By Josh Cook
Joe Warren's bite was more ferocious than the bark of Patricio "Pitbull" Freire.
Warren won a split decision, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28, over previously-unbeaten Freire in the featherweight tournament final in Bellator XXIII Thursday night at Fourth Street Live!
It was one of four of the matches on the main card of the Bellator Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts organization, in downtown Louisville's entertainment district.
In addition to the win by Warren (5-1) - former NCAA All-American wrestler at the University of Michigan - over Freire (14-1), Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (30-4) won the middleweight tournament final with a technical knockout of previously-one-beaten Bryan "The Beast" Baker (10-2) at 2 minutes, 45 seconds of Round 1.
In other action Zolla Frausto knocked out Rosi Sexton with a knee to the head at the 2-minute mark of Round 1 in the female showcase fight. While Louisvillian Brent Weedman (15-5) defeated John Troyer (10-5) by submission at 4:55 of Round 1 in the local main event.
The complete results are below:
MAIN CARD
Featherweight tournament championship: Joe Warren (5-1) wins a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (14-1).
Middlweight tournament championship: Alexander Shlemenko (30-4) wins by TKO over Bryan Baker (10-2) at 2:45 of Round 1.
Bantamweight showcase fight: Nik Mamalis (10-4) wins by TKO over Albert Rios (12-5) at 4:30 of Round 1.
Female Showcase Fight: Zolla Frausto (5-1) wins by KO over Rosi Sexton (9-2) at 2:00 of Round 1.
UNDERCARD
Local Main Event: Brent Weedman (15-5) wins by submission over John Troyer (10-5) at 4:55 of Round 1.
Local Feature Fight #3: Daniel Straus (11-2) scores unanimous decision victory (30-27 on all cards) over Chad Hinton (6-2).
Local Feature Fight #2: Stoney Hale (4-1) wins by submission over Mike Fleniken (2-2) at 4:20 of Round 2.
Local Feature Fight #1: Kurt Kinser (3-0) wins by TKO over David Overfield (6-2) at 2:30 of Round 1.
