This week’s “Bellator Moment” won’t win any year-end awards, that’s for sure. However, it’s more about showcasing a former welterweight contender’s arrival as a threat in the Season 6 lightweight tournament.
Rick Hawn’s move to 155 pounds wasn’t met with much fanfare when it was announced, but on Friday night at Bellator 62, Hawn emerged as one of the favorites to eventually face lightweight champion Michael Chandler later this year.
Hawn (11-1), a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic judo team, dropped down to lightweight after losing a controversial split decision to Jay Hieron in the Season 4 welterweight finals last May. The 35-year-old bounced back on Friday night with a first-round TKO of Ricardo Tirloni. He will now meet Lloyd Woodward in the semi-finals on April 20.
Check out Hawn’s TKO win below.