MMA Combat - Bellator 52 - Season 5 HW Tournament, Results

MMA Combat - Bellator 52 - Season 5 HW Tournament, Results

Saturday, October 1, 2011, Bellator Fighting Championships went live from L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for Bellator 52, featuring the quarterfinal match-ups for the Season 5 Bellator Heavyweight Tournament.

Ron Sparks representing Louisville MMA took all of 84 seconds to end Mark Holata's night, as the hulking heavyweight added yet another first round stoppage [7] to his growing resume, while advancing to the semi-final round of the Season 5 Tournament. Holata was no match for the power and precision combinations of Sparks; after a right hook put him in trouble, Sparks landed consecutive lefts that found their mark right on the jaw, spelling the end of Holata.

Eric Prindle had his hands full with Abe Wagner, but managed to take a unanimous decision after 15 minutes of intense action. Wagner was able to gain positional advantages throughout the bout, but on the feet it was all Prindle who utilized his superior striking ability to put Wagner in trouble on more than one occasion. When the dust settled, it was Prindle who advanced through to the semi-final round.

Blagoi Ivanov was impressive in his Bellator debut as the undefeated Bulgarian outclassed TUF alumnus Zak Jensen in every area of the fight, culminating with a second round Guillotine Choke stoppage after Jensen went out cold while fighting to stave off the submission.

And in the main-event of the evening, Mike "300" Hayes did just enough to take out "Goliath" Neil Grove with a split decision nod from ringside judges. The bout was a war of attrition, but Hayes continued to push forward throughout the contest while the giant South African looked to counter. Despite a third round flurry that threatened the American, it was Hayes who finished both the round and fight on top, advancing through to the tournament semi-finals.

"It was another great night in another full house at L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "Our heavyweights put on some explosive performances tonight, and I can't wait for the semifinals later this month at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City."

Full card results from Bellator 52 are found below:

1 Matt Van Buren def. Nick Nichols via TKO (Punches) rd2 2:29
2 Justin Frazier def. Liron Wilson via TKO (Punches) rd1 1:50
3 Josh Quayhagen def. Cosmo Alexandre via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
4 Genair da Silva def. Bryan Goldsby via Submission (Brabo Choke) rd1 3:51
5 Ron Sparks def. Mark Holata via KO (Punches) rd1 1:24
6 Eric Prindle def. Abe Wagner via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
7 Blagoi Ivanov def. Zak Jensen via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) rd2 2:35
8 Mike Hayes def. Neil Grove via Decision (Split) rd3 5:00

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