Top 5 Best Moments Of Bellator 36

After an event like Bellator 36, it’s hard not to cheer on Bellator FC. Bellator may not boast the best talent, but Bellator 36 featured constant action, great finishes, and more. It was a solid event all around, and a great second event to air on MTV2 after the early success of their first event. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top 5 best moments of Bellator 36.

5. CEO Bjorn Rebney’s discussion of Bellator’s tournament format.

Bjorn Rebney is a character, and in a weird way, he seems to be an amalgam of UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Rebney talks with a lot of soft-spoken sincerity, but he’s also not afraid to take a stand on several controversial issues. At Bellator 36, Rebney once again defended Bellator’s tournament format and even said that it would be ridiculous if the chairman of the NFL simply picked which two teams would be in the Super Bowl. It’s an argument that raises a whole lot of debate, but Rebney has a way with words and I enjoyed hearing his honest thoughts on the matter.

4. Rob McCullough’s comeback up until he was TKO’d.

Heading into the second round of his Bellator debut, it was clear that “Razor” Rob was done on the judge’s scorecards. One of the Bellator announcers mirrored my thoughts exactly: Rob came pretty closing to losing the round 10-8. However, McCullough displayed the heart and will of a champion and battled back, winning the second round and nearly winning the third. McCullough may have lost it all in the end, but I think this fight proved that he’s still got plenty of fight left in him, and I think Bellator will be calling on him at least one more time before the year is over.

3. Lloyd Woodard finishing Carey Vanier.

No matter how hard I try, there’s always some small part of me that roots for the underdog. Even if it’s an underdog against one of my favorite fighters, the part of my brain that’s forever an optimist will always hope that the “dark horse” proves everyone wrong and has his moment in the spotlight. So, with that said, I really enjoyed Woodard finally landing the punch he needed to land in order to stop Carey Vanier. Woodard may have been over-matched, but his heart and fortitude won him that bout and won me over as a fan. I can’t wait to see what he does to follow up on this big win.

2. Patricky Freire turning out the lights on “Razor” Rob.

Even as a fan of Rob McCullough, I’ve simply got to give the devil his due and congratulate Freire on his massive win. At the time of the stoppage I thought it was a bit premature, but thanks to some excellent camera work, I was able to see on the replay that Rob was unconscious before he hit the ground and “woke up” when he was on the ground. Freire finishing the former WEC champion was one of the most unexpected (and awesome) moments of the night.

And my personal pick for the best moment of Bellator 36 is…

1. Toby Imada’s dominant submission win.

What’s not to like about Toby Imada? He’s been to the finals of a Bellator tournament on two separate occasions and he’s likely headed for a third deep run. Imada had a day to prepare for his opponent after his originally-scheduled opponent pulled out, and his new opponent still didn’t stand a chance. I’m all for the “dark horse” winning, but when a dominant fighter dominates, that’s the thing I’ll be remembering for quite some time.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from Bellator 36. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?