Bellator Fighting Championships makes its long-awaited debut on Spike TV TONIGHT (Jan. 17, 2013) at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., with a Lightweight and Featherweight title fight, as well as the Light Heavyweight tournament quarterfinals.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 85 below, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening (beginning at 7 p.m. ET), as well as a live stream of all the action.
The headlining fight for Bellator 85 will be a much-anticipated Bellator Lightweight Title Fight between champion Michael Chandler and challenger Rick Hawn. Neither man has fought since last May, when Chandler destroyed Akihiro Gono by knockout and Hawn won the season six 155-pound tournament.
Also on tap will be a Bellator Featherweight title fight between champion Pat Curran and challenger Patricio Freire. Curran, who dethroned Joe Warren to capture the belt after winning his second tournament last year; although he was injured while preparing for his first title defense. Now healthy, he'll be stepping into the cage against a very hungry Brazilian who has been waiting for his shot at the title for more than 1.5 years.
Remember, too, that former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral will make his Bellator debut in the 205-pound tournament.
Complete Bellator 85 results, live stream and play-by-play are posted below:
Main Card (Spike TV)
155 lb. title: Michael Chandler def. Rick Hawn via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:07 of round two
205 lbs.: Jacob Noe def. Seth Petruzelli via TKO at 2:51 of round one
205 lbs.: Mikhail Zayats def. Renato Sobral via TKO (spinning back fist + punches) at 4:49 of round one
145 lb. title: Pat Curran def. Patricio Freire via split decisionPreliminary Card (Spike.com)
145 lbs.: Aaron Miller def. Joe Camacho via unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Emanuel Newton def. Atanas Djambazov via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:21 of round two
205 lbs.: Jason Lambert def. Hector Ramirez via submission (straight armbar) at 3:59 of round one
165 lbs.: J.J. Ambrose def. Brian Warren via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:50 of round two
155 lbs.: Savant Young def. Mike Guymon via knockout at 0:48 of round two
170 lbs.: Joe Williams def. Jamie Yager via TKO at 4:02 of round one
155 lbs.: Cleber Luciano def. Mario Navarro via unanimous decision
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Hemmi here!
155 lb. title: Michael Chandler vs. Rick Hawn
Round one: Chandler pressing forward early and he scores with a nice outside leg kick to draw first blood. Another kick from Chandler and Hawn steps forward with a right hand to back him off. The speed is incredible as both men are really ready to explode at any instant and Chandler shoots in, taking Hawn down and landing in his guard. Hawn is trying to lock down Chandler but he's eating a few punches and he responds with a couple elbows from bottom. Chandler is still on top in half guard and Hawn works to get back to his feet but eats a flurry of knees to the back of his thigh from the champion. More knees to the leg from Chandler and Hawn gets to his feet. Chandler thinks about another takedown and Hawn almost throws him on his head but he stays on his feet. Hawn tags Chandler with a right hand befor ethey separates. Chandler misses with a flying knee and an uppercut as time runs out. 10-9 Chandler
Round two: They work strikes from the outside early on but Chandler shoots in along the fence, lifting Hawn up and dropping him onto the canvas. Chandler can't get much going from top position and Hawn tries to work his way back to his feet along the fence but Chandler again drags him to the ground and now he's got his hooks in. Chandler locks in a rear naked choke and Hawn taps! Wow that came out of nowhere!
Final Result: Michael Chandler defeats Rick Hawn via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:07 of round two
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205 lbs.: Seth Petruzelli vs. Jacob Noe
Round one: Petruzelli closes the distance quickly perhaps looking for a takedown and he starts punishing Noe with some knees to the thigh. Petruzelli backs off and scores a nice left hand and Noe responds with a right. Petruzelli shoots in for a takedown but Noe stuffs it and spins around, dropping heavy left hands repeatedly. Heavy left hands from Noe and Petruzelli isn't responding and the ref puts a stop to it!
Final Result: Jacob Noe defeats Seth Petruzelli via TKO at 2:51 of round one
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205 lbs.: Renato Sobral vs. Mikhail Zayats
Round one: Babalu presses forwards and throws a nice body kick. They clinch and trade knees with Sobral getting the better of them. Sobral has inside position but Zayats reverses it, throwing a knee in the process. The ref separates them and Zayats is looking for a big right hand but eats a low blow. They reset and Babalu lands a really big right hand, which forces Zayats to clinch to clear out the cobwebs. They get separated again and Babalu stuffs a takedown, but hurts Babalu with a spinning back fist. Babalu is hurt and a huge right hand knocks him backwards. One more right puts Babalu down and about 20 hammerfists from Zayats force the referee to put a stop to it.
