Eduardo Dantas in action /Photo - Carlos Ozório

In a lively semifinal encounter, Eduardo Dantas, one of the biggest revelations of Brazilian domestic MMA, outdid Ed West this Saturday in Arizona, securing a berth in Bellator’s bantamweight GP final. Dantas made a strong start to the action, landing a knockdown in the opening round, but the American recovered his balance and carried on till the final bell. After the final bell, Dantas was awarded the split decision.

“I couldn’t get my game to flow. I felt like something was holding me back, but my warrior spirit spoke louder,” he said after the fight.

In the other semifinal, Marcos “Lôro” Galvão pushed the pace over the three rounds, forcing Cuba’s Alexis Vila to back pedal the whole time. When the cards came back once time was up, though, Villa was awarded the split decision and spot in the final.

In other action, Travis Wiuff overcame Christian M’Pumbo by unanimous decision, and former UFC fighter Efrain Escudero needed just two minutes to put away Cesar Avila with a guillotine choke.

Now the third Brazilian on Saturday’s card, Ricardo Tirloni, entered his match with Steve Gable determined. After an evenly-matched first round, the Tirloni clinched up against the fencing, got the takedown, mounted, and got back-mount for a second-round rear-naked choke finish.

Check out the complete results:

Bellator 55
Yuma, Arizona, USA
October 22, 2011

Bantamweight GP – semifinals:
Eduardo Dantas defeated Ed West via split decision;
Alexis Vila defeated Marcos Galvao via split decision.

Efrain Escudero submitted Cesar Avila via guillotine in R1;
Travis Wiuff defeated Christian M’Pumbu via unanimous decision;
Ricardo Tirloni submitted Steve Gable via rear-naked choke in R2;
Richard Hale defeated Carlos Flores via KO in R1;
Jacob Ortiz defeated Edgar Garcia via KO in R1;
Steve Steinbeiss submitted Dano Moore via rear-naked choke in R1;
Jade Porter defeated Nick Piedmont via unanimous choke;
Erin Beach submitted Roscoe Jackson via rear-naked choke in R1.

Eduardo Dantas em ação / Foto - Carlos Ozório

Em luta movimentada, Eduardo Dantas, uma das grandes revelações do MMA no Brasil, venceu Ed West, neste sábado, no Arizona e carimbou o passaporte à final do GP dos pesos galos do Bellator. Dudu começou melhor e chegou a aplicar um knockdown na primeira parcial, mas o americano se recuperou e equilibrou o duelo. No final, as papeletas decretaram á vitória de Dudu por decisão dividida.

“Não achei meu jogo, senti algo que me deixou preso, mas meu espírito de guerreiro falou mais alto.” disse ao final do combate

Na outra chave, Marcos Loro foi mais contundente nos três rounds, obrigando o cubano Alexis Vila caminhar para trás, mas no anuncio oficial, para surpresa do brasileiro e da platéia, Villa foi declarado vencedor por decisão dividida.

Nas outras lutas da edição 55 o veterano, Travis Wiuff superou Christian M’Pumbu por decisão unânime e o ex-UFC Efrain Escudero só precisou de dois minutos para encaixar uma guilhotina em Cesar Avila e encerrar a peleja.

Já Ricardo Tirloni entrou determinado no cercado cinza e impôs seu jogo contra Steve Gable. Depois de uma primeira etapa equilibrada, o brasileiro encurralou nas grades, derrubou, montou, bateu e pegou as costas para finalizar com uma mata-leão no segundo assalto.

Confira todos os resultados:

Bellator 55
Yuma, Arizona, Estados Unidos
22 de outubro de 2011

GP dos galos – semifinal
Eduardo Dantas venceu Ed West por decisão dividida
Alexis Vila venceu Marcos Galvao por decisão dividida

Efrain Escudero finalizou Cesar Avila com uma guilhotina no R1
Travis Wiuff venceu Christian M’Pumbu por decisão unânime
Ricardo Tirloni finalizou Steve Gable com um mata-leão no R2
Richard Hale venceu Carlos Flores por KO no R1
Jacob Ortiz venceu Edgar Garcia por KO no R1
Steve Steinbeiss finalizou Dano Moore com um mata-leão no R1
Jade Porter venceu Nick Piedmont por decisão unânime
Erin Beach finalizou Roscoe Jackson com um mata-leão no R1

Tytschyo finishes with a guillotine in the Maracanazinho gymnasium. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Tytschyo, who beat Fausto Black at the last installment of the event enters in the place of Eduardo Pamplona, who pulled out due to injury. “I’m stoked. After I fought at the last event, in the Maracanazinho, I went on to get a lot of offers and it will be even better to fight in São Paulo, my homeland,” he told promoters of the event Amaury Bitetti and Fernando Miranda.

Tickets may be purchased at www.ingressofacil.com.br or at Barueri’s José Correa gymnasium.

“A student ID takes half off the ticket price, even for the VIP area. Anyone who buys at the gymnasium, at any time, can also pay half price with 1kg of non-perishable food,” announces Fernando Miranda.

Check out the current card:

Paulo Filho vs Tatsuhiko Nishizaka
Murilo “Ninja” vs Jason Jones (Holland)
Fábio Maldonado vs Travis Wiuff (USA)
Gustavo Ximu vs Ricco Washington (USA)
Glover Teixeira vs Jeff Monson (USA)
Cassiano Tytschyo vs Tyler Stinson (USA)
Alessandro “Alemão” Steffen vs Francimar “Bodão”

Besides the return of some of last events stars, like Pedro Rizzo and Murilo Ninja, the event also brings in some international fighters. Besides Jeff Monson’s return to Bitetti Combat, Holland’s Valentijn Overeem, brother of Alistair, is confirmed. The experienced Dutchman, who even faced Minotauro in the days of old, has wins over Randy Couture and Renato Babalu.

Other international beasts to do battle in Bitetti’s cage are Travis Wiuff, who has 57 wins on his record; Tommy Speer, who gained notoriety on the The Ultimate Fighter reality show; and Golden Glory’s Jason Jones.

“We have yet to confirm a female fight, which would be a first. Another matchup may also appear,” comments Amaury.

“We would like to once again thank Roberto Dinamite and Rio de Janeiro governor Sergio Cabral for their help. Nor can we forget Barueri mayor Rubens Furlan and secretary of sports Jose Calili,” says promoter Fernando Miranda.

Check out the card as it stands:

Bitetti Combat
Barueri, São Paulo
December 12th, 2009

Pedro Rizzo vs Valentijn Overeem (Holland)

Murilo “Ninja” vs Jason Jones (Holland)

Fabio Maldonado vs Travis Wiuff (USA)

Gustavo Ximu vs Ricco Washington (USA)

Glover Teixeira vs Jeff Monson (USA)

Eduardo Pamplona vs Tommy Speer (USA)

Alessandro “Alemao” Steffen vs Francimar “Bodao”