Welcome to weekend warriors, Cagewriter's rundown of the fights you missed while immersed in March Matness.
Bellator started their middleweight tournament on Friday, and Brian Rogers had the highlight of the night with a flying knee knockout of Vitor Vianna.
The knockout earned Rogers a spot in the middleweight tourney's final four. Maiquel Falcao also punched his ticket to the semifinals with a stand-up filled decision over Norman Paraisy. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky also took a decision, coming on strong in the second and third with ground attacks to convince the judges. Bruno Santos avoided the submission expertise of "The Arm Collector," Giva Santana, for another decision win.
Vick rolls and Chiesa learns sad news on "The Ultimate Fighter"
After last week's preliminary fights, "The Ultimate Fighter" returned to its one fight a week format. Coaches Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz chose the teams they'll guide for the rest of the season. The teams are:
Cruz's choices (in order): Justin Lawrence (4-0), Villa Ridge, Mo.; Sam Sicilia (11-0), Spokane Valley, Wash.; Myles Jury (10-0), San Diego, Calif.; Mike Rio (9-1), Miami, Fla., Vick; Vinc Pichel (8-0), Sherman Oaks, Calif.; Chris Tickle (8-4), Bloomington, Ill.; and Jeremy Larsen (9-2), Phoenix, Ariz.
Faber's choices (in order): Al Iaquinta (6-1-1), Wantagh, N.Y.; Cristiano Marcello (13-3), Curitiba, Brazil; Cruickshank; Joe Proctor (8-1), Pembroke, Mass.; Michael Chiesa (8-0), Spokane Valley, Wash., John Cofer (8-1), Hull, Ga.; Andy Ogle (9-1), Tynemouth, England; and Chris Saunders (10-2), Long Beach, Calif.
After Faber announced the fight pick of Cruickshank vs. Vick, Chiesa was pulled out of practice to take a phone all from his mother to find out his father, who had been suffering from cancer, had passed away. A shaken Chiesa said he wanted to stay because his father would have wanted him to.
"He made me promise that I wouldn't leave," Chiesa said.
Chiesa went home for a few days, but returned in time to see Friday night's fight.
Daron Cruickshank (Team Faber) vs. James Vick (Team Cruz)
After the two felt each other out, Cruickshank lowered himself for a takedown. Unfortunately for him, Vick's knee was waiting there. Vick knocked Cruickshank out cold with a knee at 2:16 in the first, giving Team Cruz the first win of the season.
Next week, Marcello and Lawrence will face off.
