Alvarez, Imada advance at Dayton Bellator MMA show

Alvarez wins chance at big June payday, and Imada pulls off upset of Masvidal.

Photos: MMA event at Hara Arena

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer Updated 2:21 AM Saturday, May 2, 2009

DAYTON – Mixed-martial-arts fans won’t get the finale they wanted.

Heading into the Friday, May 1, Bellator Fighting Championships Week 5 event at Hara Arena, lightweight semifinalists Eddie Alvarez and Jorge Masvidal were tapped the favorites to win a spot in the June finale and a chance at the $100,000 championship check.

However, in front of a sparse crowd of approximately 1,000 spectators, only one favorite prevailed.

The two semifinal bouts and the night’s seven-fight undercard air tonight on ESPN Deportes (24-hour tape delay).

In the night’s main event, Alvarez, widely regarded as one of the world’s top-five 155-pounders, took a game Eric Reynolds into the third before securing a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

“I tried to get in, get out, and get to the finals,” said Alvarez, who moves to 17-2. “I was a little disappointed. ... In the final you’re going to see me let it go. You’ll see the whole bit there.”

Even prior to the semifinals, Alvarez and Masvidal were engaged in a heated war of words in anticipation of their likely matchup.

Masvidal’s opponent, though, spoiled the highly anticipated fight. Toby Imada was battered for two-and-a-half rounds by Masvidal’s world-class standup. However, when Masvidal dipped for a single-leg takedown in the third round, Imada forced him unconscious with a modified triangle choke.

“I just locked it up and squeezed and waited to see what would happen,” Imada said. “It’s not over till it’s over.”

Imada, 22-12, meets Alvarez next month at the tournament finale. The winner wins Bellator’s first-ever lightweight title and a total of $175,000 over the three-fight tournament run.

Herman back in win column

After launching his career with 14 consecutive victories – all but one via first-round stoppage – former Indiana University wrestler and Fort Wayne native Dave Herman suffered his first career loss at a January event in Japan.

However, in his Bellator debut, Herman got back in the win column.

Opponent Josh Barnes proved anything but a pushover, though, and the Muncie-based fighter threw everything but the kitchen sink at Herman. However, a well-placed knee to the head and a flurry of follow-up blows earned Herman the TKO stoppage at 4:46 of the first round.

“I thought I hurt him with that knee, so I just rushed in and tried to end it,” said Herman, who moves to 15-1 with his 15th career win via strikes.

Mixed results for UFC vets Evensen and Pendergarst

After a 0-2 stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship last year, heavyweight Dan Evensen got his first win of 2009 in a solid performance with Mexico’s Raoul Romero.

Evensen (11-4) showed remarkable balance to avoid his opponent’s takedown attempts before taking control in the second round. Evensen forced the fight to the mat, took a dominant top position and forced Romero (3-2) to tap out from strikes at the 1:44 mark.

Another UFC vet, Sherman Pendergarst, didn’t fare as well.

Since a one-fight stint with the UFC in 2006, Pendergarst (12-12) was just 3-8. He dropped to 3-9 after running out of steam and suffering a TKO loss to Joey Beltran (7-2) in the first round of their bout. Pendergarst is now 0-4 in his past four fights.

Official results

• Eddie Alvarez def. Eric Reynolds via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 3, 1:30

• Toby Imada def. Jorge Masvidal via technical submission (triangle choke) - Round 3, 3:22

• Dave Herman def. Josh Barnes via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 4:46

• Joey Beltran def. Sherman Pendergarst via TKO – Round 1, 2:24

• Dan Evensen def. Raoul Romera via submission (strikes) - Round 2, 1:44

• Matt Jaggers def. Pete Dominguez via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 4:03

• Jessica Pene def. Tammie Schneider via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 1:35

• Justin Edwards def. John Troyer via submission (guillotine) - Round 1, 3:12

• Waylon Lowe def. Frank Carabello via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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