Bellator 19 Results: Joe Soto Wins, Askren And Hornbuckle Advance To Welterweight Finals

The following results are courtesy of a Bellator press release:

MMA star Dan Hornbuckle and former U.S. Olympian Ben Askren both booked passage into the championship round of Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 2 Welterweight Tournament at Bellator 19 on Thursday with dominant performances.

Meanwhile, reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto improved his record to a perfect 9-0 with a “Super Fight” victory over crafty UFC veteran Diego Saraiva.

The night’s most anticipated bout was undoubtedly Askren’s fight with UFC veteran Ryan Thomas - a rematch made possible when Thomas (13-5) re-entered the Welterweight Tournament to replace late scratch Jim Wallhead.

But while the first Thomas-Askren fight ended in controversy (a disputed referee’s stoppage), their fight on Thursday was controlled from the get-go by Askren, the two-time NCAA wrestling Champion at the University of Missouri. Askren held the dominant position for all three rounds, winning a clear-cut unanimous decision that improved his pro MMA record to 5-0. It was the first time that one of his fights had ever gone past the first round.

Earlier in the night, Iraq War veteran Steve Carl (13-2) took Hornbuckle to the ground shortly after the opening bell of their semifinal-round fight, but “The Handler” maintained his composure on his back, using a tight kimura to end the fight just 2:31 into Round 1. Hornbuckle has now recorded 10 submission wins 10 nine knockouts in his 23 career fights.

In the “Super Fight,” Soto assumed the dominant position early on in the fight and landed a huge elbow to Saraiva’s forehead near the end of Round 1, opening a deep cut that forced the ringside doctor to stop the fight at the end of the round. It was the first time that Saraiva (18-9-1) had been stopped in 38 career pro bouts.

Here are the results from the rest of the night’s action:

- Douglas Frey def. Aaron Wise via guillotine choke in round one

- Joshua Smith def. Donyiell Winrow via unanimous decision

- Johnny Bedford def. Jared Lopez via TKO in round three

- Scott Barrett def. Ty Lee via TKO in round one

- Joe Christopher def. Brandon McDowell via guillotine choke in round one

- Chas Skelly def. Daniel Pineda via kneebar submission in round two

Check out the video of Dan Hornbuckle’s submission victory: