Jared Hess vs. Yosmany Cabezas

Round 1

Big kick by Cabezas to start things off but Hess holds on to his leg and takes Cabezas down and takes side mount. Hess connects with a couple of nice lefts. Hess hammers Cabezas with some hard lefts to the face as he works toward top mount. Hess is controlling the fight on the ground early. Hess postures up and lands a hard right. Cabezas is trying to work an arm bar from the bottom. Hess is using his wrestling skills to keep Cabezas at bay. The referee stands the fighters up. Cabezas looks a little gassed already. Cabezas gets Hess in a guillotine but Hess escapes. Another takedown by Hess as the bell sounds.

Hess controls the round with his wrestling skills

Round 2

Cabezas is breathing very heavy as Round 2 starts. Cabezas tries an ill-fated trip attempt and ends up on his back because of it and Hess is now in control again. Hess is working Cabezas up against the cage. The fans are getting restless but the fact is the fight is just so terribly one-sided as Hess is dominating Hess is completely controlling the fight on the ground. Hess is looking to end the fight with blows but he is appears to be tiring and doesn't have much behind his punches.

Another big round for Hess

Round 3

Both fighters come out of their corners and look spent. Roundhouse kick by Cabezas. Another wrestling takedown by Hess and it's back to it the fight's common theem...Hess on top. Hess is just cruising home at this point, but he isn't taking any chances. Hess has Cabezas' back and is hammering down blows as Cabezas is just trying to hang on. The ref can't let the fight finish, he has to call it.

Total domination in every sense of the word by Hess.

Official Decision

Hess by TKO at 14:26

Damien Stelly vs. Hector Lombard

Round 1

Both fighters come out swinging wildly. Nothing landed solidly but it was thrilling action to start off the middleweight semi-finals. Lombard takes Stelly down and takes side mount. Lombard is working the body very well and has Stelly under control. Lombard now has top mount against the cage. Lombard is landing some nice hammer fists and Stelly is not defending. Stelly is now just trying to hang on while Lombard is looking for the kill. The referee steps in to end the assault as Stelly showed no defensive response to Lombard's onslaught. The referee had no choice but to stop it.

Official Decision

Lombard by TKO at 2:56

Isidro Gonzalez vs. Nick Ring

Round 1

Roundhouse kick by Gonzalez just misses. Body kick and body slam by Gonzalez. As Gonzalez goes for the slam, Ring applies a guillotine in mid-air. As the fighters hit the mat...game...set...match. Ring ratchets up the choke and the fight is over.

Official Decision

Ring by guillotine choke submission at 0:39

Shad Lierley vs. Nate Murdock

Round 1

Murdock starts off with a knee to the stomach followed by a hard takedown by Lierley. Lierley has top mount and is landing some good body shots. Fighters back to their feet but Lierley quickly takes Murdock down once again and begins working him over. Murdock attempts a triangle choke but can't get it in. The crowd is quiet as the action slows down. A couple of nice forearms by Lierley, who is still working from top mount. Murdock now has a deep cut opened just under his left eye. There is a lot of blood and the referee is keeping a close watch. Lierley is hammering away on that injured eye. Reverse by Murdock and he is a bloody mess as the bell sounds.

Big round for Lierley

Round 2

Murdock is going to have to protect that bad cut if he wants this fight to last much longer. Murdock tries to keep Lierley away with a knee to the stomach but Lierley combats that by once again taking Murdock down and returning to top mount, where most of the fight has taken place. Lierley still isn't doing much from his position, letting Murdock rest. Not much going on and the crowd is urging the ref to stand the fighters up. The fans are booing as the ref is refusing to bring the action back to their feet.  Murdock's cut is open once again and blood is pouring out of it.

Round goes to Lierley for laying on top of Murdock for 4:30 minutes

Round 3

No Mercy Murdock looks battered coming out for Round 3. A couple of big shots by Murdock. Lierley goes for another takedown and gets it with a nice leg shoot. He has side mount. Lierley on top doing very little damage once again but maintaining solid control of the action. Lierley connects with a couple of elbows as the crowds starts booing.

