Bellator 45 Results: With Champions Crowned And Rematches Set, Bellator Ends Season Four With A Bang

It’s finally happened, fans and friends. After ten live, weekly events on prime-time television, after ratings that at times fluctuated wildly, after several amazing fights and some not-so-good ones… Bellator’s fourth season is over. With the end of Bellator 45 comes the end of Bellator’s first season on the MTV2 network, and it was quite an event to cap off what I felt was a mostly-spectacular run. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary for Bellator 45.

Christian M’Pumbu defeats Richard Hale via TKO at 4:17 in Round 3. Patricio Freire defeats Daniel Straus via Unanimous Decision. Sam Alvey defeats Karl Amoussou via Split Decision. Shawn Jordan defeats Johnathan Hill via TKO in Round 1. Luis Santos defeats Nicolae Cury via Unanimous Decision. Rene Nazare defeats Kelvin Hackney via Submission in Round 1. Tim Ruberg defeats Michael Fleniken via Unanimous Decision. Joseph Abercrombie defeats Ben Parpart via Submission in Round 1.

The opening fight of Bellator 45 was a great three-round war of attrition between a smiling Sam Alvey and a psychotic-looking Karl Amoussou. I think Amoussou definitely controlled a round, with one round being pretty even, and with Alvey firmly controlling the third and final round. It seems as if all the judges agreed with me, and I’m glad they did. I think Alvey deserved the win for his very gutsy performance, and I think this further proves that Bellator is becoming a place where anything can happen. Alvey was no sacrificial lamb, and he received a big boost by beating a veteran like Amoussou.

Before I talk about how disappointed I was when Daniel Straus lost, I would first like to say that I have nothing but the utmost respect for Patricio Freire, for both Freire brothers in fact. They were two of the best fighters of all of Season Four’s tournaments, knocking out people left and right and giving us highlights that we’d talk about for days. If Straus couldn’t win it, then I’m glad Patricio did. I think he’s an awesome fighter and that he may just beat Joe Warren when he gets his rematch against him.

But with all that said: yeah, I really was gutted to see Straus lose. After coming into the finals on the heels of back-to-back amazing performances, it appeared as if the pressure of the situation finally kicked in for Straus. He just didn’t look like the same fighter I had grown to respect and become a big fan of. He didn’t fight badly, far from it, but he did not live up to his potential and it saddens me to say that. I really would have liked to see this Cinderella Story reach its conclusion, but it appears that sometimes a happy ending is best left to the fairy tales.

I’ll say this, though: Straus will be back. He’ll be right back in Bellator, fighting his way through more tough challengers and turning more heads with his relentless pace, incredible work ethic, and sincere humility. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Daniel Straus.

And in the main event, Christian M’Pumbu finally found his opening on Richard Hale. It took him three tough rounds to do it, and Hale absorbed plenty of shots after the one that floored him, but he found his opportunity. I didn’t think he would, but it appears that I underestimated Christian M’Pumbu. Take my word for it: that’s not going to happen again. M’Pumbu is a walking paradox: a champion that fights at his natural weight class and considers cutting weight an alien notion, and yet he’s still able to retain a firm control of the fight against large opponents that do cut massive amounts of weight. Oh, and he keeps finding a way to knock people out in heinous, brutal fashion… so he has that going for him as well.

The ending to Bellator’s Season Four was bittersweet, at least to me, and for more than one reason. First and foremost, I want more Bellator. I’m hooked now, there’s no denying it. But obviously, I am a little disappointed that two out of the three fighters I was rooting for ended up not winning their fights. But overall, this was a solid event and I’m very glad I watched it.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of Bellator 45?