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After a very long wait, Bellator fans will get the opportunity to see who is crowned the season seven featherweight tournament champion. That is not all, because MMA and TNA star King Mo will be competing in a season eight light heavyweight tournament semi-final. Also, UFC veteran Ben Saunders will be competing in a tournament semi-final fight and a late replacement steps in at a tournament fight.
Kicking off the action is a welterweight tournament semi-final fight as Raul “Smash Mode†Amaya (11-1-0) does battle with Ben “Killa B†Saunders (15-5-2). Amaya found himself in the tournament semi-finals when he defeated Jose De Ribamar Machado Gomes at Bellator 86. Saunders found himself competing in the tournament’s second round when he defeated Koffi Adzitso at Bellator 86. Saunders has never made it to a tournament finals in Bellator and that streak will continue as Amaya moves onto the finals.
Another welterweight tournament semi-final fight is up next as Bryan “The Beast†Baker (18-4-0) competes against Douglas “The Phenom†Lima (23-5-0). Baker is an injury replacement for Brent Weedman, who was injured after winning his opening round fight. Lima punched his ticket to the tournament semi-finals when he defeated Michail Tsarev at Bellator 86. Baker has a lot of past tournament experience and is rested heading into the tournament, which gives him the edge to defeat Lima.
A light heavyweight tournament semi-final fight is occurring next as Jacob “The Psycho†Noe (11-1-0-1NC) faces Mikhail Zayats (20-6-0). Noe pulled one of the bigger upsets of the opening round when he defeated UFC veteran Seth Petruzelli at Bellator 85. Zayats also pulled a pretty big upset in the tournaments opening round when he defeated UFC veteran Renato Sobral at Bellator 85. These are two fighters who were not expected to be in this round, but it will be Zayats making it to the finals.
Up next is another light heavyweight semi-final fight as Muhammed “King Mo†Lawal (9-1-0-1NC) takes on Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid†Newton (19-7-1). Lawal earned himself an opportunity in the tournament semi-finals when he knocked out Przemyslaw Mysiala at Bellator 86. Newton was able to label himself a tournament semi-finalist when he submitted Atanas Djambazov at Bellator 85. Lawal and Newton are good wrestlers, but it will be King Mo’s striking that advances him to the tourney finals.
Headlining this card is a season seven featherweight tournament final as Rad Martinez (14-2-0) battles Shahbulat “Assassin†Shamhalaev (11-1-1). Martinez got his spot in the tournament finals when he defeated both Nazareno Malegarie and Wagnney Fabiano in the first two rounds. Shamhalaev gained his entry into the tournament finals with knockout victories over both Mike Richman and Cody Bollinger. Martinez is one of the most feel good stories in MMA right now and he will cap off that story with a victory on Thursday Night.
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