Bellator 24: Grappler Girls Advance, Lombard & Grove Score Quick KO's

Hector Lombard made quick work of his opponent once again when he dispatched of the for NFL player Herbert "Whisper" Goodman in just 38 seconds scoring another ferocious knockout. Lombard looks to defend his Bellator Middleweight title when he taked on the tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko in his first title defense.

Megumi Fugii showed her grappling prowess as she submitted the unheralded late replacement Carla Esparza. Esparza did surprisingly well in the first stanza, although she still lost the round in my eyes, but succumbed to a beautifully executed arm-bar as soon as the fight his the floor in the second. Jessica Aguilar also subbed her opponent, a striker, with an arm triangle choke with under a minute left in the first. These two grappling aces go on to the second round of the 115LB Women's tournament.

Eddie Sanchez looked to play comeback kid once again as he was dropped early by Neil Grove, but he was too far gone to come back from the heavy hands of "The Goliath". Grove pummeled Sanchez and after Sanchez was once again stood up when Grove let him he was slow to recover and the ref had seen enough. Grove is the first to ascend into the second round of the heavyweight tournament.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jessica Aguilar def. Lynn Alvarez via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 1, 4:01
Hector Lombard def. Herbert Goodman via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:38
Megumi Fujii def. Carla Esparza via submission (armbar) - Round 2, 0:57
Neil Grove def. Eddie Sanchez via TKO (referee stoppage) - Round 1, 1:32
PRELIMINARY CARD
Frankhad Sharipov def. Eric Luke via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)*
Yves Edwards def. Luis Palomino via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)*
Tulio Quintanilla def. Brian Eckstein via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:48