Woodard (photo courtesy Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Lloyd Woodard and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire made the most of their main event status tonight in Laredo, Texas, by engaging in a back-and-forth battle throughout their lightweight quarterfinal fight. The two were inserted into the headliner spot after Thiago Santos failed to make weight for his heavyweight final bout with Eric Prindle on Thursday, and was subsequently disqualified from the competition.

In the end, the charismatic Woodard secured a semi-final spot, by catching the Team Nogueira fighter with a well timed Kimura. Although Freire tapped out to the fight ending submission, it appeared as though the lightweight incurred a dislocated elbow before doing so.

Rick Hawn made quite an impression in the decorated Judoka’s lightweight debut, as the former welterweight needed just over two minutes to put Ricardo Tirloni away with a series of punches.

And in the other two quarterfinal bouts, another former welterweight in Brent Weedman forced J.J. Ambrose to tap with a second round Von Flue choke, and Thiago Michel out struck Rene Nazare for the split decision win.

Quarterfinals Lightweight Tourney

Lloyd Woodard def. Patricky Freire via Kimura at 1:46 of R2

Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via KO at 2:36 of R1

Brent Weedman def. J.J. Ambrose via Von Flue choke at 3:26 of R2

Thiago Michel def. Rene Nazare via split decision

Preliminary Card

Dave Jansen def. Jacob Kirwan via unanimousdecision

Rad Martinez def. Douglas Frey via TKO at 4:08 of R1

Sean Spencer def. Joseph Daily via rear-naked-choke at 1:24 of R2

Chris Jones def. Steven Peterson via split decision