In front of a packed house, Bellator Fighting Championships returned to the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma for Bellator 43, which aired LIVE on MTV2, as Jay Hieron defeated Rick Hawn to become the winner of Season 4's Welterweight Tournament and $100,000. Hieron earns a title shot against reigning Bellator Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren.
"This was an incredible night of fights filled with some amazing finishes," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "The Hieron-Hawn fight was a battle and Brian Baker provided a knockout and a moving, emotional moment that our audience will remember forever. And, Chase returned to form in dramatic fashion"
Hawn, a 2004 Judo Olympian, aimed to fight standing up against Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron, which proved to be the wrong decision. Hieron dictated the pace at the start, while Hawn forced the action at the end. The fight was as close as it gets, evidenced by Hieron winning by way of a split decision.
In a Middleweight Special Feature Fight, inspirational Bellator veteran Bryan "The Beast" Baker impressed against tough UFC and Strikeforce veteran Joe Riggs. Both fighters started by feeling each other out, but Baker quickly found his rhythm, connecting with a devastating left hook in Round 2, which gave way to a TKO stoppage.
One knockout lead to another as Baker got down on one knee inside the Bellator cage to propose to his girlfriend after the fight. The Beast leaves Newkirk with a tournament championship and a new fiancé, while MTV2 viewers and excited fans at the First Council Casino saw the first-ever post-fight engagement.
Former WEC Champion Chase Beebe outclassed Bellator Season 3 Bantamweight Semifinalist Jose Vega and earned a spot in next season's Bellator Bantamweight Tournament with the victory. Early on, Beebe was looking to take the fight to the ground, but Vega clearly wanted to stand with the Chicago native. After several guillotine attempts by Beebe, he finally locked one in and forced Vega to tap in the first minutes of Round 1.
In a heavyweight feature attraction, Ron "The Monster" Sparks went toe-to-toe against the experienced Vince Lucero. Early in the first round, Sparks connected with a kick and punch that dropped Lucero. Sparks then dominated, proving he has a dangerous ground-game and earning the victory by means of submission.
Official Main Card Results:
Jay Hieron def. Rick Hawn by Split Decision (29-28. 28-29, 29-28)
Bryan Baker def. Joe Riggs by TKO (Referee Stoppage Due to Strikes, Round 2)
Chase Beebe def. Jose Vega by Submission (Guillotine 4:06, Round 1)
Ron Sparks def. Vince Lucero by Submission (Keylock 2:18, Round 1)
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The evening's 14 participants included Bellator 43 main-eventers Rick Hawn and Jay Hieron, who each made weight without issue. The two welterweights meet in the finals of Bellator's season-four tourney with a future shot at champion Ben Askren on the line.
A preliminary card bout between George Burton and John Bryant was apparently scratched. WEC and DREAM veteran Chase Beebe came in four tenths of a pound over the traditional one-pound allowance given to non-title fights and has two hours to make 136 pounds.
The full weigh-in results included:
MAIN CARD
* Rick Hawn (170.8) vs. Jay Hieron (170.8) - welterweight tourney final
* Bryan Baker (184) vs. Joe Riggs (184.6)
* Chase Beebe (136.4)* vs. Jose Vega (135.8)
* Vince Lucero (263.6) vs. Ron Sparks (255.2)
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Michael Osborn (155.6) vs. Mike Schatz (155.8)
* Rich Bouphanouvong (178.2) vs. David Rickles (177.6)
* Beebe has two hours to make 136 pounds
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