Middleweight Finalists On Point, Lima Over Weight for Bellator 57

However, the promotion's welterweight tournament final hit a slight snag, as Douglas Lima came in slightly over the welterweight limit at 171.4 pounds. Lima successfully made weight on his second attempt at 171 even. Meanwhile, Ben Saunders registered 170.4 prior to the welterweight final.

In addition to showcasing two of the Season 5 tournament finals, Bellator 57 will also feature a light heavyweight affair pitting Roger Hollett (204.8) against John Hawk (205). Emanating from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, the Nov. 12 event will also see exciting Brazilian featherweight prospect Alexandre Bezerra (146.4) lock horns with Douglas Evans (146).

Shlemenko has been on a tear in the last two years, winning Bellator's second middleweight tournament but coming up short against champion Hector Lombard. Since suffering his decision defeat to Bellator's reigning middleweight king, the Russian has won five straight, impressively dispatching Zelg Galesic and Brian Rogers to advance to the Season 5 finals.

Only once beaten as a pro, Vianna eked by Sam Alvey in the tournament quarterfinals before blasting Bryan Baker in the semis. The Wand Fight Team representative lived to up his gym's namesake in his confrontation with Baker, dropping the American with heavy right hand and finishing the job with a barrage of hammer fists against the cage.

A former Maximum Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder, Lima hasn't lost since 2009. Only 23 years old, “The Phenom” earned a unanimous decision over Steve Carl to advance to the round of four, where he abruptly ended a back-and-forth contest with Chris Lozano by burying his opponent with a head-snapping straight right.

Saunders, 28, has won four straight fights since receiving his UFC release last year. “Killa B” has been dominant in his Bellator run thus far, earning three finishes in as many fights. After a bloody debut against Matt Lee, Saunders knocked out Chris Cisneros before submitting Luis Santos to advance to the tournament finals. .

Douglas Lima (*171) vs. Ben Saunders (170.4)
Alexander Shlemenko (185.6) vs. Vitor Vianna (184)
Roger Hollett (204.8) vs. John Hawk (205)
Alexandre Bezerra (146.4) vs. Douglas Evans (146)
Shawn Levesque (203) vs. Matt Van Buren (204.6)
Chris Horodecki (155) vs. Mike Corey (154)
Ashkan Morvari (155.8) vs. Dave Jansen (155.8)
Chuck Mady (134) vs. Denis Puric (135.8)
Eric Moon (155.8) vs. Josh Shockley (156)
Mike Sledzion (155) vs. Taylor Solomon (156)

* Bezerra and Lima initially came in over the limit. Lima made 171 even on his second attempt.