MMA: Bellator 63 Welterweight Quarterfinals

Bellator 63

March 30, 2012 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut Bellator Fighting Championships held the quarterfinal rounds of it's mixed martial arts welterweight tournament.

It was a wild and bloody beginning to what has played out to be an interesting welterweight tournament for Bellator Fighting Championships this season.

Let's break it down fight by fight.

Ben Saunders defeated Raul Amaya by unanimous decision.

Saunders was clearly the victor but Amaya would not quit and would not allow Saunders to put him away. At various times throughout the fight, Saunders looked like he would get the stoppage but Amaya would not give up.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney was impressed and talked about how he was excited to see how Amaya would rebound in his next Bellator fight.

I spoke with Amaya at the post fight press conference, video below.

David Rickels defeated Jordan Smith by knockout :22 seconds in the first round.

Rickels, or the "Caveman" as he's called, made quick work of Jordan Smith. Smith tried arguing with the referee afterward but was clearly out after a punch from Rickels.

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Bryan Baker defeated Carlos Pereira via split decision

In what was honestly the most boring fight of the night, Baker edged by Pereira as both were unable to get comfortable in the fight. This was the first time Baker had fought at this weight and the first time Pereira had fought in the U.S. Hopefully Baker can pull it together next round as he will face Saunders in the semi-finals and hopefully the Brazilian can get over his nerves.

Karl Amoussou defeated Chris Lozano by rear naked choke submission in round 1.

Both men almost came to blows at the weigh-ins and clearly did not like each other at the start of the match up. But Amoussou made quick and brutal work of Lozano a few minutes into round one with vicious strikes that had the "Cleveland Assassin" bleeding profusely and gave Amoussou the opportunity to lock in a rear naked choke.

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Amoussou is the man to beat in this tournament.

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