The opening bout of the Bellator 101 main card on Spike TV was an opening round bout in the season nine lightweight tournament as Saad Awad advance to the semifinals with a submission victory over Martin Stapleton.
As the fight starts, Awad connected with an early right hand causing Stapleton to slip. Stapleton would successfully get a takedown but Awad was able to reverse the position and get the back of Stapleton.
Awad started throwing strikes before going for a rear-naked choke and would end up getting the submission victory at the 3:46 mark of the opening round.
Awad (15-5) has now won three of his last four fights in Bellator and all of those wins have come by stoppage in the first round.
Bellator 101 Results:
Saad Awad def. Martin Stapleton via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:46
Nathan Coy def. Andy Uhrich via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Marcin Held def. Ryan Healy via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:12
Dave Vitkay def. Tyson Jefferies via sub (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:07
Brent Primus def. Scott Thometz via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:48
Austin Springer def. Zach Skinner via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
Peter Aspinwall def. Jeremiah Riggs via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)