Eduardo Dantas in action /Photo - Carlos Ozório
In a lively semifinal encounter, Eduardo Dantas, one of the biggest revelations of Brazilian domestic MMA, outdid Ed West this Saturday in Arizona, securing a berth in Bellator’s bantamweight GP final. Dantas made a strong start to the action, landing a knockdown in the opening round, but the American recovered his balance and carried on till the final bell. After the final bell, Dantas was awarded the split decision.
“I couldn’t get my game to flow. I felt like something was holding me back, but my warrior spirit spoke louder,” he said after the fight.
In the other semifinal, Marcos “Lôro” Galvão pushed the pace over the three rounds, forcing Cuba’s Alexis Vila to back pedal the whole time. When the cards came back once time was up, though, Villa was awarded the split decision and spot in the final.
In other action, Travis Wiuff overcame Christian M’Pumbo by unanimous decision, and former UFC fighter Efrain Escudero needed just two minutes to put away Cesar Avila with a guillotine choke.
Now the third Brazilian on Saturday’s card, Ricardo Tirloni, entered his match with Steve Gable determined. After an evenly-matched first round, the Tirloni clinched up against the fencing, got the takedown, mounted, and got back-mount for a second-round rear-naked choke finish.
Check out the complete results:
Bellator 55
Yuma, Arizona, USA
October 22, 2011
Bantamweight GP – semifinals:
Eduardo Dantas defeated Ed West via split decision;
Alexis Vila defeated Marcos Galvao via split decision.
Efrain Escudero submitted Cesar Avila via guillotine in R1;
Travis Wiuff defeated Christian M’Pumbu via unanimous decision;
Ricardo Tirloni submitted Steve Gable via rear-naked choke in R2;
Richard Hale defeated Carlos Flores via KO in R1;
Jacob Ortiz defeated Edgar Garcia via KO in R1;
Steve Steinbeiss submitted Dano Moore via rear-naked choke in R1;
Jade Porter defeated Nick Piedmont via unanimous choke;
Erin Beach submitted Roscoe Jackson via rear-naked choke in R1.