ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Daniel Straus and Marlon Sandro will battle it out in Bellator Fighting Championships’ season six featherweight tournament finals in the Bellator 68 main event tonight at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
Marcos Galvao will face Travis Marx in the season six bantamweight tournament semifinals. Also, the “Kimbo Killer” Seth Petruzelli returns to action against Carmelo Marrero in a 230 pound catchweight bout, and Marius Zaromskis faces Waachiim Spiritwolf in a 172 pound catchweight bout.
Bellator 68’s main card will air LIVE on MTV2 starting at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Prior to that, the preliminary card, which will feature a host of up-and-coming talent from around the region, will stream LIVE on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
Join us here at ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) tonight for LIVE Bellator 68 fight results and play-by-play commentary.
Bellator 68 quick results:
MAIN CARD (MTV 2)
- Featherweight Final: Daniel Straus def. Marlon Sandro by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Catchweight Feature Fight (230 lbs): Seth Petruzelli (225.5lbs) vs. Carmelo Marrero (230lbs)Petruzelli not cleared to fight by doctor – Bout cancelled.- Bantamweight Semifinal: Marcos Galvao def. Travis Marx by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Marius Zaromskis def. Waachiim Spiritwolf by TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) Rd 2 (5:00)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com)
- Francois Ambang def. Gregory Milliard by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Rd 3 (5:00)
- Marcin Held def. Derrick Kennington by submission (heel hook) Rd 1 (2:08)
- Don Carlo-Clauss def. Jacob Kirwan by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Aung La Nsang def. Jesus Martinez by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (:36)
- Anthony Leone def. Claudio Ledesma by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Bellator 68 play-by-play:
Catchweight (172 pounds) Feature Fight:
Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf (@spiritwolfmma)
These two first fought in November 2010 in Strikeforce. The bout lasted a total of :06 seconds after an eye poke forced a stoppage.
Round 1 – Marius stalking. Waachiim shoots, pushes Marius to the cage, and Marius reverses. Waachiim pushes him across the cage putting Marius to the cage. Marius turns him around, Waachiim turns him around. Ref separates them. Marius lands a nice punch cutting Spiritwolf over the eye. Head kick from Marius, Spiritwolf catches it though and shoots, picks Marius up over his shoulder for a big slam but Marius pops right up. Waachiim gets a body lock. Marius grabs one of his legs and dumps Waachiim on the ground. Big elbow from Marius. Waachiim gets up swinging and shoots, gets the takedown but Marius pops up immediately. Waachiim still holding on, pressing Waachiim to the cage. They trade knees. Marius turns him to the cage. Waachiim turns him around, gives him a knee. Marius turns him around, gives a knee. He drops levels. Waachiim takes a knee, stands up. Marius driving for the takedown. Ref calls for action. Knee from Spiritwolf. Ref separates them. Big right from Waachiim. Close round. PMN scores the round 10-9 Marius.
Round 2 – Waachiim comes out swinging. Head kick misses from Marius. Nice right hand from Waachiim. He swings and misses. Marius lands a big right. Waachiim with an overhand right, then a left. He breathes deep. Big left hand from Marius. Waachiim playing a dangerous game striking with Marius. Head kick attempt from Marius is caught by Spiritwolf, they clinch up, big knee to the chin from Marius. Two more knees from Marius. Waachiim unleashes a barrage of punches, one after the other, his face grimacing like a Native American warrior. Marius goes down and Spiritwolf attacks his prey. From inside full guard Spiritwolf rains down blows looking for the finish. Marius survives and grabs hold of Spiritwolf trying to prevent him from posturing up. Spiritwolf finishes out the round on top landing elbows and punches. PMN scores the round 10-8 for Spiritwolf.
The fight is stopped due to a miniscule cut over one of Spiritwolf’s eyes. It’s not even bleeding at this point and it really is very small. This is absolutely ridiculous. Atlantic City is a fight town so I don’t understand this at all. It makes no sense to me and this is very unfortunate. Their first fight was stopped due to an eye poke in 2010, and now this. Marius is ruled the victor due to the stoppage…it’s even worse after such a great round for Spiritwolf.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Marius Zaromskis def. Waachiim Spiritwolf by TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) Rd 2 (5:00)
They brought out King Mo, along with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, to talk about Mo’s signing with Bellator and TNA Impact Wrestling. For those who still haven’t heard, Mo will be doing pro wrestling with TNA on Spike TV starting this summer, and then in 2013, when Bellator moves to Spike TV, Mo will enter Bellator’s light heavyweight tournament.
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal:
Marcos Galvao (@MarcosGalvaoMMA) vs. Travis Marx (@TTrainMMA)
Round 1 – Touch gloves. Left right from Marx. Galvao throws a knee, it’s caught. Marx pushes him to the cage, knee, backs up and squares up. Leg kick from Galvao. Marx with a leg kick, gets countered with a right hand that drops Marx. He gets up and Galvao pushes him to the cage where they trade knees from the clinch. They separate with body shots and square up again. Marx clinches and pushes Galvao to the cage, knees to the thighs from Marx. Knee to the body. Galvao turns him around and Marx backs out. Body kick from Galvao, takes a low blow. Big body kick from Galvao. Body kick from Marx, then a leg kick. Galvao lands a nice right counter. Two knees from Galvao. A right from Marx. Big leg kick from Galvao. Left from Marx, eats a right. Body kick from Marx, big right counter from Galvao. Clinch, knees from Marx to the thighs, as he pushes Galvao to the cage. Marx tries to drop levels, stuffed. Right from Galvao. Leg kick from Galvao, again. High intensity fight and a close round. PMN scores the round 10-9 Galvao.
