Bellator MMA's 'Fight Master' episode No. 9 recap

As the ninth episode of “Fight Master” gets underway, we continue with the quarterfinals.

Frank Shamrock team member Joe Williams (No. 7 seed) meets Greg Jackson team member Eric Bradley (No. 6) seed in one of the matchups, while Jackson’s Joe Riggs, the top seed, meets Joe Warren team member Evan Cutts (No. 4).

In the first matchup, Bradley and Williams will meet for the fourth time – the two actually wrestled three times while in college, with Bradley winning all three matches. Jackson says Bradley needs to work on being a better mixed martial artist for the fight, and Bradley says he’ll be looking to protect a cut above his eye from a previous fight.

QUARTERFINAL FIGHT: Eric Bradley (5-1) vs. Joe Williams (9-1)

Round 1 – The fighters touch gloves and Williams takes the center of the cage. Bradley works his jab with a little more frequency than Williams early, despite Williams’ coach Shamrock constantly telling him to work the strike. Bradley lands a good left, then dodges away from a Williams counter and fires off another combo. Williams finally lands a good right, but Bradley counters nicely. The fight hits the canvas, and it’s Bradley who nearly takes Williams’ back and lands a few punches as the fight goes back to standing. Williams lands clean, but Bradley gets a takedown and works to pass guard to land punches against a bleeding Williams. Williams’ cut over his right eye is gushing. He’ll survive the round, though.

Round 2 – Bradley lands a good right-left combo as Shamrock continues to ask Williams to jab. Bradley fires off a couple lefts, going after Williams’ cut. He then shoots for a takedown, but Williams is able to sprawl his way out of it. Midway through the round, Bradley again shoots, but it’s not there for him. Williams kicks to the body and lands, but Bradley comes back with a couple jabs. With 80 seconds left, Bradley lands a couple lefts. Thirty seconds later, he kicks high and has it partially blocked. With 20 seconds left, Bradley goes after a takedown. But Williams gets one of his own – into a late one-arm guillotine. The clock runs out on him, and it’ll go to the judges.

Eric Bradley def. Joe Williams via majority decision

Bradley’s win eliminates the final Shamrock fighter. Shamrock had three fighters in the quarterfinals, but all three lost their fights. With Bradley into the semifinals, we move on to top seed Riggs against Cutts.

Cutts says a win over Riggs will help him make his name and be the biggest step forward of his career. Riggs says he knows Cutts can take a beating, but isn’t in his class. The struggle for Riggs continues to be making weight

QUARTERFINAL FIGHT: Evan Cutts (5-1) vs. Joe Rggs (39-14)

Round 1 – Cutts comes forward early with a combination, then shoots for a single that Riggs defends along the cage. Cutts stays on the takedown attempt, but Riggs instead takes him down and briefly has side control before having to settle into Cutts’ guard. Cutts wants a triangle choke or an armbar, but Riggs defends and works to land ground-and-pound while trying to pass guard. Cutts gets back to his feet, but Riggs lands a clean trip takedown again into side control. Cutts gives his back in order to work back to his feet. And there, Riggs lands a few good punches and then backs up Cutts with a knee. With 30 seconds left, Riggs simply bullies Cutts to the canvas and lands some good punches there as the round winds down.

Round 2 – Cutts tries to deliver a right high kick, but when he’s off balance, Riggs shoves him to the canvas. They tie up back on the feet, but Riggs drags him back down and defends a brief kimura attempt. They stand again for a bit, but takedowns continue to be the name of the game for Riggs. Again they stand, and again Riggs scores an easy takedown. But when they go back to the feet again, Riggs lands a masterful knee that drops Cutts, who covers up on the ground while the veteran goes to work on him. Cutts recoers to guard, but he doesn’t have much time to work. WIth a minute left, he’ll have to pull off a miracle submission or knockout. Cutts gets up with 30 seconds left. But Joe slames him right back down to the canvas and lands shots to the body and punches to the head. Cutts survives the frame and the fight, but he’s a little worse for the wear.

Joe Riggs def. Evan Cutts via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)

After the fight, Riggs asks Cutts if he’s “The Terminator” for being able to survive the fight.

Team Jackson members Bradley and Riggs are in the semifinals, as are Randy Couture-trained fighters Mike Bronzoulis and Cole Williams, who were victorious in Episode No. 8 this past week. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney tells the coaches that their rankings now will get complicated – and lets them know that the semifinal fights will be three five-minute rounds, with elbows to the head allowed.

The debut season of Bellator MMA’s “Fight Master” now airs Thursday nights on Spike TV at 11 p.m. ET.