Bellator 36: Imada, Freire, Woodward and Vanier Opening Round Winners

Sunday, March 13, 2011


By FCF Staff

The Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, in Shreveport, Louisiana, was the host venue for the opening round of Bellator’s Season Four lightweight tourney last night, which saw all four bouts end without a judge’s decision.

Former WEC champion Rob McCullough showed a ton of heart in his bout against rising prospect Patricky Freire, escaping several dangerous positions on the ground to engage Freire on his feet. In the end, however, Freire’s stand-up game was also up for the task, and the Brazilian floored McCullough in the third round with a hard right hand, resulting in the ref’s intervention. (Pictured: Freire hitting McCullough)

Former tourney finalist, Toby Imada, took on late replacement Josh Shockley, who had to step in for Ferrid Kheder after the lightweight failed to make weight. Shockley took Imada to the mat moments into the bout, but soon found himself fighting to escape an armbar. After Shockley attempted to slam his way out of the submission, Imada continued to work the lock, bringing about the ref's intervention as Shockley screamed out. 

In the other lightweight quarter-finals, Lloyd Woodard finished Carey Vanier off in the second round with some ground-and-pound strikes, and Michael Chandler caught Marcin Held with a first round, arm triangle to advance to the semi-finals.

Bellator 36 Main Card Results

Rob McCullough Patricky Freire def. Rob McCullough by TKO 3:11, R3
Toby Imada def. Josh Shockley by Armbar Submission R1
Lloyd Woodard def. Carey Vanier by TKO 0:46, R2
Michael Chandler def. Marcin Held by Arm Triangle Submission 3:56, R1