Alexander Shlemenko (photo via Bellator.com)

By FCF Staff

Alexander Shlemenko defended the Bellator Middleweight Championship tonight in impressive fashion, as the noted striker took out feared slugger Doug Marshall in the opening round.

Early on, Shlemenko kept Marshall on the defensive by landing several takedowns, but as the opening round neared its hand he stunned the WEC vet with a hard punch to the liver. Marshall recovered and resumed his attacks, but shortly after he was dropped to the mat with another thumping left hook to the body.

Up next, Shlemenko will take on Season 9 tourney winner Brennan Ward.

In the lightweight tourney final, Will Brooks turned to his pronounced wrestling and top game to work his way to a one sided unanimous decision win over Alex Sarnavskiy.

And in the welterweight tourney final, Rick Hawn came from behind to knockout Ron Keslar with a series of big right hands in round 3. The decorated Judoka will fight Douglas Lima to determine the promotion’s champion, now that Ben Askren has left for free agency.

Here are the results from Bellator 109 which took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Middleweight Championship

Alexander Shlemenko def. Doug Marshall via TKO (body punches) R1, 4:28

Welterweight Tournament Final

Rick Hawn def. Ron Keslar via KO (punch) R3, 0:55

Lightweight Tournament Final

Will Brooks def. Alexander Sarnavskiy via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Terry Etim def. Patrick Cenoble via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)

Mike Bannon def. Ahsan Abdulla via technical submission R1, 1:51 (Head-Arm choke)

Blagoi Ivanov def. Keith Bell via submission (rear naked choke) R1, 3:59

Goiti Yamauchi def. Saul Almeida via KO R1, 2:04

Bubba Jenkins def. Ian Rammel via TKO (strikes) R3, 2:38

Brent Primus def. Brett Glass via submission (rear naked choke) R1, 3:20

Lester Caslow def. Jay Haas via submission (guillotine) R3, 2:44