ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Bellator Fighting Championships will close out their fifth season this evening with Bellator 59 at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle will battle it out in the heavyweight tournament finals, while Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas will compete in the bantamweight tournament finals.

Bellator 59 will broadcast LIVE this evening starting at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. The preliminary card will begin at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) and stream LIVE and FREE online at Spike.com.

ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) will provide LIVE results and play-by-play commentary for the entire event.

Bellator 59 quick results:

MAIN CARD (Televised on MTV2)

• (HW Finals) Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle ruled a No Contest (Prindle unable to continue after receiving unintentional low blow from Santos) Rd 1 (1:24)
• (155) Patricky Freire def. Kurt Pellegrino by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (:50) 
• (135 Finals) Eduardo Dantas def. Alexis Vila by unanimous decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• (155) Marcin Held def. Phillipe Nover by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Streaming on Spike.com)

• (175) Karl Amoussou def. Jesus Martinez by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:20)
• (170) LeVon Maynard def. Chris Wing by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• (175) Lucas Pimenta def. Doug Gordon by knockout (strikes) Rd 1 (:40)
• (145) Scott Heckman def. Brylan Van Artsdalen by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1  (1:38)
• (185) Gregory Milliard def. Brandon Saling by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Brandon Saling vs. Gregory Milliard

Round 1 – Saling is from Ohio, Milliard is from Aruba. Milliard has a huge reach advantage. Leg kick from Saling. Milliard catches it and puts Saling on his back. Saling inside full guard. Saling holding on from the bottom. Milliard puts some punches in Saling’s body. Milliard cuts him with an elbow right above the right eye and blood trickles down Saling’s face. Milliard stays busy in top control, body shots and elbows and Greg Franklin stands them up. High kick to the neck from Milliard. Saling misses a spinning backfist. Milliard catches him with a left hook on the chin and they tie up. Milliard backs out and Saling’s face is pretty bloody. Leg kick from Milliard, again. Saling backs Milliard up with punches. Lands a right but eats a head kick and Saling smiles big. Right hook from Milliard as he circles before the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Milliard.

Round 2 – Saling blocks a high kick. Milliard grabs a high single and dumps Saling on his back, landing in half guard. Body shot from Milliard, he’s fishing for something, takes Saling’s back but can’t get the hooks in. Saling on his knees. Milliard riding his back. Saling goes to his back and Milliard is on top in side control. Saling gets to his knees. Eats a punch. Milliard gets both hooks in briefly but Saling gets to his feet while Milliard holding on from behind. Saling ends back up on the ground on his knees with Milliard riding his back. Big knee to the ribs from Milliard. Saling holding one wrist with two hands, he gets to his feet, they tie up. Knee to the body from Milliard. They square up. Leg kick from Milliard. Thirty seconds left. Milliard misses a big hook, Saling lets time run out without throwing anything else. PMN scores the round 10-9 Milliard.

Round 3 – I believe I just heard Saling’s corner say, “It could always be worse.” Milliard’s corner told him to not let it go to the judges. Touch of gloves. Lazy leg kick from Saling. Big leg kick from Milliard. Saling misses a couple of punches. Big leg kick from Milliard, left jab. Saling throws a couple punches that don’t find the mark. Finally, Saling lands a couple punches as Milliard tries to escape. Jab from Milliard. Saling completely flat footed, stalking Milliard. Right hand from Saling, they tie up and Milliard turns him to the cage then grabs a single, turns the corner and puts Saling on his back easily. Milliard in side control. Big knee to the ribs. Milliard traps an arm with his leg, then rides Saling’s back as he turtles up. Milliard landing hammerfists and right hands as Saling tries to cover up. Saling stands up with Milliard holding him from behind. He drags Saling back to the ground and takes side control. Short sharp left elbow from Milliard with 30 seconds left. Milliard takes full mount, lands a big right. Saling gives up his back, goes for the choke as time runs out. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Gregory Milliard.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Gregory Milliard def. Brandon Saling by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Rd 3 (5:00)

