Unbeaten Luiz Philipe Lins Submits Austen Heidlage in Bellator 121 Main Event

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Luiz Philipe Lins blew right past Austen Heidlage.

The unbeaten Lins submitted Heidlage with a standing rear-naked choke in their 2014 Bellator MMA Summer Series light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal at Bellator 121 on Friday at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. Heidlage (7-1, 0-1 Bellator) bowed out 2:45 into round one.

Lins (9-0, 2-0 Bellator) struck for a trip takedown, shifted to the American’s back and locked in a body triangle. He then softened the upright Heidlage with punches, slipped his arms into position for the squeeze and sealed the deal.

‘Colossus’ Thompson Smashes Prindle

Pride Fighting Championships and EliteXC alum James Thompson put away Eric Prindle with first-round punches in a featured heavyweight match. Prindle (8-6, 3-5 Bellator) succumbed to the blows 1:55 into round one, losing for the fifth time in six fights.

Thompson (20-14, 1-0 Bellator) secured a takedown against the fence inside the first 20 seconds and went to work, passing to side control. From there, he dropped punches to the head and knees to the back of the monstrous Prindle, forcing him into a defensive shell. A volley of unanswered lefts brought it to a close.

The 35-year-old Thompson has rattled off four straight wins, three of them finishes.

Sokoudjou Choke Submits Davinney

Team Quest’s Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou submitted an overmatched Terry Davinney with a first-round rear-naked choke in a light heavyweight showcase. Davinney (10-8, 0-1 Bellator) conceded defeat 4:16 into round one, as he suffered his third consecutive setback.

Sokoudjou (15-12, 1-0 Bellator) worked over his adversary on the ground and unloaded with clubbing rights and lefts from a kneeling, semi-mounted position. Davinney was defenseless. Sokoudjou eventually moved to full mount before transitioning to the Team Shoot export’s back, sinking the palm-to-palm choke for the tapout.

The submission was the first of Sokoudjou’s 27-fight career.

Lithuanian Valavicius Outduels Eduardo

Well-traveled Lithuanian striker Egidijus Valavicius survived a serious cut caused by an inadvertent head butt and beat Carlos Eduardo by split decision in a 2014 Bellator Summer Series light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28, two of them siding with Valavicius (27-10, 2-0 Bellator).

Eduardo (11-4, 1-2 Bellator) was effective with takedowns and positional control -- he transitioned to the back and briefly achieved full mount -- in the first round, but the finish he desired never presented itself. Valavicius took over in the second and third frames, unleashing straight punching combinations to the head while mixing in knees and kicks to the body and legs. The aforementioned cut to his right brow was not a factor in the outcome.

The 35-year-old Valavicius has won nine of his past 10 bouts.

Prelims: Anundson Advances to Light Heavyweight Semis

American Top Team’s Kelly Anundson (8-2, 2-0 Bellator) took a unanimous verdict from Rodney Wallace (21-9-1, 1-1 Bellator) in a 2014 Bellator Summer Series light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal, earning 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 scores from the judges; “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 17 quarterfinalist Bubba McDaniel (22-8, 2-0 Bellator) cruised to a unanimous decision over Matt Jones (5-8, 0-4 Bellator) in their 190-pound catchweight battle, sweeping the scorecards with 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 marks; Joe Vedepo (16-8, 3-2 Bellator) picked up a majority decision -- 29-27, 29-27, 28-28 -- over Cortez Coleman (10-6, 2-3 Bellator) in their three-round middleweight encounter; Ray Sloan (7-0, 1-0 Bellator) kept his perfect professional record intact, as he submitted Jamelle Jones (2-2, 0-1 Bellator) with a rear-naked choke 48 seconds into their light heavyweight tilt; Steve Garcia (4-0, 2-0 Bellator) knocked out Cody Walker (0-1, 0-1 Bellator) with a left hook and follow-up hammerfists 39 seconds into the first round of their clash at a 140-pound catchweight; Will Florentino (5-3, 1-0 Bellator) eked out a split decision -- 30-27, 29-28, 28-29 -- over the previously unbeaten Guillermo Martinez Ayme (6-1, 0-1 Bellator) in their welterweight scrap; and Treston Thomison (8-2, 1-1 Bellator) submitted Stephen Banaszak (3-2, 1-1 Bellator) with a guillotine choke in the opening round of their featherweight tussle.