Despite temperatures reaching 99 degrees in Yuma, Arizona, Bellator 41 took place outdoors Saturday night. Bellator champions, Joe Warren and Zach Makovsky, were victorious in their respective non-title super fights. Also on the card, the season four featherweight tournament final was set with Patricio Freire and Daniel Straus advancing.

In the non-title main event between Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren and Marcos Galvao, Warren ended up in trouble early and often with missed throws and big knees from Galvao in the first two rounds. Warren finally managed to control the two-time BJJ world champion on the ground throughout the third round. Despite two very shaky rounds for the former Greco-Roman world champion, Warren was awarded a shocking unanimous decision.

In the other non-title super fight, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky put on a dominant performance against Chad Robichaux. Robichaux secured a weak guillotine attempt early in the fight but once Makovsky worked free, it was all Makovsky. Makovsky utilized solid striking and looked to pass directly off each takedown. After multiple submission attempts, Makovsky finished off Robichaux with strikes from back mount in the third.

In the first featherweight semifinal, Daniel Straus utilized strong throws and takedowns to finally ground a very game Kenny Foster and lock in a guillotine choke in round three. Foster showed great takedown defense early until Straus started setting up his takedowns with hard strikes. In the third, Straus ended up on top after an impressive scramble and locked up a D’arce choke. Straus looked content to ride out the round in that position until Foster attempted to counter and Straus transitioned beautifully into a guillotine choke. With the win over Foster, Straus became the first finalist in the Bellator season four featherweight tournament.

In the second semifinal, Patricio Freire defeated Wilson Reis in a rematch of last year’s semifinal. Freire was the most accurate striker through out the bout, while Reis controlled most of the grappling. With the fight likely tied heading into the third, Freire turned up the intensity and picked apart the wild swinging Reis before knocking him out against the cage. Patricio will face Daniel Straus in the final with the winner having a shot at Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren.

MAIN CARD RESULTS

Champ Joe Warren def. Marcos Galvao via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – non-title fight

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire def. Wilson Reis via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 3:29 – featherweight-tourney semifinal

Champ Zach Makovsky def. Chad Robichaux via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:02 – non-title fight

Daniel Straus def. Kenny Foster via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 3:48 – featherweight-tourney semifinal

LOCAL CARD RESULTS

Rudy Aguilar vs. Carlos Flore – bout took place after televised card.

Anthony Birchak def. Tyler Bialecki via submission (D’arce choke) – Round 1, 4:06

Nick Piedmont def. Michael Parker via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

Brendan Tierney def. Dano Moore via submission (arm bar) – Round 1, 0:49