Bellator 100 Results: Douglas Lima Knocks Out Ben Saunders, Earns Welterweight Title Shot

Bellator 100 took place Friday night at the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, featuring the final of the Season 8 Welterweight Tournament, and the opening round of the Season 9 Welterweight Tournament.

Douglas Lima vs. Ben Saunders

Both men came out firing, primarily with kicks. Douglas Lima was particularly effective early with his low kicks, and opened a cut around Ben Saunders’ left eye later in the first round. As the round wore on, Lima’s striking – both his punches and his kicks – only got better, landing with frequency.

Lima only picked up steam, landing more combinations to start round two, bloodying and dropping Saunders to the mat with a right hand. Lima followed him down and unloaded with ground and pound, the blood streaming into Saunders’ left eye.

Saunders somehow survived and escaped to his feet, but it didn’t last long. Lima waited and waited, found an opening and landed a right kick to the left side of Saunders’ head that sent him crashing to the canvas, unconscious.

The victory made Lima the winner of the Season 8 Welterweight Tournament, lining him up for a title shot, but the victory may have pushed him to the sidelines for the time being as well.

“I think I broke my hand again in the first round,” said Lima after the fight. “Ben Saunders is a warrior; hats off to him.”

The Bellator welterweight championship picture is a bit cloudy at the moment anyway. Current champion Ben Askren has completed his contract, and is in the midst of a restricted matching period. So he will have to resolve his contractual situation with Bellator before Lima knows when or whom he will fight for the belt.

War Machine vs. Vaughn Anderson

War Machine continued rolling through Bellator, scoring an easy victory on Friday night. He took Vaughn Anderson down and ground and pounded him in the opening round and then did the same in round two. But this time he eventually worked to Anderson’s back and sunk a rear naked choke, putting Anderson to sleep for the win.

The victory was War Machine’s second in the Bellator cage, and it moved him on to the next round of the Season 9 Welterweight Tournament.

Rick Hawn vs. Herman Terrado

Rick Hawn was a late replacement in the tournament, moving back up to 170 pounds from his most recent home at 155 pounds. He proved that he’s still one of the best at either weight, dominating Herman Terrado en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Hawn controlled where the fight went, dominating position when they were clinched on the cage, and outscoring Terrado with his punching when they returned to the center.

Hawn also moved on in the tournament with the win.

Ron Keslar vs. Sergio Junior

After a lot of back and forth action in the opening round, Ron Keslar dropped Sergio Junior in the second round, eventually taking his back and going after a rear naked choke, but couldn’t get the finish. Junior turned the tables early in round two, jumping into a guillotine and dragging Keslar to the mat. He put everything he had into the choke, but eventually had to let it go. Keslar worked Junior over for most of the rest of the round, eventually securing a split decision victory.

Ron Keslar moves on to face War Machine in the semifinal round of the tournament.

Brent Weedman vs. Justin Baesman

Brent Weedman was tenacious in the opening fight of the welterweight tournament. He tripped Justin Baesman to the mat early on and worked his way into position for an armbar attempt. Baesman fought it off, but Weedman stayed on him, attacking again with the armbar and not relenting until Baesman tapped out.

Brent Weedman squares off with Rick Hawn in the other tournament semifinal bout.

Bellator 100 Results

Main Card
-Douglas Lima def. Ben Saunders by KO (Kick) at 4:33, R2
-War Machine def. Vaughn Anderson by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:01, R2
-Rick Hawn def. Herman Terrado by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
-Ron Keslar def. Sergio Junior by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
-Brent Weedman def. Justin Baesman by Submission (Armbar) at 3:20, R1

Preliminary Card
-Efrain Escudero def. Zack Surdyka by Unanimous Decision
-Travis Marx def. Brandon Bender by TKO (Strikes) at 4:28, R2
-LaRue Burley def. Bubba Jenkins by TKO (Strikes) at 3:40, R3
-Clifford Starks def. Joe Yager by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
-Liam McGeary def. Beau Tribolet by KO (Punch) at 0:26, R1
-Mighty Mo def. Dan Charles by TKO (Strikes) at 1:26, R3
-Adam McDonough def. Johnny Buck by TKO (Strikes) at 4:51, R1