Final Result: Mikhail Zayats defeats Renato Sobral via TKO at 4:49 of round one
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145 lb. title: Pat Curran vs. Patricio Freire
Round one: Push kick from Curran but Pitbull responds with some sharphooks to back him off. Big leg kick from Pitbull and then another to the inside of Curran's lead leg. Nice combination from Pitbull and he closes it with a leg kick, which connected. Curran loses his balance but Pitbull doesn't pounce and they reset. They trade heavy kicks and Curran wings a big right hand that just grazes Pitbull. Good jab from Curran and Pitbull comes up short with a pair of punches to back him off. Another combination from Pitbull and he finishes it with a leg kick. Big head kick from Pitbull is blocked. Pitbull charges forward with a combo but most of his blows are blocked. Body kick from Curran as the bell sounds. 10-9 Pitbull
Round two: Pitbull takes the initiative early on, pressing forward and backing Curran towards the fence. Both guys are starting to loosen up a bit here but neither man has landed a really significant blow in the fight. Just as I say that Curran scores with a good left hand. Curran opens up with some 1-2 combinations and Pitbull responds with a nice body shot but Curran blasts him with a step-in knee. Another knee from Curran and a right hand in combination. Curran definitely starting to open up with a left hand followed by a head kick. Big combination from Curran, although most of it is blocked. Very nice right kick from Curran lands right up the middle and Pitbull responds with a good inside leg kick. Curran scores with a left hand and if catching Pitbull on the way in with punches, bloodying up his nose. Combination from Pitbull and another leg kick. Another fantastic jab from Curran before the end of the round. 10-9 Curran
Round three: Pitbull is the aggressor early on, stalking down Curran and winging some hooks and kicks. Curran finally dishes it back about a minute in. Huge head kick from Pitbull is blocked but it knocks Curran sideways and Pitbull ducks a left hand and throws a good flying knee. Nice right hand to the body from Pitbull and he's really doing a nice job of finding a home for his strikes now. Big right hand from Curran but he eats a left in response and Pitbull is looking solid here whenever they exchange. Curran keeps up with his jab and now he's opened up a cut on Curran's cheek. 10-9 Pitbull
Round four: Both fighters keeping tight defenses early but at least Pitbull is being aggressive. Pitbull throws a good body shot but Curran responds with a right hand that connects solidly. Another big right hand from Curran and he's starting to mix it up to the head and body. Jab from Curran and he avoids a flying knee from Pitbull. Right hadn to the body from Curran and he's landing with his left hand. Accidental headbutt and they're back at it. Curran is really accurate this round and it shows on Pitbull's face, which is swelling up something fierce. Pitbull shoots in for a takedown but can't get it and Curran fends him off with a knee and a jab. Very nice left hand from Curran and then a body shot. He's outworking Pitbull this round something fierce. Right hand connects for Curran and he looks like he's the fresher fighter. Good double jab from Curran connects at the end of the round. 10-9 Curran
Round five: Beautiful left uppercut from Curran counters Pitbull's early aggression. Nice shot from Curran and Pitbull shoots in for a takedown again but is denied. Curran drops to the body and then the head before a step-in knee backs Pitbull off. Excellent body kick and left hand thrown in unision but Curran. Body shot from Curran and Pitbull scores with a straight right. Sharp left hand from Curran and Pitbull witha right. Curran is picking up his workrate now with punches and body kicks and a sharp right down the middle snaps Pitbull's head back. Excellent right hand from Curran and then a left on the end of a combination. Pitbull is coming forward but Curran backs him off with a head kick and his jab. Nasty left hand from Curran and a triple jab. Pitbull's face is a swollen bloody mess. Big hook combination from Pitbull and Curran responds with a right elbow and a left hook. Pitbull starts throwing wildly trying to hurt Curran and he needs to rock him if he wants to win back the round but he can't do it. I've got it 10-9 Curran Great fight!
Final Result: Pat Curran defeats Patricio Freire via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
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