Brylan Van Artsdalen vs. Scott Heckman

Round 1 – They tie up, knee from Van Artsdalen, another as he pushes on Heckman against the cage. They square up and Heckman lands a big left hook followed by a big slam. Heckman goes for a guillotine, it’s tight but Van Artsdalen escapes. They scramble to their feet and Van Artsdalen drives Heckman to the cage. Heckman locks on a standing guillotine and Van Artsdalen is forced to tap before he gets his head separated from his shoulders.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Scott Heckman def. Brylan Van Artsdalen by submission (standing guillotine choke) Rd 1 (1:38)

Lucas Pimenta vs. Doug Gordon

Round 1 – Pimenta bobbing side to side, takes a big body kick to the left side. Pimenta knocks Gordon to his back with a counter right as he times Gordon’s body kick. Pimenta follows up with a hammerfist followed by a flurry of elbows to the head, Gordon goes stiff and this fight is over folks just like that.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Lucas Pimenta def. Doug Gordon by knockout (strikes) Rd 1 (:40)

LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing

Round 1 – Maynard misses a leg kick. Lands a right leg kick. Body shot from Wing. Misses a high kick. Leg kick and body shots from Maynard, a knee to the body, again as he presses Wing to the cage. Body shots from Maynard. Wing with a knee and his own rabbit punches, uppercut as they dirty box against the cage. Wing breaks free to the center. Both miss with a couple punches and kicks. Big leg kick from Maynard, Wing with a body kick. Maynard with a big leg kick. Uppercut from Maynard snaps Wing’s head back. Leg kick from Maynard. Body kick from Wing. Leg kick from Maynard followed by a right hand over the top. Light body shot from Wing. Again. Not much on it. He blocks Maynard’s high kick. Switch kick by Wing. Nice right uppercut from Maynard, they tie up against the cage and dirty box. Couple of knees from Wing before the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Maynard.

Round 2 – Front kick from Wing. Front kick from Maynard. Wing fires back with a punch combo, nothing much landing. Leg kick from Maynard. Again. Wing with a high kick that is blocked. Throws another high kick and gets put on his back with Maynard on top in half guard landing punches. Maynard landing elbows to the head and punches to the body. Maynard trying to pass to side control. Wing holding on, but eating quite a few shots and is now bleeding from these elbow strikes. Maynard stands over Wing and comes in with more punches, now back inside full guard landing elbows and punches. Wing’s neck and side of his head is crimson. Thirty seconds left in the round. Wing bleeding a lot. Maynard stands over Wing and dives in with a huge right that lands on the button. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Maynard.

Round 3 – Wing’s corner told him not to go to the ground with Maynard. Big leg kick from Maynard. Wing with a right, Maynard with a counter right. Nice right uppercut from Maynard snaps Wing’s head back. He just misses another one. Leg kick from Maynard. Right hand from Maynard as he blocks a body kick. Trade leg kicks. Maynard with two more leg kicks. Wing shoots from way outside, Maynard sprawls and ends up on top of Wing in half guard. Ground and pound from Maynard, elbows and body shots. Thirty seconds to go. Wing looks at the clock. Big elbow from Maynard, big right hand. He postures up with more elbows and stands up just before the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Maynard.

OFFICIAL RESULT: LeVon Maynard def. Chris Wing by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) Rd 3 (5:00)

NOTE: Jeff Blatnick gave Maynard a 10-8 in one of the rounds.

Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez

Round 1 – Amoussou normally fights at 185 pounds. Leg kick from Amoussou. Leg kick from Martinez. Wheel kick from Amoussou. They tie up, knees on the break from Amoussou, then a leg kick inside. Martinez swings big and misses with an overhand right. Amoussou with a left hook. Marinez slips to the ground after a kick, is back up. Amoussou lands a nice right, then a leg kick. Low kick from Martinez. Low kick, high kick from Amoussou followed by a right on the button forces Martinez to shoot. Amoussou stuffs is and unleashes a flurry of punches to the sides of the head as Martinez covers up and the ref steps in to stop it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Karl Amoussou def. Jesus Martinez by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:20)

NOTES: Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez talked about his loss to Michael Chandler last week and wanting to work on his mistakes and eventually getting the title back. He said he made some mistakes that he shouldn’t have made at the championship level. He wants a rematch — no surprise there.

Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover

Round 1 – Touch gloves. Left hook from Held. Nover drops him with a right counter. But he stands right up and they go back to fighting. Held appears okay. Held rolls for a knee bar, has a body lock from behind while standing. Held rolls for another kneebar, Held has it tight but Nover escapes at least momentarily. Held locks it up again, switches to a heel hook. Nover escapes to his feet. They square up. Nover lands a couple lefts as Held tries to rush in jumping toward Nover. Body kick from Nover. Big leg kick. Held ties up and pushes Nover to the cage, shoulder strikes from Held. Nover grabs a collar tie, lands two knees. Held pulls guard, tries to lock up an arm as Nover lands some hammerfists. Under a minute to go. Nover kicks the thighs of Held who is on his back. Held dives in for another kneebar and ends up on top. Nover goes for an armbar, now a kimura with under 10 seconds to go. Nover almost sweeps him as time runs out. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Nover.

Round 2 – Touch gloves. Right counter from Held. They tie up, Held pulls guard. Nover punishes from the top with body strikes. Held trying to look for anything. Nover lands a big left and elbows from half guard on top. Held with little punches off his back, rolls around looking for an armbar. Nover stands up, kicks the thigh of Held, again. Ref lets Held up. Leg kick from Held and Nover counters with a left. Held gets a takedown. Nover goes for a kimura, lets it go. Nover tries to mount, stands up, he dives in with a big left. Body shot and rights and lefts toward the face from Nover, one or two maybe get through. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Nover.

Round 3 – Nice right left from Held, he shoots and puts Nover on his back. Held goes for a kimura but lets it go as Held settles down in half guard. Held with some rabbit punches to the head. Chants of “Nover” from the New Jersey crowd. Elbow to the ribs from Held. Nover gets to his knees and pushes Held against the cage and ends up on top in half guard. Nover landing some punches from top. Held grabs Nover’s leg, looks for an ankle lock or kneebar but Nover pulls out. Held stands and rushes at Nover, eats a punch, but gets Nover down and both guys play footsies looking for something. Nover gets up and Held rushes him, they tie up and Nover drops levels and easily puts Held on his back. Under a minute to go as Nover puts in punches to the body from half guard. Held trying to make something happen by grabbing at Nover’s arm. He eats a few more shots before the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Nover. But at only 19 years of age, keep an eye on Marcin Held. This guy will be a real force one day if he keeps at it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Marcin Held def. Phillipe Nover by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Rd 3 (5:00)

NOTES: B.S. decision. The crowd boos him heavily as he gets the post-fight interview. Held will advance to the season six lightweight tournament. Bellator commentator Jimmy Smith said he gave all three rounds to Nover as well.

Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas

Round 1 – Can Vila keep his undefeated streak alive? Vila throws a couple punches to set up the takedown. Dantas looking for a kimura immediately. Vila pulls out and stands over Dantas, kicks him in the thighs. Dantas kicks at the kneecap of Vila. Again. Big kicks to the thigh from Vila. Dantas with an up-kick, he stands. Jumping knee to the body from Dantas as he stands. Left hook, head kick from Dantas. They tie up. Vila pushes Dantas to the cage. Vila with underhooks and a body lock. They exchange knees to the thighs. Another knee to the thigh from Vila, again. Vila grabs a single, lets it go. Dantas tries for a trip, they jockey for position. Vila grabs a single as Dantas lands some rabbit punches. Under a minute to go as we have come to a bit of a stalemate. Vila struggles and finally gets the takedown. Dantas gets to his knees and feet. Vila with a body lock from behind, knees to the thigh from Vila as time runs out. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Vila.

