Bellator 20 Fight Card & Results

Bellator Fighting Championships puts on their eigth event of 2010 with Bellator 20 which takes place on May 27, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas and broadcast on Fox Sports Net. The Bellator FC 20 fight card is listed below, and be sure to check back for the official Bellator 20 fight results once the fights have become official.

Marcus Sursa vs. Eddie Sanchez

This non-tournament heavyweight bout was an even match-up until the beginning of the 2 nd round when Bellator newcomer, Marcus Sursa, dropped UFC vet Eddie “Manic Hispanic” Sanchez with a hard right hand. Even after adding several hammer fists to a downed Sanchez, Sursa wasn’t able to finish him. Instead, Sursa punched himself out, taking damage the rest of the way until the start of the 3 rd round. Sanchez immediately dropped Sursa at the beginning of the round and finished in the mount position connecting with several ground strikes. The TKO finish was official at 0:23 of the 3 rd round.

Sursa (11-6), a Duke Roufas-trained fighter, loses back-to-back fights for the first time since April 2008. Eddie Sanchez (12-3) is a perfect 4-0 since his December 2008 release from the UFC. He is an early entry into the organizations heavyweight tournament that begins this August.

Jared Hess vs. Alexander Shlemenko

This middleweight semifinal bout was well on its way to becoming a unanimous decision victory for season 1 finalist Jared Hess. However, after a knee in the 3 rd round from his Russian opponent, Alexander Shlemenko forced him to sprawl, his own knee buckled and dislocated in gruesome fashion.

Former All-American wrestling standout, Hess, easily won the first round and probably the second as well utilizing his grappling skills for the most part. Shlemenko wasn’t overmatched however; he came close to finishing the fight towards the end of the second round. After getting taken to the ground, Shlemenko almost converted a triangle choke submission on Hess. Hess survived to see the final round, but, after the knee from Shlemenko connected to his body, his left knee gave out which handicapped him from that point on. Hess continued to fight, although when he got to his feet, he found it impossible to move. The referee stepped in and put a stop to the bout at the 2:20 mark of the round for an official TKO ending.

Shlemenko (29-4) moves into the middleweight final to face Bryan Baker, who won in the nights' other semifinal bout, for a chance to face the champion Hector Lombard. Hess (10-2-1) loses and stops his two-fight win streak. He is 3-2 overall in the Bellator organization.

Bryan Baker vs. Eric Schambari

From the beginning of this middleweight semifinal bout, Eric Schambari knew he wanted to try and take Bryan Baker to the floor. The two met in December 2007 in a WEC fight that saw Baker hand Schambari his only career loss. In that bout, Baker got the best of the stand-up battle.

Schambari got the takedown that he was looking for within seconds of the initial round. However, after converting the takedown, he left his head wide open and the experienced Baker took full advantage. Baker caught his Cobra Kai opponent in a triangle choke submission. When Schambari scrambled in an attempt to get out, he only made it tighter. The finish came at 2:29 of the 1 st round via triangle choke submission.

Team Wildman Vale Tudo-trained Baker (13-1) moves onto the middleweight final to face Alexander Shlemenko for a chance to fight for the title. It was the eighth victory in a row for Baker. Schambari (12-2) loses for the second time in his career against Baker and had his five-fight win streak snapped.

Nick Mamalis vs. Mark Oshiro

The evening’s final televised bout was between Nick “Garfield” Mamalis and Hawaii’s Mark Oshiro in a bantamweight non-tournament bout. Mamalis picked up the biggest upset of the night with his 2 nd round rear naked choke submission finish.

Oshiro came in as the superior striker and made it look like that early on with some powerful inside leg kicks. The fight took a turn within the first minute when Oshiro pulled guard. Mamalis immediately began his steady ground and pound attack, and looking quite effective doing it. Oshiro stayed busy from his back, however, trying submission after submission, but failing each time.

After a tight first round, Mamalis went out at the start of the 2 nd with the intent on finishing it. He jumped on Oshiro’s back and began to soften him up with some strikes. As the Hawaiian flattened out, Mamalis took advantage and slipped in the rear naked choke submission. The finish victory for Mamalis came at the 1:29 point of the 3 rd round.

Mamalis (9-4) picks up his biggest career victory and his first under the Bellator banner. It was his fourth consecutive victory. Oshiro (12-3), who won seven of his last eight by 1 st round stoppage, fails in his Bellator debut. He has dropped two of his last three fights.

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

Bellator 20 Fight Card & Results:

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Main Bellator 20 Fight Card & Results:

• Bryan Baker defeats Eric Schambari via Submission (Triangle Choke) - Round 1 @ 2:29 - Bellator Middleweight Tournament Semifinals

• Alexander Shlemenko defeats Jared Hess by TKO (Knee Injury) - Round 3 @ 2:20 - Bellator Middleweight Tournament Semifinals

• Eddie Sanchez defeats Marcus Sursa by TKO (Punches) – Round 3 @ 0:23

Preliminary Bellator 20 Fight Card & Results:

• Aaron Rosa defeats Robert Villegas by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

• Adam Schindler defeats Brian Melancon by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

• Nik Mamalis defeats Mark Oshiro via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 2 @ 1:29

• Andrew Chappelle defeats Cedric Marks via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 2 @ 3:18

• Jimmy Flick defeats Humberto DeLeon by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

• Fernando Rodriguez defeats Kenneth Battle via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 2 @ 1:28