The participants in the two Bellator Fighting Championships Summer Series featherweight tournament semifinal bouts -- Pat Curran (146) vs. Ronnie Mann (144.8) and Marlon Sandro (145.6) vs. Nazareno Malegarie (145.6) -- met their mandated weight requirements for Bellator 47 at Friday?s official weigh-in.
The 145-pound tournament matchups will headline the promotion?s Canadian debut on Saturday at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.
Curran, a lightweight tournament winner in 2010, advanced to the semifinals with a Peruvian necktie submission over Luis Palomino at Bellator 46 in June. The 23-year-old has won five of his last six fights, a unanimous decision defeat to reigning Bellator lightweight champion the lone hiccup. More than half (eight) of Curran?s 14 career victories have come by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
A Sengoku Raiden Championship veteran, Mann will carry a four-fight winning streak into the event. The 24-year-old Englishman secured his spot in the semifinals with a first-round knockout against Adam Schindler at Bellator 46. Mann now trains under Shawn Tompkins in Las Vegas.
The pre-tournament favorite, Sandro has posted 18 wins in 20 professional appearances. Spawned by the revered Nova Uni?o camp, the 34-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has held titles inside Sengoku and Pancrase. Feared for his brutal knockout power, Sandro has sent more than one foe out on a stretcher. His split decision victory over countryman Genair da Silva put him in the semifinals.
Malegarie punched his ticket to the semis with a guillotine choke submission against Jacob Devree at Bellator 46, as he rebounded nicely from the first defeat of his career. The 25-year-old Brazil-based Argentinian has secured 13 of his 20 professional wins by submission. Malegarie carries the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Bellator 47 -- which airs on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT -- will also feature a heavyweight duel pitting Neil Grove (264.4) against Zak Jensen (263.4) and a lightweight matchup pairing former International Fight League cornerstone Chris Horodecki (155.4) with Chris Saunders (155.4).
Bellator 47
Saturday, July 23
Casino Rama
Rama, Ontario, Canada
Pat Curran (146) vs. Ronnie Mann (144.8)
Marlon Sandro (145.6) vs. Nazareno Malegarie (145.6)
Neil Grove (264.4) vs. Zak Jensen (263.4)
Chris Horodecki (155.4) vs. Chris Saunders (155.4)
Alexandre Bezerra (152) vs. Jesse Gross (151.4)
William Romero (149.6) vs. Daniel Langbeen (149.6)
Alka Matewa (159.2) vs. Alex Ricci (155.8)
The 145-pound tournament matchups will headline the promotion?s Canadian debut on Saturday at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.
Curran, a lightweight tournament winner in 2010, advanced to the semifinals with a Peruvian necktie submission over Luis Palomino at Bellator 46 in June. The 23-year-old has won five of his last six fights, a unanimous decision defeat to reigning Bellator lightweight champion the lone hiccup. More than half (eight) of Curran?s 14 career victories have come by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
A Sengoku Raiden Championship veteran, Mann will carry a four-fight winning streak into the event. The 24-year-old Englishman secured his spot in the semifinals with a first-round knockout against Adam Schindler at Bellator 46. Mann now trains under Shawn Tompkins in Las Vegas.
The pre-tournament favorite, Sandro has posted 18 wins in 20 professional appearances. Spawned by the revered Nova Uni?o camp, the 34-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has held titles inside Sengoku and Pancrase. Feared for his brutal knockout power, Sandro has sent more than one foe out on a stretcher. His split decision victory over countryman Genair da Silva put him in the semifinals.
Malegarie punched his ticket to the semis with a guillotine choke submission against Jacob Devree at Bellator 46, as he rebounded nicely from the first defeat of his career. The 25-year-old Brazil-based Argentinian has secured 13 of his 20 professional wins by submission. Malegarie carries the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Bellator 47 -- which airs on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT -- will also feature a heavyweight duel pitting Neil Grove (264.4) against Zak Jensen (263.4) and a lightweight matchup pairing former International Fight League cornerstone Chris Horodecki (155.4) with Chris Saunders (155.4).
Bellator 47
Saturday, July 23
Casino Rama
Rama, Ontario, Canada
Pat Curran (146) vs. Ronnie Mann (144.8)
Marlon Sandro (145.6) vs. Nazareno Malegarie (145.6)
Neil Grove (264.4) vs. Zak Jensen (263.4)
Chris Horodecki (155.4) vs. Chris Saunders (155.4)
Alexandre Bezerra (152) vs. Jesse Gross (151.4)
William Romero (149.6) vs. Daniel Langbeen (149.6)
Alka Matewa (159.2) vs. Alex Ricci (155.8)
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