryan “The Beast” Baker (11-1) and Sean “The Destroyer” Loeffler (14-3), a submission artist from Southern California.
The official results of the weigh-in are as follows:
Tournament Card:
-Bryan Baker (185.5) vs. Sean Loeffler (186)
-Alexander Shlemenko (184.5) vs. Matt Major (185.25)
-Jared Hess (185.25) vs. Ryan McGivern (185.25)
-Eric Schambari (184) vs. Luke Zachrich (183.5)
Local Feature Fight Card:
-Rudy Bears (173) vs. Brent Weedman (170)
-Danny Tims (135) vs. Brian Davidson (136)
-Eric Marriott (161.5) vs. Demi Deeds (161.25) – at 162 lbs.
-Drew Dober (169.75) versus Nick Nolte (170.75)
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The free live stream, which is a first for the promotion, will also feature a pre-fight news conference.
Expected to appear at the presser are Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and all 16 fighters participating on the card. The Kansas City Power & Light District in Kansas City, Mo., will play host to the news conference and weigh-ins.
The weigh-ins will look to make official eight bouts for Thursday’s fight card, which airs live on FOX Sports Net at 8 p.m. ET.
Bellator 16 Middleweight Tournament Bouts
Bryan Baker vs. Sean Loeffler
Ryan McGivern vs. Jared Hess
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Matt Major
Eric Schambari vs. Luke Zachrich
Local Feature Fight Card
Brent Weedman vs. Rudy Bears
Danny Tims vs. Brian Davidson
Demi Deeds vs. John Eric Marriott
Drew Dober vs. Nick Nolte
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All members of the media and all fans are cordially invited to attend.
The event will begin promptly at 8 p.m. and will feature all 16 featured fighters scheduled to compete in Thursday’s night’s nationally-televised Bellator 16 event at the same venue including Bryan “The Beast” Baker, Sean “The Destroyer” Loeffler, Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko, Matt Major, Jared Hess, Ryan McGivern, Eric Schambari and Luke Zachrich as well as eight locally based fighters who will compete in the evening’s Local Featured Fights and Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney.
In addition, the pre-event press conference and weigh-in will also be streamed LIVE at http://www.Bellator.com.
Thursday’s event is the first of four exciting, nationally televised “Fight Night Live” Bellator Fighting Championship events to be held at KC Live!
Prior to the fights, fans can also enjoy a special performance by Freedom, a premiere Navy rock band, as part of “Navy Week” being celebrated throughout Kansas City April 26 – April 30, 2010.
FIGHT NIGHT LIVE
BELLATOR FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Time: 4:30 p.m.–“Freedom” Navy Rock Band performs live on Walnut St. Stage
6 p.m.–Doors open to public
7 p.m.–Fights begin (nationally televised)
Location: KC Live! in the Kansas City Power & Light District (on Grand Blvd between 13th Street and Walnut Street)
Event is RAIN or SHINE (in cases of severe weather, check http://www.powerandlightdistrict.com for details)
For more information, visit Bellator.com or http://www.powerandlightdistrict.com
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