Another round for Lierley as he easily wins the fight.

Official Decision

Lierley by unanimous decision with all judges scoring it 30-27

 

Christian Fulgram vs. Alex Andrade

Round 1

Alex Andrade comes out like a ball of fire swinging wildly, landing a right and forcing Fulgram to the ground and getting top mount. Andrade controls top mount and begins reigning a flurry of right hands down to the head of Fulgram. Fulgram has no defense and the referee comes in and stops the fight. A quick and convincing win for Andrade.

Official Decision

Andrade by TKO at 2:01

Shawn Jordan vs. Jayme McKinney

Round 1

Both fighters are from Louisiana and have a nice following here but McKinney being from Monroe has the bigger fanbase. Not much action to start. Takedown by Jordan. Jordan has McKinney up against the cage. Jordan now has McKinney's back. Trying to sink in the rear naked choke but McKinney is able to hold him off and get back to his feet. Jordan takes McKinney down again. Jordan working some ground and pound but no real damage being done. Jordan has McKinney's back again and is connecting with some hard rights. McKinney isn't doing much. Jordan finally synchs in the rear naked choke but McKinney gets out of it and gets top mount. Fighters back to their feet and McKinney is cut with blood running down his face. McKinney looks gassed and is reeling but catches Jordan in a guillotine. Jordan is in big trouble but gets saved by the bell. Dominant round for Jordan except for the last 10 seconds.

Jordan easily wins the round

Round 2

As Round 2 starts, McKinney is already breathing heavily. Jordan is smiling at McKinney as he takes him down once again. Jordan puts the choke on. It's over. McKinney has nothing left and taps out. The former LSU fullback celebrates his victory with a backflip. A dominating pro debut for Shawn Jordan.

Official Decision

Jordan by rear naked choke submission at 5:30

Dan Keenan vs. Chad Leonhardt

Round 1

Keenan starts off with a right leg kick. Another hard, snapping leg kick by Kennan, followed by a third and a fourth to the right leg of Leonhardt. A glancing left roundhouse by Leonhardt. Kennan counters with more right leg kicks where you can hear the "smack". That's at least eight hard right leg kicks by Keenan so far in Round 1. Keenan lands another right leg kick but Leonhardt counters with a big right cross. Kennan is down. A vicious right knee knocks Kennan clean out. Fight over, the crowd erupts for the Shreveport, Louisiana native. A stunning turn of events!

Official Decision

Leonhardt by KO at 3:03

Chas Skelly vs. Mike Braswell

Round 1

Braswell starts off by pinning Skelly against the cage. Skelly comes back with a takedown but the fighters quickly get back to their feet. Nice kick to the body by Braswell. Takedown by Skelly but Braswell is in full guard. Skelly stands up and starts reigning down punches on Braswell but they aren't doing much damage. Braswell catches Skelly in an arm bar. Skelly slams Braswell to the mat trying to break free but then gets caught in a tight inverted triangle. Braswell has the triangle choke in deep while he is in mid air, a la Toby Imada, but gets slammed again and the hold is broken. Great action and the crowd goes wild. The two are going toe to toe at the end of the round with Braswell getting the better of the exchange.

Round 1 goes to Braswell given the two very nice submission attempts

Round 2

Round 2 starts with a kick below the belt by Braswell. The fight is stopped so Skelly can catch his breath and Braswell is warned by the referee. The fight resumes without much action. The fans begin chanting, "Fight, Fight, Fight!" The fighters remain clinched against the cage. The fans continue to grow restless. A big right hand by Braswell echoes throughout the arena. Roundhouse kick by Braswell connects to the side of Skelly's head. The chant of "Fight, Fight, Fight" resumes by the crowd.  A nice takedown and right hand by Skelly as the bell sounds to end Round 2.

