Fans of "The Arm Collector" will finally get a chance to see their man televised nationally. The heralded Brazilian middleweight is among eight announced fighters headlining the featured card of Bellator 53 on October 8th at the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
The owner of twelve armbar finishes -- including an outlandish stretch of ten straight from 2005 to 2008 -- Giva Santana (16-1) is now set to make his long-awaited Bellator debut against Darryl Cobb (5-3), who heads into the bout off two consecutive submission losses.
Headlining the event's main card is a pair of welterweight semifinal fights for season five's 170-pound tournament. Fresh off a win against Chris Cisneros, UFC veteran Ben Saunders (11-3-2) looks to continue his run as he takes on Brazilian brawler Luis Santos (50-6-1). Meanwhile, 23-year-old rising prospect Douglas Lima (19-4) attempts to maintain his perfect year as he squares off against tournament veteran Chris Lozano (9-1).
Also featured is a featherweight bout between Ronnie Mann (20-4-1) and Kenny Foster (9-3), who both are on the comeback trail after dropping their last Bellator appearance.
Bellator 53 fight card:
Main Card:
Welterweight Semifinal: Ben Saunders vs. Luis Santos
Welterweight Semifinal: Chris Lozano vs. Douglas Lima
Middleweight: Darryl Cobb vs. Giva Santana
Featherweight: Ronnie Mann vs. Kenny Foster
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Raphael Davis vs. Myron Dennis
Lightweight: A.J. Matthews vs. Rudy Bears
Welterweight: Levi Avera vs. David Rickels
Light heavyweight: Zak Laird vs. Luiz Nogueira
Catchweight (157): Emanuel Brooks vs. Greg Scott