Alvarez vs. Imada for Bellator Lightweight World Championship
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Bellator Fighting Championships continues its 12
week nationwide world championship series with its final event
taking place at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on June 19, 2009. The Hollywood
event will determine the Bellator Lightweight (155 lbs.) and
Middleweight (185 lbs.) World Champions. Tickets are on sale
now.
Toby Imada will face one of MMA's elite Lightweight fighters, Eddie Alvarez, in the Bellator Lightweight World Championship bout. Eddie Alvarez methodically dominated Eric Reynolds for three rounds before delivering a rear-naked choke to win via submission to advance to the finals. A former street fighter from one of Philadelphia’s roughest neighbourhoods, Alvarez is now the third-ranked Lightweight in the world, making him one of the sport's premiere young stars.
Imada pulled off the unquestioned submission of the year with a triangle choke to a standing Jorge Masvidal in Bellator V during Round 3. Born in Glendale, California in 1979, Imada grew up in Mexico and Hawaii before settling in Los Angeles. A veteran of more than 30 fights, he has been a professional mixed martial artist for more than 10 years.
The Bellator Middleweight World Championship fight will be between Hector Lombard vs. Jared Hess. Hector “Shango” Lombard is a multiple-time Cuban National Judo Champion, former member of the Cuban Olympic Judo team and world-class mixed martial artist. Jared Hess was an All-American wrestler at Central Oklahoma University and is eager to extend his undefeated record and reach for the Bellator title.
All the action will happen live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, June 19, 2009 and air exclusively on ESPN Deportes on Saturday June 20, 2009. Bellator XII will award the winning Lightweight World Champion and Middleweight World Champion each a $100,000 grand prize.
Tournament Bouts:
155 lbs - Eddie Alvarez (17-2) vs. Toby Imada (22-12)
185 lbs - Hector Lombard (20-2-1) vs. Jared Hess (8-0-1)
Non-Tournament Bouts:
155 lbs - Jorge Masvidal (17-4) vs. Eric Reynolds (10-2)
145 lbs - Sami Aziz (4-0-1) vs. Brad Pickett (16-4)
170 lbs - Josh Martin (6-2-1) vs. Sergio Morais (3-0)
120 lbs - Jessica Aguilar (5-2) vs. Rosie Sexton (9-1)
155 lbs - Troy Gerhart (5-0) vs. Luis Palomino(10-5)
Tickets cost 150, $100, $50 and $25.* All seats are reserved and available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, open Monday – Saturday from noon to 7p.m. and on Sunday – only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
About Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility has quickly emerged as the entertainment capital of South Florida. Attracting music, comedy and sports fans, this 5,500-seat indoor arena further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For more information please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provides quality guest experiences where South Floridians can play, stay, dine, and shop. Eighty-seven tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Play one of the more than 2,300 Vegas-style slots including the Native-American casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members experience an exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and celebrity show kitchen. Convene in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise for Texas Hold ‘em, limit Texas Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Café-Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 123 globally recognized rock ‘n roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA, Four Diamond rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 16 restaurants and lounges, 40,000-square-feet of meeting room space, a European-style spa, auto salon, 22 retail shops, 14 nightclubs, Paradise Live, and Hard Rock Live. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
Toby Imada will face one of MMA's elite Lightweight fighters, Eddie Alvarez, in the Bellator Lightweight World Championship bout. Eddie Alvarez methodically dominated Eric Reynolds for three rounds before delivering a rear-naked choke to win via submission to advance to the finals. A former street fighter from one of Philadelphia’s roughest neighbourhoods, Alvarez is now the third-ranked Lightweight in the world, making him one of the sport's premiere young stars.
Imada pulled off the unquestioned submission of the year with a triangle choke to a standing Jorge Masvidal in Bellator V during Round 3. Born in Glendale, California in 1979, Imada grew up in Mexico and Hawaii before settling in Los Angeles. A veteran of more than 30 fights, he has been a professional mixed martial artist for more than 10 years.
The Bellator Middleweight World Championship fight will be between Hector Lombard vs. Jared Hess. Hector “Shango” Lombard is a multiple-time Cuban National Judo Champion, former member of the Cuban Olympic Judo team and world-class mixed martial artist. Jared Hess was an All-American wrestler at Central Oklahoma University and is eager to extend his undefeated record and reach for the Bellator title.
All the action will happen live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, June 19, 2009 and air exclusively on ESPN Deportes on Saturday June 20, 2009. Bellator XII will award the winning Lightweight World Champion and Middleweight World Champion each a $100,000 grand prize.
Tournament Bouts:
155 lbs - Eddie Alvarez (17-2) vs. Toby Imada (22-12)
185 lbs - Hector Lombard (20-2-1) vs. Jared Hess (8-0-1)
Non-Tournament Bouts:
155 lbs - Jorge Masvidal (17-4) vs. Eric Reynolds (10-2)
145 lbs - Sami Aziz (4-0-1) vs. Brad Pickett (16-4)
170 lbs - Josh Martin (6-2-1) vs. Sergio Morais (3-0)
120 lbs - Jessica Aguilar (5-2) vs. Rosie Sexton (9-1)
155 lbs - Troy Gerhart (5-0) vs. Luis Palomino(10-5)
Tickets cost 150, $100, $50 and $25.* All seats are reserved and available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, open Monday – Saturday from noon to 7p.m. and on Sunday – only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
About Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility has quickly emerged as the entertainment capital of South Florida. Attracting music, comedy and sports fans, this 5,500-seat indoor arena further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For more information please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provides quality guest experiences where South Floridians can play, stay, dine, and shop. Eighty-seven tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Play one of the more than 2,300 Vegas-style slots including the Native-American casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members experience an exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and celebrity show kitchen. Convene in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise for Texas Hold ‘em, limit Texas Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Café-Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 123 globally recognized rock ‘n roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA, Four Diamond rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 16 restaurants and lounges, 40,000-square-feet of meeting room space, a European-style spa, auto salon, 22 retail shops, 14 nightclubs, Paradise Live, and Hard Rock Live. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
