Join us tonight at 9 PM EST for the live results and play by play for Bellator 45 from L'Auberge Du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, LA., airing on MTV2.
Bellator's first light-heavyweight champion will be crowned this evening, as evenly matched competitors Richard Hale and Christian M'Pumbu will do battle for the 205-pound strap. Both mixed martial artists share identical records (16-3-1) with eight wins by submission, six by stoppage due to strikes, and three by decision. Among Hale and M'Pumbu's three career losses, two were delivered by decision with each fighter being stopped only once: Hale was knocked out by burly veteran Jimmy Ambriz in his second professional fight, while M'Pumbu was submitted by Jan Blachowicz, who appeared at #5 on the BloodyElbow World MMA Scouting Report.
The featherweight tournament crescendos on tonight's card with the Daniel Straus vs. Patricio Freire fight, with the winner earning the opportunity to face divisional champ and top-ranked juggernaut Joe Warren. Daniel Straus (16-3) was an All American wrestler in high school who won the national championship in 2003 and currently riding a twelve-fight streak. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (16-1) will have revenge on his mind, as the man who awaits him if he beats Straus is responsible for the sole defeat on his record.
Karl Amoussou, a violent and aggressive striker, engages Sam Alvey in a middleweight qualifier match. Amoussou (12-3-2) has been around the block in different promotions and will look to make a strong first impression on the Bellator crowd, while this will be Alvey's (14-2) first showing on a bigger stage.
The preliminary card includes: Joseph Abercrombie vs. Ben Parpart, Rene Nazare vs. Kalvin Hackney, Tim Ruberg vs. Mike Fleniken Nicolae Cury vs. Luis "Sapo" Santos, and John Hill vs. Shawn Jordan. The Thiago Santos vs. Derrick Lewis bout was scratched due to injury.
SBN coverage of Bellator 45
Richard Hale vs. Christian M'Pumbu
Daniel Straus vs. Patricio Freire
Karl Amoussou vs. Sam Alvey