Event: Bellator 20

Date: Thursday, May 20, 2010

Location: Dallas, TX

Venue: Verizon Theatre

Broadcast: MTV 2

Bellator 20 Live Odds

Bellator 20 was a mixed martial arts event by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event took place on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas.

Bryan Baker and Alexander Shlemenko will meet in the finals of Bellator’s season two middleweight tournament after earning victories at Thursday’s Bellator 20 event in San Antonio, Texas.

Baker forced fellow WEC veteran Eric Schambari to submit to a triangle choke midway through the opening round of their Bellator 20 headliner, while Shlemenko was victorious after Jared Hess was unable to continue after suffering a dislocated knee in the third-round of their matchup.

Baker vs Schambari:

Baker needed less than half of a round to submit a submission ace, as opponent Eric Schambari was forced to tap out just 2:29 into the first round in the pair's featured contest.

After a solid combination of punches from Baker to open the contest, Schambari pushed in and successfully secured a takedown. The strategy backfired as Baker deftly worked his legs into position for the choke. Schambari tried desperately to escape, but the hold was tight and he was forced to tap.

Baker (13-1 MMA, 3-0 BFC) has now won seven-straight fights since suffering his lone career loss to Chael Sonnen in 2008. Schambari (12-2 MMA, 1-1 BFC) loses for just the second time as a professional and sees a five-fight win streak come to an end.

Shlemenko vs Hess:

Shlemenko faced off against tournament favorite and season one runner Jared Hess in the first semifinal of the night. Hess took the first two rounds with effective takedowns and work from top control, though Shlemenko attempted submissions from the bottom in the second round and was effective in defense.

In the third round, however, after more of the same from Hess, Shlemenko worked his way back to his feet. As Hess shot in again, Shlemenko landed a hard knee to the head that appeared to nearly knock Hess out, and as Hess crumpled to the ground his knee dislocated in gruesome fashion.

It wasn't until Hess got out of his guard and forced him to stand that anyone realized what had happened, and as Hess struggled to stand up the referee astutely stopped the fight.

Sanchez vs Sursa:

Leg kick by Sursa, Sanchez ties him up and they go to the ground with Sursa on top inside full guard. Sursa lands a few shots from in the guard and Sanchez stands up with his back to the fence. Sursa has underhooks, lands a knee. Sanchez fires off some punches and Sursa shoots, gets the takedown but Sanchez pops right up. Sanchez clinches puts Sursa against the fence.

It’s dirty boxing and knees right now from the clinch game. Sanchez lands some more punches and Sursa shoots again, gets the takedown. Sursa gets full mount and Sanchez scoots his back to the fence. Sursa lands some big shots and a knee to the gut as Sanchez stands up.

Sanchez gets the takedown, uses ground and pound, with :45 left seconds in the round. Sanchez moves to side control. Sanchez lands some elbows and punches but Sursa defends well.

Main Card:

Baker def Schambari via Submission

Shlemenko def Hess via TKO

Sanchez def Sursa via TKO

Preliminary Card:

Flick def DeLeon via unanimous decision

Mamalis def Oshiro via submission

Chappelle def Marks via submission

Roriguez def Battle via submission

Schindler def Melancon via unanimous decision

Rosa def Villegas via unanimous decision