By Brian Hemminger

Hey everyone,  here we are again, with another live blog for the Bellator event tonight.  This time though is special since I’m actually at the event.  Traffic was hell on the 5 hour drive here, but I made it all in one piece and after some initial confusion at the North entrance, I’m all set up and ready to go.

The event will start at 7 pm eastern time and the televised portion begins at 8pm, so stay tuned.  The middleweight and featherweight tournament finals are tonight.  Brian “The Beast” Baker will take on Alexander Shlemenko for the right to face Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard.  Also, Joe Warren will battle Patricio Pitbull for a shot at Joe Soto’s featherweight title.6:33 pm - First boring test post just to make sure the internet is working fine.  The crowd is already pretty amped up for this event, either that or this place echoes very well.  They had a huge reaction when the cage announcer asked if they were “ready for some MMA”

7:01 pm – Awesome!  I just met Marcus Davis.  Didn’t want to bother him too much, but wished him good luck in his fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 118 in August.  He’s here because his best friend’s girlfriend is Zoila Frausto and she’s fighting tonight.

7:05 pm – Set for our first fight of the night, Dave Overfield vs. Kurt Kinser at the catchweight of 160 lbs.  Overfield has a HUGE amount of fan support here tonight.

7:07 pm – Kinser pushes Overfield against the cage to start the fight and then takes him down into full guard.  Kinser is throwing some decent ground and pound elbows from guard.  Overfield is busted wide open, he’s got no answer for Kinser’s punches.  Wow, Overfield’s entire face is covered in blood, the ref steps in and stops the fight, Kinser wins via TKO.

7:11 pm – I’m officially naming Kurt Kinser “Clay Guida 2.0″  Dude looks just like Clay, hair and all.  He even fights like Guida.

7:23 pm – Next up is a middleweight bout between Mike Fleniken vs.  Stoney Hale.  Hale shoots in for the takedown and presses Fleniken against the cage but Fleniken fends him off and gives him a big knee for good measure.  Now it’s Fleniken holding Hale against the cage and he picks him up for a big slam.  Somehow Hale gets up and now he’s on top in full guard.   Hale steps back and Fleniken throws a big upkick and gets back to his feet as the crowd roars.  Fleniken puts Hale in a guillotine but Hale picks him up and slams him, moving into side control.  After failing to any damage, Hale lets Fleniken back up and eats a big punch.  Hale again goes for the takedown and lands in a triangle attempt by Fleniken.  This is a great fight!  Fleniken sweeps Hale and now starts pounding him with some punches from guard as the round ends.

7:29 pm – Hale immediately takes Fleniken down as the second round starts but he’s doing any damage that I can see.  Hale backs off and lets Fleniken up and BLASTS Fleniken right as he gets up.  Hale goes in for the kill but Fleniken grabs him and is now on top!  Great recovery there by Fleniken.  Hale gets it back to standing but pulls guard against the cage, Fleniken is dropping some big punches but he’s fading a bit.  Now it’s Hale who’s again on top, but again he’s not really throwing any punches or knees even from side control.  Hale get’s the mount, now he’s got Fleniken’s back and he’s working for a rear naked choke, he’s got it!  Stoney Hale wins via rear naked choke submission at 4:20 of the 2nd round.  Those guys sure knew how to put on a show.

7:46 pm – Just met the guy who runs the Derby City gym here in Louisville, next time I’m down here I’ll probably go check that place out.

8:02 pm – Looks like we’re live, I can’t wait for this first fight, should be a barnburner between the ladies.  Season 3 participant Rosie Sexton is taking on Zoila Frausto in a 120 lb women’s catchweight.  Frausto didn’t get an invite into the season 3 ladies tournament so she’s probably looking to take it out on Sexton.

8:07 pm – Nice, they’re playing “War” by The Sick Puppies.  I love that song.

8:10 pm – The ladies have made their way to the cage, the crowd is pumped.

8:14 pm – Here we go!  Sexton is trying to set up a takedown while Frausto keeps backing up and occasionally throwing some lefthand jabs or overhand rights.  Sexton shoots but can’t take Frausto down and eats a big body kick for her efforts.  Sexton now has her pressed against the cage in the clinch but Frausto throws a knee and backs out.  Frausto gets some space, Sexton shoots in for a takedown and Frausto CRUSHES Sexton with a monsterous knee.  Sexton drops and Frausto finishes her off with a few punches.  That was INSANE.  The crowd is eating it up, guarantee this KO makes it to youtube.

8:22 pm – I didn’t realize it but it was Zoila Frausto’s sister last week that got choked out by Lisa Ward.  Looks like she just earned some redemption for her family.

