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We have seen the start of both the light heavyweight and welterweight tournaments this season, but now it is time for the lightweights. This Thursday Night’s Bellator 87 broadcast on Spike TV will all be dedicated to the opening round of the lightweight tournament. The tournament will feature many past lightweight tournament veterans and a fighter who pulled one of the bigger upsets in the international MMA scene.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight tournament opening round fight as Thiago Michel (11-3-0) does battle with Alexander “Tiger†Sarnavskiy (21-1-0). Michel made it to the semi-finals of the season six lightweight tournament before losing to Brent Weedman. Sarnavskiy competed in the opening round of the season seven lightweight tournament, but lost to UFC veteran Rich Clementi. Sarnavskiy looked like a monster until he ran into Rich Clementi, but he will get back on track by advancing to the next round.
Another lightweight tournament opening round fight is up next as Will “Ill Will†Brooks (8-0-0) battles Ricardo Tirloni (15-3-0). Brooks pulled a huge upset at the year-end DREAM 18 event, defeating Satoru Kitaoka by TKO in the second round. Tirloni got all the way to the semi-finals of the season seven lightweight tournament before losing to Dave Jansen. It will be the second upset in a row for Brooks as he will storm past Tirloni into an appearance in the semi-finals.
Up next is a lightweight tournament opening round fight as Guillaume “Il Toro†DeLorenzi (10-1-0) takes on Patricky “Pitbull†Freire (10-4-0). DeLorenzi enters the tournament riding a five fight winning streak, which includes a victory over UFC veteran Dale Hartt. Freire enters the tournament riding a two fight losing streak, which includes a loss to Eddie Alvarez in his final Bellator appearance. There is no reason that Freire belongs in this tournament and DeLorenzi will show him why with a victory.
Headlining this card is a lightweight tournament opening round fight as David “The Caveman†Rickels (11-1-0) faces Lloyd “Cupcake†Woodard (12-2-0). Rickels made it to the semi-finals of the season seven welterweight tournament before losing to Karl Amoussou. Woodard made it to the semi-finals of the season seven lightweight tournament before losing to Rick Hawn. This fight should be nothing short of an exciting slugfest, but it will be Woodard pulling out the big win.
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