Bellator 43 RESULTS
By Kevin Nelson
At the First Council Casino in Oklahoma, the main event featured Jay Hieron facing Rick Hawn for the chance to be declared the season 4 Bellator winner and earn the right to face Ben Askren for his welterweight title.
Other fights included former UFC fighter Joe Riggs making his Bellator debut, facing Bryan Baker in a middleweight matchup. A matchup to determine who will enter the season 5 bantamweight tournament featured Chase Beebe former WEC champion facing Jose Vega. The opening bout features a heavyweight matchup as Ronnie Sparks faced Vince Lucero. Here are the results of the matchups.
Ronnie Sparks( 7-0) defeats Vince Lucero(19-20-1)( submission) Heavyweights 3rds
Sparks dominated Lucero with leg kicks and put Lucero on his back and secured the takedown and moved into side control and from there he isolated Lucero’s arm and secured a keylock for the submission victory. This was a matchup that clearly was to showcase Sparks who I assume will be in the next Bellator heavyweight tournament.
Chase Beebe( 18-7) defeats Jose Vega( 9-5) ( Submission) Bantamweights 3rds
This was a qualifier match for the right to enter the Bantamweight tournament. The two spent some time in the clinch and traded takedowns and once they were on the feet again Beebe locked on a guillotine and dragged Vega to the ground as the hold was secured tight Vega had no choice but to tap.
Bryan Baker( 15-2) defeats Joe’’ diesel Riggs(34-13) (KO) middleweights 3rds
This was the promotional debut for the one time Nick Diaz conqueror Joe Riggs, as the two traded Baker would land a left hook in the second that would put Riggs on Queer Street and end the bout in decisive fashion. Baker would propose to his long time girlfriend on TV and she would say yes. It was a memorable night that Baker will never forget a KO victory and an engagement all in the same night.
Jay Hieron (22-4) defeats Rick Hawn (11-1) (decision) welterweights 3rds
This was a close fight that was hotly contested the winner would earn the right to face Ben Askren for his welterweight title by being the tournament champion. Throughout the bout Hieron would circle and land with jabs and leg kicks but Hawn would wobble Hieron in the bout. Once the decision was rendered it was a split decision victory for Hieron as he moves on to face Askren. This has been a season of controversial decisions as a lot of people felt Weedman beat Hieron and Hornbuckle beat Weedman. The fact remains that outside of the UFC, Bellator has the best welterweights and unless the scoring system is changed you are going to see a lot of decisions that seem unfair as inexperienced judges are calling fights with no knowledge of MMA.