8:29 pm – Getting ready for the middleweight tournament finals match between Brian “The Beast” Baker and Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko.  This should be entertaining if it stays on it’s feet.  I don’t think Shlemenko will have much to offer though if Baker takes him down and starts beating on him.

8:37 pm – And we’re off, both fighters are circling each other and Shlemenko throws a spinning back kick but stops himself.  Baker tags him a couple times with a 1-2 combo.  Spinning backfist from Shlemenko but it doesn’t do any damage, big body kick by Baker.  Shlemenko goes to throw a spinning back kick and Baker crushes him with a huge leg kick to the thigh that completely stops his momentum.  Shlemenko looks a little cautious now as Baker closes in.  Baker drops his defenses and Shlemenko smacks him with a straight right followed by a big knee to the body that sends him to the canvas!  Shlemenko is throwing some big ground and pound and the ref stops the fight!  Alexander Shlemenko is your season 2 middleweight tournament winner!  That was an insane comeback!

8:59 pm – They’re about to start the featherweight tournament finals match between Joe Warren and Patricio Pitbull.  Warren is a confident son of a bitch, but he’s got a tough fight on his hands, Pitbull is a beast.  I hope Joe spent as much time training his submission defense as he did talking smack.

9:03 pm – Both fighters keeping their distance a bit as the round starts.  Warren rushes in and clinches, thowing a few knees and dirty boxing elbows.  Warren is keeping this standing too long, he needs to take it to the ground.  Warren rushes and it’s Pitbull who’s on top!  Freire throws a few punches, but Warren bursts back to his feet.  Nice left hook by Pitbull as Joe throws a sloppy spinning backfist.  Warren shoots for a takedown but Freire stuffs it.  They’re back in the clinch but Warren can’t throw Freire down and gets shoved off again.  Freire is trying to turn this into a boxing match and he’s succeeding thus far.  Freire rushes in and puts Warren in an arm triangle, it’s tight!  Somehow Warren survives again but now Pitbull lights him up with a few punches.  Warren shoves him against the cage in the clinch and nails him with an uppercut.  Warren drops his hands and Freire lights him up with a HUGE right uppercut/hook.  Freire lands another big punch that drops Warren.  Freire is trying to stop the fight with ground and pound as Warren gives up his back.  Freire takes his back and locks in a rear naked choke as the round ends.  Warren is saved by the bell!

9:10 pm – I can’t believe the ref didn’t stop the fight there, Warren was getting smoked.

9:11 pm – Warren comes out aggressive, throwing a nice leg kick and pressing the action.  They clinch and Warren throws a big knee as they separate, Warren continues throwing knees, they’re his most effective weapon thus far.  Now Freire goes for a takedown and takes Warren’s back standing.  Freire takes him down but Warren hops right back up again.  Warren shoots in and gets a takedown as the crowd erupts!  Freire looks tired, Warren is throwing some nice occasional punches from full guard, it looks like he’s gaining some serious confidence now.  Big elbows from Warren on top as it appears Freire is content to just sit in full guard, the round ends with Warren on top.  Great round for Warren, I’ve got it 19-19, but you could easily score it 19-18 for Freire because that first round was so dominant by Pitbull.

9:17 pm – Both men come out swinging as the 3rd round starts, Warren shoots for a takedown but he can’t finish it off.  Warren grabs hold of a leg and Pitbull goes down.  A “let’s go Joe” chant starts in the crowd, the fans are definitely behind the American.  Warren was close to having the fight stood up but he got aggressive and started dropping some punches and elbows again.  Nice ground and pound from Warren, Freire tries to stand up and he does!  Both fighters clinch and Warren tosses Freire to the ground again.  Joe backs up and let’s Freire stand, not sure why. He’s got ahold of Pitbull’s leg and takes him down again as the round ends.  Another big round for Warren.  Wow, I have no idea what they’ll do if the fight is scored a draw, but I think the judges are gonna score it 29-28 for Warren.

9:25 pm – We’ve got a “USA” chant in the crowd and the verdict is in.  Split decision for Warren.  The crowd is going absolutely bonkers.

9:28 pm – Warren keeps the trash talking going now that he’s staring down featherweight champ Joe Soto.  That should be a good fight in season 3.  Great comeback effort by Warren there, he showed a lot of heart after how badly he got smoked in the first round.

9:35 pm – Time for the bantamweight fight between Nik Mamalis and Albert Rios.  Mamalis had a great upset victory over Mark Oshiro earlier this season, and with a win tonight he should get an invite to the bantamweight tournament for season 3.

9:38 pm – Apparently Stacy Kiebler is in attendance.  The cameramen sure can’t seem to keep their lenses off her, haha.

