The final event of the 12-week inaugural season of the Bellator Fighting Championships took place on Friday, June 19, 2009, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. “Bellator XII” was headlined with the middleweight and lightweight tournament finals, with the winner of each taking home $100,000 in grand prize money.
In the middleweight finals, Hector Lombard dominated Jared Hess with solid stand up and takedown defense until finally opening a cut on Hess that ultimately led to a TKO doctor stoppage in round 4, making Lombard the new Bellator Middleweight Champion.
It the lightweight finals it was Eddie Alvarez vs. Toby Imada. Although over half of Toby Imada’s 22 wins have come by submission, including a “submission of the year candidate,” over Jorge Masvidal in his last fight, Eddie Alvarez showed he also has a dangerous ground game. After dropping Imada with a right hand, Alvarez took his back, sunk in a rear-naked choke and forced Imada to tap out just thirty-eight seconds into round two, securing his place as the Bellator Lightweight Champion.
“Bellator XII” results:
Stephanie Guimaraes def. Yvonne Reis by TKO (strikes) rd1
Luis Palomino def. Troy Gerhart by unanimous decision
Rosi Sexton def. Valeri Coolbaugh by armbar rd1
Sergio Moraes def. Josh Martin triangle choke rd1
Jorge Masvidal def. Eric Reynolds by rear naked choke rd3
Fabio Mello def. Sami Aziz by armbar rd.3
BFC Middleweight Championship
Hector Lombard def. Jared Hess by TKO (cut) rd4
BFC Lightweight Championship
Eddie Alvarez def. Toby Imada by rear naked choke rd2