Round 2 – They trade punches, briefly clinch, then back out. Nice leg kick from Galvao. The next one is a low blow and time is called. Right hand from Marx, he shoots for a double but Galvao defends it. Knees to the thigh from Marx, then a few body shots. More knees to the thighs from Marx. Knee to the body on the break. Leg kick from Galvao. Galvao takes a low blow. Left to the chin from marx. Knee from Galvao catches Marx coming in. Inside kick from Galvao makes Marx stumble. Marx shoots, pushes Galvao to the cage, knees his thighs, backs out with a right hand. Inside leg kick from Galvao. One two three from Marx. Big leg kick from Galvao. Inside leg kick, left hand. Leg kick from Marx. Inside leg kick from Galvao. Jumping knee from Marx, shoots for a double, moves to a body lock from behind Galvao. Backs out with a knee and a right. Step in knee from Galvao, low kick. Right to the body from Marx. Marx has stepped up the output whereas Galvao slowed a bit. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Marx.
Round 3 – Touch gloves. Step in knee from Galvao, leg kick from Marx. Leg kick from Galvao, knee from Marx. Right hand from Marx. Leg kick from Marx. Step in knee from Galvao. Leg kick from Marx, then a right hand, then he clinches up, drops levels for a single. Galvao gives him some short punches to the head. Marx gives up the takedown attempt and backs out and squares up. They trade leg kicks. Marx with two more leg kicks. Another one. Leg kick from Galvao. Left hook, straight right from Galvao. Leg kick from Marx. Right to the body, left to the head from Marx. Leg kick. Right to the body. Leg kick from Marx. Right counter from Galvao. Right from Marx. Leg kick from Marx. Big leg kick from Galvao. Again. Marx shoots and gets the takedown. Galvao gets right up but Marx has a body lock from behind. Galvao turns around and Marx gives him knees over and over to the thighs. Marx giving him some small shots to the head. Marx backs out and they square up with 30 seconds left. Big leg kick from Galvao. Knee from Marx. Big leg kick from Galvao. They trade punches before the bell. Very close fight but I have Marx winning it. I think he was busier in the third round. Galvao seemed to have more power but I feel he just hung back a little too much. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 29-28 for Marx.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Marcos Galvao def. Travis Marx by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Rd 3 (5:00)
Featherweight Tournament Final:
Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) vs. Marlon Sandro (@351marlon)
Round 1 – Here we go for all the marbles. Big inside leg kick from Sandro. Inside leg kick from Straus hits Sandro’s cup and he goes down. Time is called. He took the full five minutes to recover. He misses an inside leg kick, Straus also misses one. Left hook from Sandro, Straus shoots, pushes Sandro to the cage. Straus gets the takedown, reversing a trip attempt from Sandro. Straus in half guard. Sandro gets up to his feet. Straus with a body lock, gives him some knees to the thighs. Judo trip from Sandro but ends up with Straus on his back. He goes for the choke but Sandro throws him off and they stand up. Left counter from Straus. Two minutes to go. Nice left hand from Straus, shoots for a single, switches legs. Sandro gives him a couple punches to try and get free. Straus with a body lock, knees to the thighs from behind. One minute to go. Straus tries to pick Sandro up for a takedown but no dice. Sandro warned for holding cage. Straus attempts a suplex but can’t get it but drags Sandro forward to the ground. PMN scores the round 10-9 Straus.
Round 2 – Touch gloves. Head kick from Straus blocked. Body kick scores. Right hand, shoots, body lock, presses Sandro to the cage while landing knees to the thighs. Straus backs out and they square up. Uppercut from Sandro, just misses. Tries it again. Step away right hand from Straus, head kick partially blocked. Big leg kick from Straus and a right hand scores. Sandro shoots, stuffed. Left hand from Sandro after missing an uppercut. Nice leg kick from Straus. One minute to go. Sandro with a jumping knee, Straus catches it and goes for a takedown. Presses Sandro to the cage but Sandro pulls away and they square up. They clinch briefly and Sandro shrugs him off. They square up. Knee from Sandro before the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 Straus.
Round 3 – Clinch, knee from Straus on the break. Leg kick from Straus. Body jab from Straus. Lead left from Sandro, they clinch up. Sandro pressing on Straus against the cage. Knee to the thigh from Sandro, he backs out. Head kick from Straus partially blocked, he shoots. Sandro goes for a single, then body lock from behind, looking for a trip. Sandro with a standing arm triangle. Straus answering the phone. Two minutes to go. Straus seems fine but we’re in a stalemate as Sandro holds the submission attempt. A few boos come forth from the crowd. Straus escapes as Sandro holds a body clinch from behind. Sandro backs out to the center. They square up. Nice right counter jab from Straus. Straus with a body lock from behind and big suplex. He takes Sandro’s back with both hooks in. He’s looking for the choke with 10 seconds left. This fight is over and Straus jumps up as if he has won celebrates. Sandro stays on his knees looking dejected. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Straus.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Daniel Straus def. Marlon Sandro by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) Rd 3 (5:00)
Daniel Straus is the season six featherweight tournament champion. He won $100,000 and the winner of “Pitbull” and Pat Curran for the title.