Clementi-Held, Tirloni-Jansen Set for 155-Pound Semifinals at Bellator 81 in Rhode Island

Promotion officials announced the matchups at the conclusion of the 155-pound quarterfinals at Bellator 77 on Friday night. Bellator 81 takes place at the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. No other bouts have been revealed for the event, which marks the Chicago-based organization’s first trip to The Ocean State. The main card is expected to air live on MTV2.

Clementi punched his ticket to the semis with a split-decision nod over previously unbeaten Russian prospect Alexander Sarnavskiy. A nine-time UFC veteran, “No Love” owns notable victories over Anthony Johnson, Melvin Guillard and Sam Stout during his 67-bout professional tenure.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Held extended his winning streak to four fights with unanimous verdict over Murad Machaev in the lightweight quarterfinals. The Polish fighter has lost just once in four appearances under the Bellator umbrella, falling to current 155-pound king Michael Chandler via first-round submission last year.

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Tirloni submitted fellow grappling ace Rene Nazare with a second-round brabo choke at Bellator 77. It was the Brazilian’s 12 triumph in his last 13 outings, as he rebounded from a first-round knockout loss to Rick Hawn in March.

Jansen moved on to the round of four by forcing Magomed Saadulaev to tap to a guillotine choke in the third round of their lightweight encounter on Friday night. It was the fourth straight win inside the Bellator cage for the WEC veteran, who has earned 10 of his 17 career victories by way of submission.