Bellator live coverage from Mt. Pleasant, MI - lightweight tournament

The TV show features four matches in the first round of the lightweight tournament:

ALEXANDER TIGER SARANAVSKIY (21-1) VS. THIAGO MICHEL (11-3)

First round: Big right by Sarnavskiy knocked him backwards. Another hard right by Sarnavskiy. Michel missed a spin kick. Sarnavskiy is landing overhand rights. Michel’s shots are mostly being blocked. Sarnavskiy landed a left. Front kick by Sarnavskiy. Sarnavskiy caught his kick and used it to throw Michel down. Michel got a takedown in the waning seconds and went for a guillotine but time ran out. 10-9 Sarnavskiy.

Second round: Sarnavskiy took him down. Michel got up and was taken back down. Sarnavskiy just holding him down. The ref warned him to work. He’s trying to take Michel’s back. Now he’s got it and working for a choke. He got it and Michel tapped out.  3:43

Sarnavskiy faces the winner of Lloyd Woodard vs. David Rickels in the second round.

GUILLAUME DELORENZI (10-1) VS. SAAD AWAD (12-4)

First round: Awad was a late replacement for Patricky Pitbull Freire who is out of the tournament due to a knee injury. Awad hurt him and knocked him down and out. He hurt him with an overhand right and a left hook put him down and out.  :31

WILL BROOKS (10-0) VS. RICARDO TIRLONI (15-3)

First round: Low kick by Brooks. Right by Brooks and a body shot. Knee by Brooks. Tirloni got the single leg takedown. Brooks then took Tirloni down. Tirloni tried a triangle from the bottom. Brooks getting a few shots in. Brooks landed a few punches. Brooks now doing little from the top. Brooks landing a few shots from the top late. He did just enough to win the round 10-9.

Second round: Good high kick by Tirloni. Brooks landed a right. Knee by Brooks . Brooks moved in and got the takedown. Brooks landing punches. Brooks with a kick. Brooks threw Tirloni down. Brooks with another takedown but Tirloni going for a guillotine. Brooks popped out. Tirloni working for a leglock but Brooks out and to his feet. Both trading punches. Tirloni with a left hook and right to the body. Tirloni swelling under left eye. Body kick by Brooks. Tirloni landing shots as well. Knee by Tirloni. Second knee by Tirloni right to the groin. The ref called a time out. Brooks was hurting. Tirloni went or a takedown but Brooks right up. 20-18 Brooks.

Third round: Brooks with an uppercut. Tirloni landed to the body. Tirloni firing but not landing. Nice left right combo by Brooks. Brooks got another takedown. Brooks continuing to land punches for the top, Brooks let him up. Brooks going for a takedown. Knees by Tirloni. Brooks got another takedown with 48 seconds left to pretty much ice the round. Tirloni went for a triangle. It wasn’t dangerous and Brooks pulled out. Brooks’ round 30-27.

All three judges have it 30-27.  Only score possible the way this fight went.

Brooks was in tears after the match.  His adopted mother recently died and he talked about the sacrifices she and his adopted father made for him.

DAVID RICKELS (11-1) VS. LLOYD WOODARD (12-2)

First round: Woodard already has his back. Back suplex by Woodard. He got his back again. Krickels tried a triangle. Woodard slammed him down and broke out of it. Woodard moved to side control. Woodard landing lefts. Rickels punching up. Rickels working for an armbar. Didn’t get it. Woodard continues to ride him. Rickels going for a heel hook but Woodard pulled out. Now Woodard is going for a heel hook. Then he went for a toe hold and Rickels escaped and got up. This allowed Rickels to get punches but Woodard trying a leglock. Rickels on top with punches, bloodied Woodard’s nose. Nickels used a giant swing. Maybe a half rep. 10-9 Woodard

Second round: Rickels with a body kick and punches. Good left by Rickels. Body kick by Rickels. Woodard is tired. Rickels much bigger. Knee to the body by Rickels. Woodard landed a left. Rickels with a right. Woodard dropped him with a left jab. Big momentum change as Woodard now jumped on him on the ground. Rickels is working for an armbar. . He lost it. Big right by Rickels. Rickels landed good shots but Woodard took him back down. Rickels looking for a Kimura but doesn’t have it. Up kick by Rickels. Woodard’s round up 20-18, but this round was close.

Third round: Body shot by Rickels. Rickels landing more punches. Rickels landed hard shots. More big puches by Rickels. Right by Rickels. Left by Woodard. Hard punches by Rickels. Rickels landing a low kick. Front kick didn’t land strong by Rickels. Hard right by Rickels. Rickels continuing to land. Good left by Woodard. Woodard with another counter left. Woodard with a series of punches. He’s hurting Woodard. Just a question if he can finish because the second round was close. Richels hurting him now with a series of punches. Woodard working for a takedown. Rickels went for a guillotine but Woodard popped out. Good fight. Now Rickels is going for a triangle with a few seconds left. Woodard out and on top. Rickels round for sure. I have 29-28 for Woodard but second round was close so wouldn’t surprise me to see it go the other way.

Scores: All three have it 29-28 Rickels. Can’t argue it.