Good, Zaromskis, Tsarev, Koreshkov Advance to Welterweight Semifinals at Bellator 74

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Lyman Good made it clear: he wants what once belonged to him.

A potent left jab and some savage clinch work carried the former Bellator Fighting Championships titleholder to a one-sided unanimous decision over “Judo” Jim Wallhead in the Season 7 welterweight tournament quarterfinals at Bellator 74 on Friday at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-27 for Good (13-2, 6-2 Bellator). A third-round point deduction for a pair of low blows amounted to little more than a bump in the road for the Team Tiger Schulmann standout. His efforts left Wallhead (23-7, 1-2 Bellator) with visible damage to both eyes.

The Team Rough House veteran was a sitting duck for much of the 15-minute encounter, as he found himself at a disadvantage in close quarters and on the outside. Good peppered him with short punches and knees from the clinch and later attacked with a stiff jab, right crosses and kicks to the leg from a distance. Outside of the two strikes below the belt, it seemed Good could do no wrong.

“I feel great,” he said. “This is the first step to regaining what was once mine. It’s just a matter of getting back to the drawing board and training just as hard for my next opponent.”

Zaromskis Outduels Taleb, Moves into Semis

A pair of knockdowns and a third-round head kick carried former Dream champion Marius Zaromskis to a unanimous decision over Tristar Gym representative Nordine Taleb in the Bellator Season 7 welterweight tournament quarterfinals. All three cageside judges scored it for Zaromskis (19-6, 3-0 Bellator): 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

Taleb (8-2, 2-1 Bellator) was the more consistent fighter but, in a closely contested battle, found himself on the wrong side of two knockdowns. Zarmoskis floored him in the first round with an exquisite spinning back fist and again in the second with a straight left hand. Taleb recovered on both occasions, but the damage was done.

Zaromskis, who has won five consecutive bouts, also turned the tide with a strike in round three, as he wobbled his foe with a head kick with less than half a minute remaining on the clock. Taleb had not lost in nearly five years.

Tsarev Choke Submits Welch

Surging Russian prospect Michail Tsarev submitted Tim Welch with a second-round rear-naked choke in the Bellator Season 7 welterweight tournament quarterfinals. On an 11-fight winning streak, Tsarev (24-2, 1-0 Bellator) finished it 1:57 into round two.

Welch (9-4, 0-1 Bellator) broke even in the clinch and on the feet, but he had no answer for his 22-year-old opponent on the ground. Tsarev fought through visible fatigue in the second round, as he secured a single-leg takedown and moved into side control. From there, the Russian transitioned beautifully to Welch’s back and immediately locked in the fight ending choke.

Undefeated Koreshkov Outpoints Smith

Unbeaten Russian prospect Andrey Koreshkov passed the first significant test of his career, as he captured a unanimous decision from Jordan Smith in the Bellator Season 7 welterweight tournament quarterfinals. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Koreshkov (11-0, 3-0 Bellator), a man who had never before gone the distance.

Smith appeared to be closing in on victory in the second round, when he secured back control during a standing scramble and threatened his 22-year-old opponent with a rear-naked choke. However, the opportunity came and went. Koreshkov closed with a flourish in round three, as he delivered kicks to the body and straight, accurate punches to the head, all while keeping himself upright against Smith’s attempted takedowns.

“My opponent was very tough,” Koreshkov said through his translator. “The fight was very tough, but I won. That’s most important.”

‘TUF 8’ Finalist Nover Submits Kerrington

In preliminary action, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 finalist Phillipe Nover submitted Derrick Kennington with a rear-naked choke 4:20 into round two of their matchup at 155 pounds; Philadelphia-based featherweight Will Martinez Jr. finished Casey Johnson with a rear-naked choke 2:27 into round one; Alexandre Bezerra coaxed a tapout from Matt McCook with a rear-naked choke 3:04 into the first round of their lightweight battle; Team Quest export Michelle Ould earned a unanimous decision over Munah Holland in a women’s showdown at 125 pounds; Brylan Van Artsdalen submitted Jay Haas with a guillotine choke 63 seconds into the first round of their featherweight duel; and bantamweight prospect Claudio Ledesma posted his third win in four appearances, as he captured a unanimous decision from Team Bombsquad’s Kenny Foster.