Welcome to the PWInsiderXtra.com live coverage of the Bellator 94 Main Card, live from the Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.
Fight #8 - Bellator Bantamweight Division Fight
Rodrigo Lima (10-1-0) vs. Ronnie Mann (21-5-1)
Referee: Troy Waugh
Round One
The round begins with both fighters exchanging some leg kicks, Lima then pops Mann with an overhand left. Mann responds by catching Lima with a counter left that is followed by a right, Mann follows that up with a counter kick on Lima. Lima then nails Mann with a short right hook, Lima then goes for the uppercut on Mann and it is blocked. Lima then rocks Mann with a plethora of rights and a jump knee strike, Lima resumes his leg kick attack on Mann. Lima then catches Mann with a plethora of wild strikes, Mann then charges towards Lima while throwing a bunch of punches. Lima responds with a counter right on Mann after blocking a kick, Lima lands more leg kicks as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Lima resuming his leg kick attack on Mann, Lima then crushes Mann with a nice left hook. Mann recovers to catch an attacking Lima with a counter right, Lima quickly recovers by hitting Mann with a punching combination. Lima then pops Mann with a single right hand to the face, Mann tries to slow Lima down by throwing some leg kicks. Lima also begins to attack Mann with some leg kicks again, Mann powers Lima up against the cage wall while landing an elbow strike. Mann grabs the head of Lima to crack him with a knee strike as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Lima instantly nailing Mann with leg kicks and a straight right, Lima then catches a spinning Mann with a right. Mann then attempts a takedown and Lima winds up on top of him, Lima then positions himself in the half guard of Mann. Lima begins to attack Mann with some ground and pound, Lima tries to get Mann in the crucifix position and Mann does not let it happen. Mann scrambles to get himself on top on Lima and gets caught in a triangle choke, Lima then attacks Mann with elbow strikes while holding the submission. Lima holds Mann in the triangle choke as the round ends.
Fight Result: Rodrigo Lima def. Ronnie Mann by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight #9 - Bellator Welterweight Division Fight
Trey Houston (10-1-0) vs. Luis Melo (28-11-3)
Referee: George Ortiz
Round One
The round begins with Houston attacking Melo with a variety of kicks, Melo then grabs a hold of Houston to clobber him with knee strikes. Houston then scores a takedown on Melo and he gets the full guard, Houston allows the fight to be stood back up. Melo accidentally kicks Houston low and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Melo cracking Houston with a high kick. Melo then scores a takedown on Houston and they both swing at each other, Melo eventually gets side control on Houston while attacking him with strikes. Houston eventually forces Melo into the half guard position, Melo turns up the heat with his ground and pound on Houston. Houston eventually scrambles to get the fight standing again, Houston then cracks Melo with a kick to the midsection. Melo again scores a takedown on Houston and he gets the half guard as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Houston kicking Melo in the kidney area, Houston then pops Melo with a three punch combination. The fighters each crack each other with simultaneous rights, Houston then drops Melo with a right from out of nowhere. Houston then goes for the rear naked choke on Melo and Melo eventually escapes, Houston then holds Melo in the half guard. Houston allows the fight to be stood back up and Melo cracks him with a punching combination, Melo then scores a takedown on Houston and he gets the open guard. Melo then transitions to the back control position on Houston, Melo begins to attack Houston with some ground and pound. Houston scrambles to get the fight standing again and Melo drags him back to the ground as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Melo nailing an incoming Houston with an uppercut, Houston chases at Melo while throwing some strikes. Melo then scores a takedown on Houston and he gets the open guard, Melo attacks Houston with ground and pound. Melo transitions to the full mount on Houston, Melo locks in the arm triangle choke on Houston and a tap out follows.
Fight Result: Luis Melo def. Trey Houston by submission via arm triangle choke (1:09, R3)
Fight #10 - Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Finals
Saad Awad (14-4-0) vs. David Rickels (13-1-0)
Referee: Troy Waugh
Round One
The round begins with Rickels attacking Awad with leg kicks, Awad then charges at Rickels while throwing some strikes. Rickels recovers to catch Awad with a counter striking combination, Awad then cracks Rickels with a right to the rib cage. Awad then scores a takedown on Rickels and he gets the full guard, Rickels attempts to attack Awad with strikes from his back. Rickels uses the cage walk to get the fight standing with Awad holding onto him, Awad then attacks Rickels with knee strikes before getting another takedown. Awad then cracks Rickels with a few hammer fists and an axe kick attempt, Awad stays on top of Rickels as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Awad chasing at Rickels while throwing strikes, Awad scores a takedown on Rickels and he gets the half guard. Rickels quickly forces Awad into the full guard position, Rickels scrambles to get to his feet before getting the takedown on Awad. Rickels attacks Awad with some ground and pound, Awad uses the sweep to get himself back on top of Rickels. Rickels tries to go for some submission holds while on his back, Awad briefly postures up on Rickels and winds up in the full guard again. Rickels uses the cage walk to get the fight standing again, Rickels drops Awad with a punching combination and the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: David Rickels def. Saad Awad by TKO via strikes (4:59, R2)
Main Event - Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Finals
Emanuel Newton (20-7-1) vs. Mikhail Zayats (21-6-0)
Referee: George Ortiz
Round One
The round begins with Newton cracking Zayats with an overhand right, Newton then drops Zayats with a counter right. Zayats recovers to hit Newton with a counter right of his own, each fighter nailed the other during a wild exchange. Newton then connects with a pair of rights on Zayats, Zayats responds by clobbering Newton with a couple of lefts. Newton scores a takedown on Zayats after eating a punching combination, Zayats scrambles to get the fight standing again. Newton scores another takedown on Zayats and he nearly gets caught in a guillotine choke, Newton then gets back control on Zayats as he tries to stand up. Newton attacks Zayats with a few short range strikes as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Zayats nailing Newton with a multiple strike combination, Newton begins to attack Zayats with leg kicks. Zayats just starts to swing wildly at Newton and he misses, Newton continues to attempt a spinning high kick on Zayats. Zayats goes for the spinning back fist on Newton and it barely grazes him, Zayats then catches Newton with a two punch combination. Zayats chases at Newton while landing strikes and scoring a takedown as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Newton going for the head kick on Zayats, the fighters grapple and exchange a few knee strikes. Newton nearly scores the takedown on Zayats with an outside trip, Newton then pops Zayats with a right. Newton then drops Zayats with a two punch combination, Zayats then pops an incoming Newton with a left. Newton then assaults Zayats with a kick to the midsection, Zayats then catches Newton with a right during a spinning back fist attempt. Newton goes for the spinning back kick on Zayats and it misses badly, Newton then scores a takedown on Zayats as the round ends.
Fight Result: Emanuel Newton def. Mikhail Zayats by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)