The seventh season of the Bellator Fighting Championships continues tonight with Bellator 79 from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
The main card on MTV2 and in commercial free high definition on EPIX2 will start at 8 p.m. ET and live results and play by play will be available on TheMMAReport.com.
To discuss the fights, use the comments section below and follow Jason Floyd (@jason_floyd) and on Twitter for more details on this Bellator fight card.
Vladimir Starcencov vs. Vitaly Minakov
Round 1 – The action started with both fighters exchanging right hands and Minakov went for a takedown that was successful. He would be in top position and worked his ground game with strikes. While on his back, Starcencov looked for an armbar, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Minakov would continue to work his ground strikes and would pass to the full mount position with one minute left in the round. As Minakov went to get the back of his opponent, Starcencov would be able to get in top position in the final 30 seconds of the round but was unable to go anything with the position.
Round 2 – The fighters opened the round by exchanging punches and Starcencov looked for a leg sweep, which was unsuccessful. Minakov would land a stiff right jab which dropped Starcencov and landed several more strikes before referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight.
Result: Vitaly Minakov def. Vladimir Starcencov via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, :27
Christ Franck vs. Marcus Aurelio
Round 1 – Aurelio came out by throwing two separate spinning back kicks and the second one landed. The fighters would end up grappling against the cage with Franck’s back against the cage. The fighters would break apart and Aurelio dropped his opponent with a left hand. Franck would be able to get back to his feet and Aurelio once again threw a spinning back kick. He would catch a kick of Franck and take the fight to the ground. Aurelio would have top position and began to work his ground game. After a lack of action, Aurelio looked to land big punches from top position and Franck was able to get back to his feet for a moment. Aurelio would once again get the fight to the ground and maintained top position and then passed to get the back of his opponent. Once having his back, Aurelio locked in a rear-naked choke. He would not be able to fully lock it in and the round would end.
Round 2 – Aurelio opened the round by throwing wild strikes and Franck was able to take the fight to the ground and have top position. Aurelio would be able to transition out of the position and ended up in side control. Franck would then pass out of the position and he would get into top position. Franck would pass to side control and Aurelio looked for a submission from his back. Franck began to land several strikes from top position and looked for a leg lock, which was unsuccessful. Aurelio would get end the round on the back of his opponent but was unable to do anything.
Round 3 – The fight would end up going to the ground in the first ten seconds of the round and Franck landed in top position. After Franck worked his top game, Aurelio was able to transition and get the dominate position on the ground. After attempting to get the back of his opponent, Franck was able to get back in top position. Franck landed multiple left hands on the top but referee Todd Anderson stood the fighter up with 75 seconds left in the round after a lack of action. Once they were stood up, Franck landed several sticks and Aurelio looked to take the fight to the ground. While on the ground, Franck had the dominate position and landed several strikes before the end of the fight.
Result: Christ Franck def. Marcus Aurelio via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ryan Ford vs. Kyle Baker
Round 1 – The fighters would feel each other out for the first 20 seconds of the round and Ford was able to land the first significant strike and would then take Baker to the ground. Ford would stand on top of his opponent and looked to land strikes before laying on top of his opponent. While on his back, Baker looked for an armbar but Ford realized it and escaped the potential submission. Once again, Ford would get in the guard of Baker and be in top position. After Ford landed several strikes, Baker looked to escape and would get back to his feet. Ford would once again land several big strikes and appeared to have Baker rocked. While on the ground, Baker begin to hold onto Ford and would end up getting side control on Ford. Ford would be able to get back to his feet and landed several big shots against the cage. The fight would go to the ground with Baker having the better position and the round would end.
Round 2 – Ford opened the round with a combination, which included a head kick that landed. The action would end up against the cage with them grappling and Ford’s back against the cage. After a lack of action, referee Yves Lavigne would separate the fighters. After the separation, Ford landed another big strike that had Baker on his heels. With the action once again against the cage, they would grapple and Baker would take the fight to the ground. While on the ground, Baker would transition to get the back of Ford and began to look for a rear-naked choke. He would be unable to get the submission locked in a Ford would be able to transition to side control on the ground. The round would end with Ford on top and looking to throw ground strikes.
Round 3 – As the third round started, Ford went for a takedown, which he could not achieve. After a short exchange of strikes, Ford looked for a single leg takedown but was once again unsuccessful. The action returned to the middle of the cage and Ford was able to get a takedown when Baker came forward at him. With the action on the ground, Ford maintained top position but they were stood up by the referee after a lack of action. Once on the feet, Ford wasted no time and immediately took the fight to the ground. Baker was able to get off his back and would get in top position and led to him getting the back of Ford. Baker began to look for a rear-naked choke against the fence and Ford would be able to flip positions and end up in top position on Baker. The round would end with Ford landing hammer fist and the judges would decide the fight.
Result: Ryan Ford def. Kyle Baker via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Douglas Lima vs. Kobe Ortiz
Round 1 – Lima landed the first strike, which was a low leg kick and Ortiz looked to take the fight to the ground, which was unsuccessful. Lima then landed a right hand that dropped Ortiz and Lima would end up in full mount on the ground. Ortiz would end up turning and giving Lima is back. Lima would flatten out Ortiz and began to throw multiple punches and looked for a rear-naked choke for a moment. After landing strikes, Lima once again looked for the rear-naked choke submission put was unable to get the finish. Ortiz looked to put himself in a better position and would do that by obtaining top position. While on his back, Lima landed an up kick to the face of Ortiz and the action returned to the feet. The round would end with the fighters circling each other and the action would head to the second round.
Round 2 – The action opened with the fighters circling each other and looking for their range. Lima was the aggressor and continued to come straight at Ortiz. Lima would land a left hook that stunned Ortiz. Once again, Lima would land a left hand and Ortiz looked to grapple with him, which Lima was able to break away from. Lima landed a leg kick that dropped Ortiz and Lima looked for a guillotine choke. Ortiz was able to escape the submission and the action went back to the feet and Ortiz took the action against the cage. In the last ten seconds of the round, Lima landed a big shot that dropped Ortiz and nearly finished him off before the end of the round.
Round 3 – Lima landed a left hand in the opening minute of the round and pushed the pace. He continued to land his left hand and Ortiz continued to circle his opponent with his hands down. Lima landed a combination against the cage and continued to land his left jab. Lima landed a head kick with 20 seconds left in the fight that stunned Ortiz and finished the fight with strikes on the ground.
Result: Douglas Lima def. Kobe Ortiz via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 4:50
Mike Richman vs. Shahbulat Shamhalaev
Round 1 – Shamhalaev was able to catch a kick of Richman at the start of the fight, but could not do anything with it. Richman was the aggressor and continued to come forward at his opponent. Shamhalaev would land a counter right hand that dropped Richman and landed strikes on the ground before referee Yves Lavigne would come in to stop the fight.
Result: Shahbulat Shamhalaev def. Mike Richman via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:45
Thiago Santos vs. Rich Hale
Round 1 – Santos opened the round by landing several shots that appeared to stun Hale and Santos looked for a standing guillotine choke. Hale would be able to escape the submission attempt and Santos landed a strike that set up a takedown. While on the ground, Santos landed multiple strikes, but Hale was able to get off his back. The fighters would grapple against the cage and Hale looked for a standing guillotine choke against the cage. After a lack of action, the fighters would be separated by the referee. Upon the stand up, Santos appeared to be gassed out and Hale landed a strike that dropped Santos and landed ground and pound to finish the fight.
Result: Richard Hale def. Thiago Santos via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:31