Ryan Thomas Versus Ben Askren Part II in Bellator Semifinals

Bellator’s welterweight semifinals take place May 20 and the match-ups have been officially announced with Ryan Thomas (13-4) getting a second chance against Ben Askren (4-0).

They faced each other in the quarterfinals at Bellator 14 on April 15. Ben Askren won a technical-submission victory when the referee stopped the fight even though Thomas never tapped out.

As soon as the fight was over Ryan protested but to no avail. Yet in what seemed like fate, British fighter Jim Wallhead (17-5) was forced to withdraw from the tournament when volcanic ash prevented him from traveling to the states to the following week for Bellator 15. Thomas told the “Official Voice of Fighters.com”, MMA Gospel Radio, that Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney made him the first alternate immediately following the fight with Askren. When Wallhead had to drop out, Bjorn went to bat with the athletic commission in order to get Thomas approved for the fight against Jacob McClintock (6-1). Thomas did exactly what he told MMA Gospel Radio he would do as he won by TKO to move into the semifinals.

Both Askren and Thomas have said they really wanted to fight one another again. Bjorn Rebney, the man fast becoming mixed martial arts most beloved CEO, put the fight together and we will now get to see who is the better fighter.

Also scheduled for Bellator 19 is the other semifinal fight between Steven Carl (13-1) and Dan Hornbuckle (16-2).

Carl had a very hard fought split-decision victory over Brett Cooper (8-5) to make his way into the semifinals.

Hornbuckle made his way into the semifinals by way of a triangle choke victory over “The Evolution” Tyler Stinson (17-6).

Stay tuned to Fighters.com and MMA Gospel Radio for information on the Bellator tournament and for interviews with more Bellator fighters.

MMA Gospel Radio airs every Wednesday from 8-10 PM EST/ 5-7 PM PST. Just go to www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel in order to join in the live chat, listen live and become a part of the show.