Tough round to score because of the lack of action but give it to Skelly for his late surge

Round 3

Skelly comes out with some confidence after a strong finish to Round 2. Skelly takes down Braswell right into the cage. Kick to the leg by Braswell and he's back up on his feet. Skelly looks like he is tiring. He's breathing really heavy. Both fighters are tired and are swinging wildly. A nice takedown by Skelly followed by a right hand. Fighters back to their feet but neither has much left in the tank. Skelly starts to bleed from the nose. Another nice takedown by Skelly. He is in control as the fight comes to an end.

Skelly is the aggressor and takes the round.

Official Decision

Skelly by split decision - Skelly (30-27), Braswell (29-28), Skelly (29-28)

Live from Monroe, Louisiana

Hello all, we are live from the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana for tonight's Bellator IX card.  Tonight's event features two big-time middleweight semi-final tilts featuring Hector Lombard vs. US Army Ranger Damien Stelly and Jared Hess taking on Yosmany Cabezas in what should be an action packed slugfest.

As always, we will be here with you all night providing round-by round action for every fight. So stay with us as we take you through every blow from all eight fights on tonight's exciting Bellator card.

Joe Pettit's Bellator IX Fight Predictions

Middleweight Semi-Finals

Hector Lombard (18-2) vs. Damien Stelly (9-2)
This fight should be non-stop action from the beginning.  Lombard scored a tremendous TKO over Virgil Lozano with a vicious uppercut that could stop a bull in his tracks. He possesses awesome power and world class judo skills. He will impose these skills to make the fight go the way he wants it. He is the pride of Cuba, and Stelly will have his hands full all night. Stelly is an all American wrestler and fights like a backyard bully. He used these wrestling skills in his unanimous victory over Alex Andrade.  He has a brown belt in jiu-jitsu and is a US Army Ranger. He has more than enough skills to give Lombard a fight! This fight comes down to which fighter best can take the offensive onslaught that will come at them. Stelly will try to keep it a wrestling match keeping Lombard’s awesome power at bay. Lombard will try to take Stelly out of his game with that same power and judo. I see Lombard being too powerful and skilled for a game Stelly.

Prediction---Lombard over Stelly

Jared Hess (7-0-1) vs. vs. Yosmany Cabezas (8-1)
This bout has another awesome wrestler displaying his skills. Hess used his skills in his first round choke of Daniel Tabera.  Hess will hope to wrestle his way to victory as he likes to end fights early. His ground skills will make Cabezas on the defensive all night. Cabezas has great karate and judo skills. These skills got him a first round arm bar submission victory over Edwin Aguilar. He will have to use these skills to fight off the ground onslaught from Hess. I think that his fight will come down to if Cabezas can match the tenacity of Hess. Hess will be relentless and Cabezas will not be able to match him for the whole fight.  Hess moves on to the finals and stays undefeated.

Prediction---Hess over Cabezas

Non-Tournament Bouts

185 lbs. Nick Ring vs. (7-0) vs. Isidro Gonzalez (16-12)
Ring is undefeated and is a star in the making. Here is the first step in him making a name for himself at Bellator IX. Ring takes advantage of the situation and stays undefeated.

Prediction---Ring over Gonzalez

155 lbs. Chas Skelly (2-0) vs. Mike Braswell (4-2)
Prediction---Braswell over Skelly

175lbs. Dan Keenan (Debut) vs. Chad Leonhardt (2-1)
Prediction---Leonhardt over Keenan

Heavy weight  Shawn Jordan (debut) vs. Jayme McKinney (5-3)
Prediction---McKinney over Jordan

185 lbs. Christian Fulgram (10-2) vs. Alex Andrade (7-5)
Prediction---Fulgram over Andrade

145 lbs. Shad Lierley (4-2) vs. Nate Murdock (6-4)
Prediction---Lierley over Murdock