Bellator 98: Middleweight Tournament (Butcher versus Santana)
by Brian Woodman Jr. on 09/07/13
Jason Butcher of Cincinnati, Ohio and Giva Santana of Irvine, California fought next. I wondered beforehand if the bout would prove anti-climatic as the Bellator ring girls used a plastic gun to fire t-shirts into the audience. It wasn't.
Filkins and Ward had secured their places in the next bracket of the tournament. There were two more fights left to determine which four middleweights would remain.
Santana seemed bored while Butcher seemed ready to spring. After an exchange, Santana takes down Butcher and tries for a choke, winding up taking his side. Butcher tries to get Santana's leg into his half guard. the two continue to struggle on the ground at 2:10. Santana bully mounts Butcher after some struggling and throws a few bombs, then ttries for a front choke. Butcher reverses, but Santana gets back on top seconds before the round ends.
The second round opens with stand up and Butcher stuffing an attempted takedown by Santana. Butcher knocks down and pummels Santana at about 3:50 into the round, ending the fight.
