Alexander Shlemenko (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Alexander Shlemenko’s return to the Bellator cage was a successful one tonight, as the former middleweight champ stopped UFC vet Kendall Grove.

Both fighters landed some heavy punches in the opening round, but in round two, Shlemenko floored Grove with a liver shot and a follow up hook. Grove attempted to defend the follow up flurry from Shlemenko, but after taking multiple punches from above, the fight was stopped.

Shlemenko was fighting under the Bellator banner for the first time since last February, when he KO’d Melvin Manhoef. After the bout, however, Shlemenko was flagged for banned substances and was suspended for three years. The Russian fighter, who denied ever knowingly taking PEDs, eventually had his sentence reduced.

Here are the main card results from Bellator 162, which took place in Memphis.

Alexander Shlemenko def. Kendall Grove via TKO (punches) R2, 1:43

Bobby Lashley def. Josh Appelt via submission (rear-naked-choke) R2, 1:43

Goiti Yamauchi def. Ryan Couture via submission (armbar) R1, 1:01

Hisaki Kato def.  A.J. Matthews via TKO (punches) R1, 4:58