Round 2 – Vila shoots for a single, Dantas tries to escape but Vila refuses to give up. Body shots from Dantas. Vila lets it go and stands up. They square up. Big leg kick from Dantas. Jab from Dantas. Left to the body from Vila. Big leg kick from Dantas. He ducks a big right hook from Vila. One two shoot from Vila. Dantas turns him around to the cage, knee on the break. Big leg kick from Dantas, two knees to the body, body punch, big leg kick. Leg kick from Dantas. Vila shoots, gets a body lock from behind. Knee to the back of the thigh. Dantas turns around and has Vila’s head in a front headlock. He cranks a guillotine but Vila pops out. Dantas with a jab. Right hand from Vila. Dantas lands a big knee up the center as Vila shoots. Dantas locks on a standing guillotine, lets it go as Vila pushes him to the cage. Vila drops levels for a single. Dantas pushes Vila to the cage. Two big knees from Dantas to the body. They square up in the center. Dantas with a flying knee misses. Leg kick from Vila. Close round. PMN scores it 10-9 for Dantas.

Round 3 – Touch gloves. Big leg kick from Dantas. Front kick. Big leg kick from Vila. Dantas with a leg kick. Vila with a leg kick. Dantas with a one two. Vila trips but gets right up. Vila ducks a right. Big knee to the mid section from Dantas. Vila shoots. Dantas jumps out of the way and takes Vila’s back, has both hooks in, trapping Vila’s right arm with one leg. Dantas looking for the choke. Dantas with a body triangle. Just over 2:00 to go. Vila blindly punches behind him. Dantas locks on a neck crank, they roll, Vila removes one of the hooks with his hands. Dantas gets the hook back in. Under a minute to go. Vila with punches behind him. Dantas can’t get under the chin with the choke. Vila tries to fight it off but stays stuck as Dantas had put the body triangle back on him. PMN scores round three 10-9 for Dantas and the fight 29-28 for Dantas.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Eduardo Dantas def. Alexis Vila by unanimous decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28) Rd 3 (5:00)

Dantas will go on to fight Bellator bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky early next year for the title.

Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino

Round 1 – Pellegrino came out of retirement for this fight. He circles Pitbull flashing a jab. Pitbull drops him with a big left-right combo. Pellegrino goes for a single and is fighting for the leg as Pitbull lands several shots to the side of the head. The ref stops the fight what appears to be much too early. Pellegrino can’t believe the fight is stopped as he has Pitbull’s leg in his arms still fighting for the takedown. The crowd chants “B.S.” Bad call. Yeah, he got dropped but he was by no means done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Patricky Freire def. Kurt Pellegrino by TKO (punches) Rd 1  (:50)

NOTES: Pellegrino makes faces at the ref as he readies to raise the winner’s hand. Pellegrino waves to the crowd not to boo and raises Pitbull’s hand. Pellegrino says this is really the last time he will fight and says he will help Patricky out when he fights in the tournament.

Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle

Round 1 – Prindle has some heavy hands. Prindle swings with a left hook but Santos puts him down easily. Prindle tries to punch off his back. Prndle pushes Santos off and gets up but Santos immediately puts him back down landing in half guard. Right hand from Santos. Santos throws some punches, stands up and then gives Prindle a kick right to the groin, straight up the center. Prindle is hurt, in fetal position coughing and wincing. That looked very intentional and very dirty. It looked like he put his toes right up his rectum. Very ugly. Right now time is called and Prindle has 5 minutes to recover. Prindle makes his way to his feet and is holding the cage still trying to recover. Prindle comes over to Santos and they hug. Prindle does a little hop on his feet to test himself and he winces badly. Nick Lembo from the NJ commission comes up to the cage to talk to Prindle. This is a bad situation for the heavyweight finals. Five minutes have elapsed. Santos comes back over and they hug. It’s going to be ruled a “No Contest” which totally messes up the finals. What the hell Santos was thinking I have no idea. It couldn’t have been a more blatant foul.  Well, a very anti-climactic way to end Bellator’s fifth season — thanks Thiago Santos…. for nothing. — They officially rule it an “accidental blow” — I disagree.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle ruled a no contest (Prindle unable to continue after receiving unintentional low blow from Santos) Rd 1 (1:24)

NOTES: Santos and Prindle will rematch in early 2012.