9:39 pm – Both fighters trading  leg kicks at the start of the first round, Mamalis lands a big punch that gets the crowd going but can’t follow through.  Mamalis is winning the striking exchanges, he’s got Rios pressed against the cage, takes him to the ground and throws a big knee at Rios on the way up.  Rios jumps into Mamalis and tries a flying guillotine but slides off.  Mamalis now has him pressed against the cage and takes him down.  Another guillotine attempt by Rios but Mamalis backs out and stands back up.  Bother fighters are throwing strikes but Mamalis is keeping his hands down a little low, it could cost him.  Nice leg kick by Mamalis but it’s answered by a huge leg kick from Rios.  Rios is now stalking Mamalis but Mamalis turns the tables and starts pounding Rios against the cage.  Rios drops to the canvas and turtles up while Mamalis starts some big ground and pound from above.  The ref steps the fight and Mamalis is the victor via TKO.  Gutsy performance there by Mamalis, I really like this kid.

9:51 pm – I wonder if Bellator is going to show the Kinser fight or if they’re gonna call it a night.

10:02 pm – Ok, it’s time for the lightweight match between Chad Hinton and Daniel Straus.  You might remember Hinton from the first round of the Bellator lightweight tournament where he lost via kneebar in the third round to Roger Huerta.

10:04 pm – Here we go, Straus aggressively throws a few punches and shoots for a takedown.  After some serious resistance, he finally gets it, but Hinton has full guard.  Hinton uses the cage to stand back up but Straus has him in a tight clinch and he’s throwing some knees to his legs.  Big takedown and Straus is on top again in full guard with Hinton defending himself well.  Hinton grabs an arm, looks like he’s going for a kimura sweep, he’s really trying to get that sweep but Straus is not letting him get the leverage.  Hinton might gas his arms out here, he’s been trying to sweep Straus for over a minute now.  He finally lets go and Straus is in full mount, he’s postured up and dropping some punches.  Straus pushes him against the cage and Hinton rolls over giving up his back.  Straus takes it but Hinton stands up with Hinton in the back clinch.  Hinton turns into him and now Hinton has Straus in a guillotine.  Straus gets out of it and falls into full mount again as the round ends.  I’ve got it 10-9 for Straus.

10:09 pm - Straus again starts strong in the 2nd with a quick takedown into side control.  Straus isn’t doing anything right now, and switches to half guard so he can posture up and drop some punches.   Straus puts Hinton in a headlock and starts dropping body blows on Hinton, but Hinton gets back to his feet.  Just as he gets his bearings Straus lands a monster double leg takedown, and lands in Hinton’s closed guard.  Straus is dropping some weak elbows now, and passes to half guard with some hammer fists.  The round ends rather anti-climatically.  This has been the least exciting fight of the night thus far.

10:15 pm - Nice show of respect for each other as the third round starts, both fighters are opening up a bit with their striking but then Straus shoots in, takes Hinton’s back and takes him down.  Straus lets him up, spinning backfist by Hinton misses and Straus lands a very nice combination that rocks Hinton.  Straus charges in and takes Hinton down again as the crowd groans.  I doubt Straus lets Hinton up again because he’s got this fight in the bag now.  The ref steps in and stands them up, nice right hook by Straus as both fighters clinch.  Big combination by Straus again, not sure why he wants to take Hinton down so bad when he’s winning the striking exchanges so handily.  Straus takes Hinton down again and stands up, kicking as his legs.  The ref stands Hinton up again and the crowd is getting into it.  Leg kick by Straus, Hinton lunges forward with a jab but is countered hard by Straus.  Straus clinches, gets double underhooks and takes Hinton down with authority.  The round ends, much more exciting, this should be an easy decision for Daniel Straus.

10:23 pm – The official decision is in, all three judges score it 30-27 for Daniel Straus, the winner via unanimous decision.

10:32 pm – Ok, it’s time for the welterweight fight between John Troyer and Brent Weedman.  Both men are local fighters and the crowd is super excited.  Troyer shoots in for a takedown, but Weedman scrambles onto his back.  Weedman is going for a rear naked choke but he doesn’t have his back anymore and rolls over into guard.  Troyer stands up and drops some punches, double sweeps by both men and Troyer is on top dropping some ground and pound.  Weedman grabs a leg, he’s going for a heel, but can’t finish it.  Troyer is now on top dropping some nice punches.  Weedman turns and gives up his back while Troyer tries to sink in a choke but it’s not tight enough.  Weedman is now on top in side control, going for the mount.  Just as he gets it Troyer rolls him over and both men get back on their feet.  Nice knees from Troyer but Weedman has him pressed against the cage and gets a double leg takedown into side control.  Weedman puts his knee on Troyer’s belly, grabs his arm and puts him in an armbar.  It’s tight and Troyer taps out.  That was a sloppy fight but very entertaining.