Bezerra Again Steals Show on Bellator 49 Undercard

Alexandre Bezerra demolished Scott Heckman at Bellator 49. | Photo: Keith Mills

For the third time in three months, the 23-year-old Brazilian put on a standout performance on one of the company's bills, this time stopping Scott Heckman in the second round of their 147-pound contest at Bellator 49 at Caesars Atlantic City.

In the opening round, the former East Stroudsburg University wrestler took the Brazilian to the mat on occasion, but couldn't hold him there and was soundly outstruck on the feet by the Sao Paulo native's boxing.

“He couldn't take me down. The strategy was exactly what happened in the fight,” Bezerra told Sherdog.com following the bout. “He would get tired trying to take me down, and when he got tired, I would go for it and take him down. That was the gameplan. I wasn't going to let him go.”

In the second, Bezerra did exactly that. He dispensed with striking, slamming Heckman to the ground, taking his back and tearing into him with heavy punches until referee Gasper Oliver was forced to rescue the Bangor, Penn., fighter 98 seconds into the round.

Bezerra, who resides in Elkins Park, N.J., moves to 11-1 with the win, with his last three victories coming inside the Bellator cage.

K. Mills

Roberts submitted Van Artsdalen.

Roberts was smacked with heavy punches inside in the first round, his head snapping back continuously. However, as the round wound down, a big left hand led to Roberts grabbing a guillotine that forewarned of the submission skills that would take Van Artsdalen out.

In the second, Van Artsdalen dove into Roberts’ open guard with punches, only to eat a vicious upkick. Much like Ivan Salaverry on Joe Riggs, Roberts quickly locked up a tight triangle that put Van Artsdalen to sleep
at 1:47 of the second round, earning his fourth straight win.

“I caught him with an upkick underneath the jaw. I was just waiting for one of his arms to come through on one of his punches and I got it,” Roberts said after the win. “Once I got it locked up I knew it was a matter of keeping it sunk and keeping it tight. I knew I had plenty of time.”

K. Mills

Karavackas flattened Maynard.

The Lithuanian judoka was dropped by a heavy right hook in the first round and was slow to work his way back into the fight, as his kicking offense didn't show effect and he couldn't hold Maynard down.

In the third, Maynard shot in for a double-leg while Karavackas kicked, shooting straight into a flush knee that dropped him on his face. Karavackas swarmed, boxing his foe’s ears until referee Donnie Carolei stopped the bout at 1:32 of the final frame.

Keith Mills

Anyanwu outslugged Dudley.

In the evening's heavyweight opener, Azunna Anyanwu ended his fight with J.A. Dudley with fireworks, as Philadelphia's “Zulu” moved to 4-0 with a series of hooks and straights that finished the fight at 4:16 of the second round.