Bellator 54 play-by-play:

Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare

Round 1 – Lots of head movement from Nazare early and he delivers a nice leg kick. Double jab, left hand by Nazare and Kirwan drops and shoots. Nazare sprawls and stops the initial attempt, but Kirwan keeps working and gets the trip take down. Nazare immediately sweeps and is now on top. This is dangerous for Kirwan for sure. Nazare working but is stuck in the half guard of Kirwan for now. Nazare lands a few short left hands. Kirwan works to full guard, and is looking to control the posture of Nazare. He has Kirwan pressed against the cage and fires off a flurry of right hands to the body. The referee is calling for more action. Nazare isn’t doing a whole lot and the referee is calling for him to go to work. It’s not enough and they are stood up. Leg kick right off the bat from Nazare. Right hook from Kirwan. Nice jab from Kirwan. Nazare comes forward with a kick-punch combo and gets taken down with less than a minute to go. Kirwan is bleeding, but I can’t see where the blood is coming from. Kirwan finishes on top, but Nazare wins the round, 10-9.

Round 2 – Nazare fires off a leg kick. Nazare goes to the body, and Kirwan fires back, then shoots and gets a big take down early in the round. Kirwan is staying pretty busy from the top landing short left hands and elbows. Nazare looks for a sweep, but Kirwan is controlling the position. The referee is pretty impatient, and calls for action already. Kirwan with more elbows that are partially blocked. Nazare is firing from his back but the strikes aren’t doing much. Three left hands from Kirwan from the top. He’s doing enough to keep it on the ground. Just as I type that, the ref stands them back up. Nazare again with a kick, and Kirwan again gets a take down. Kirwan is winning the round so far with his wrestling. Nazare goes for the kimura and uses it to get back to his feet. He then takes Kirwan to the mat but it may be too late for him to steal the round. Kirwan is cut on his left eye. Kirwan takes the round, 10-9.

Round 3 – Nazare swings but misses with a combo from the outside. Kirwan fires back but nobody is landing cleanly. Kirwan sticks his jab out then changes levels and gets the take down. Nazare locks up the neck and goes for the guillotine but lets it go. He can’t stay on his back or he will lose the fight. Kirwan lands a right hand to the head, then goes to the body. Great control from the top. Short left hands now from the top. The referee once again is calling for action, not sure what he wants to see. Kirwan with left hands. He’s doing enough to keep it on the floor as the crowd chants “Stand them up!” Nazare is doing nothing on his back. Elbows from Kirwan now. Kirwan is grinding out a win here in the final round. Nazare trying to throw elbows from his back but the fact is, he’s still on his back with less than a minute to go. Nazare goes for the armbar, and the sub attempt is enough to get space to make his way to his feet. Nazare shots and gets a take down but that won’t be enough. Kirwan gets the nod in the final round, and the fight overall 29-28.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jacob Kirwan def. Rene Nazare via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Zach Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts

Round 1 – Zach lands a kick right out of the gate. Roberts fires one off and gets taken down for his effort. Zach is in side control and that’s where he likes to be. Roberts scissors his legs, locking up the head of the champ. He scrambles and gets back to his feet. Zach fakes a take down and is feinting with his jab. Zach lands a nice lead left hand. Roberts seems a bit confused with the style of Zach. The champ goes head hunting, but kicks over the head of Roberts as he ducks out of the way. Nice kick from Zach. Zach comes forward and eats an uppercut, but he’s back outside of range just as quickly as he came in. Another kick scores for Zach. Huge left hand lands and staggers Roberts. He’s ok, but he’s losing the exchanges. Roberts has been unable to launch much offense. Zach gets another nice take down, and he’s back in side control. Less than 20 seconds to go. Zach transitions to a north-south position, and he has a choke! It looks tight, can Rogers survive? NO! He taps and it’s over.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Zach Makovsky def. Ryan Roberts via submission (north-south choke) Rd 1 (4:48)

Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna

Round 1 – Baker comes forward fast and with reckless abandon throwing strikes followed by a kick. More action from Baker and Vianna counters with a wild overhand right. Kick from Baker, he’s really pushing the pace. Baker goes upstairs but misses with the head kick. Baker wades in again and eats a big right hand and he’s down! Vianna stands over Baker who is crumpled against the cage and fires off a flurry of hammerfists. Wow! The referee dives in and stops it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Vitor Vianna def. Bryan Baker via TKO (strikes) Rd 1 (0:54)

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers

Round 1 – Rogers shuffles forward as Shlemenko moves backward. Big exchange, then a kick by Shlemenko. Left hook by Shlemenko and Rogers fires back. Spinning back fist from Shlemenko. Clinch now, and Rogers goes to the body. Shlemenko fires off a hook then steps out. Shlemenko lands a quick spinning back kick. Roger clinches and lands a knee, then goes to the body. Shlemenko goes for the take down but can’t get him down. Rogers with a flying knee. Both guys are throwing big shots. Nice kick to the body from Shlemenko. Rogers connects with a big straight right that drops Shlemenko. He scrambles to his feet. Rogers lands another one-two as Shlemenko comes in range. Rogers closes and gets a body lock but can’t get the fight to the mat. From the clinch, Rogers gets a big throw and takes Shlemenko to the mat. He’s back up and both guys connect. Left hook scores from Shlemenko, but Rogers counters with a big right hand. Superman punch from Rogers. He steps in and lands a flurry. Shlemenko goes to the body. These guys are doing work. Round 1 goes to Rogers.

Round 2 – Rogers coming forward to start. Shlemenko lands a right hand but Rogers counters with multiple punches. Shlemenko goes for the spinning back fist and Rogers ducks under and gets the double leg take down. Shlemenko gets back to his feet. Rogers lands to the body. Shlemenko fires off and hurts Rogers with a spinning back fist. Huge bombs from Shlemenko now, everything is landing flush. Straight right snaps the head back, left hand now. He punishes Rogers with a knee. Rogers is wobbly. Shlemenko is visibly tired after going for the finish and Rogers capitalizes landing a big right hand. Shlemenko comes right back, locks up the plum clinch and staggers Rogers with a knee. Another! Rogers is leaning on the cage with a hand down to prevent more knees to the head. Rogers lifts his hand off the mat and Shlemenko drops him with another big knee to the face and the referee has seen enough. It’s all over.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Alexander Shlemenko def. Brian Rogers via TKO (strikes) Rd 2 (2:30)