Tag: Giva Santana

Bellator 53 Recap: Saunders to meet Lima in the Welterweight Tournament Finals

Props: MMA-Core.com

When you’re fighting a guy nicknamed “The Arm Collector”, who has won twelve of his sixteen victories by armbar, you might spend extra time working on your takedown defense. And maybe resist the urge to stick your arms out during the fight. I emphasize “you”, because Darryl Cobb, the middleweight who fought Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana on the undercard of Bellator 53 last night in Miami, Oklahoma, did not have the same gameplan. Giva Santana is now 17-1 in his MMA career, his only loss a split-decision at the hands of Bellator veteran Jaime Jara.

In main card action, Ben Saunders picked up his fourth straight victory since being bounced from the UFC by submitting Luis Santos in the third round. Killa B showed off a much more well-rounded attack than what we’re accustomed to seeing from him, thoroughly out-grappling Santos for the entire fight. In other welterweight tournament action, Douglas Lima picked up a brutal second round knockout against Cleveland native Chris Lozano. Lima has now won eight straight fights, and will meet Ben Saunders at Bellator 56 on November 12 to determine the winner of the welterweight tournament.


Props: MMA-Core.com

When you’re fighting a guy nicknamed “The Arm Collector”, who has won twelve of his sixteen victories by armbar, you might spend extra time working on your takedown defense. And maybe resist the urge to stick your arms out during the fight. I emphasize “you”, because Darryl Cobb, the middleweight who fought Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana on the undercard of Bellator 53 last night in Miami, Oklahoma, did not have the same gameplan. Giva Santana is now 17-1 in his MMA career, his only loss a split-decision at the hands of Bellator veteran Jaime Jara.

In main card action, Ben Saunders picked up his fourth straight victory since being bounced from the UFC by submitting Luis Santos in the third round.  Killa B showed off a much more well-rounded attack than what we’re accustomed to seeing from him, thoroughly out-grappling Santos for the entire fight. In other welterweight tournament action, Douglas Lima picked up a brutal second round knockout against Cleveland native Chris Lozano. Lima has now won eight straight fights, and will meet Ben Saunders at Bellator 56 on November 12 to determine the winner of the welterweight tournament.

 

In non-tournament action, Thiago Santos, originally set to fight Blagoi Ivanov in the heavyweight tournament before visa issues forced him off of Bellator 52, easily took care of Detroit heavyweight Josh Burns. The victory propels Thiago Santos back into the tournament to replace the injured Mike Hayes. Coincidentally, Mike Hayes was scheduled to meet Blagoi Ivanov  in the next round. Also, British prospect Ronnie Mann got back in the W column with a first round triangle choke over Kenny Foster. Mann dedicated the fight to his recently deceased trainer, Shawn Tompkins.

Full results, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (MTV2)

Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via submission (keylock) – Round 3, 1:35 – welterweight-tourney semifinal
Doug Lima def. Chris Lozano via KO (punch) – Round 2, 3:14 – welterweight-tourney semifinal
Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:52
Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:23

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com)

Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:00
A.J. Matthews def. Rudy Bears via unanimous decision
Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis via KO (punch) – Round 2, 0:29
David Rickels def. Levi Avera via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:06
Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:51

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Bellator Adds Another Impressive Prospect: ‘Arm Collector’ Giva Santana

Filed under: Bellator

Bellator Fighting Championships is continuing to sign some of the most promising fighters in mixed martial arts, with Giva Santana becoming the latest to step into the Bellator fold.

Santana has a 16-1 professional record, most…

Filed under:

Bellator Fighting Championships is continuing to sign some of the most promising fighters in mixed martial arts, with Giva Santana becoming the latest to step into the Bellator fold.

Santana has a 16-1 professional record, most recently choking out former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall in just 29 seconds. Thirteen of Santana’s wins were first-round finishes, and his only loss was a split decision. Santana has 12 wins by arm bar, which is why he’s known as “The Arm Collector.”

“A lot of fighters like to go out there and try to knock their opponents out as soon as they can, and that’s the same way I am with my submissions,” Santana said in Bellator’s press release announcing the signing. “For me, to tap a guy out is the same feeling as the knockout. When a punch lands and you know you knocked your opponent out, I feel the same feeling when I lock up a submission on my opponent. I know right away that he’s going to tap, and it’s a great feeling.”

Bellator is in a precarious position within the MMA world, where the UFC is No. 1 by such a large margin that it’s sometimes hard to see No. 2. But it’s impressive that Bellator manages to keep signing legitimate fighters like Santana, who’s good enough that he could be fighting in the UFC.

Whether Bellator can survive for the long haul remains to be seen, but if the promotion doesn’t make it, it won’t be for a lack of identifying great talent and bringing that talent into the cage.

 

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