All three cageside judges scored the non-title catchweight bout for Warren: 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. The 34-year-old remains unbeaten in five appearances under the Bellator banner.
"Had a bad night, but I pulled out the win," he said. "I'm very happy with that."
Galvao all but shut down Warren's Greco-Roman game through two rounds. Twice the WEC veteran wound up in top position on attempted takedowns from the champion, whom he briefly pummeled with punches from behind. Warren returned to an upright position and struggled to impose his game in the clinch, his efforts finally rewarded with a takedown in the final 10 seconds of round one.
A two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, Galvao came out firing in the second. The Nova Uniao representative landed back-to-back flying knees and caught Warren coming in with more than one uppercut. Again, the former Greco-Roman world champion fought hard but ultimately failed to get his opponent on the ground. His offense was limited to an occasional right hand.
Warren made his move in Round 3 as he scored with a takedown and kept Galvao neutralized and on his back for more than four minutes. He dropped punches and elbows from the top, avoided a restart and made his pitch to the judges. They bought it.
Pitbull finishes Reis in rematch
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire put away former EliteXC champion Wilson Reis with a beautiful barrage of accurate third-round punches in the Bellator Season 4 featherweight tournament semifinals. Finished for the first time in 15 professional outings, Reis met his demise 3:29 into Round 3.
Freire, who defeated Reis by unanimous decision 10 months ago, left nothing to chance in the rematch. Rounds 1 and 2 were competitive, though Pitbull landed the cleaner strikes -- including a first-round head kick -- and secured the only takedown of the fight.
The once-beaten 23-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt upped his aggression in the third, as he swarmed Reis with a powerful flurry that left him on wobbly legs. Freire backed his wounded prey against the cage and finished it with a second volley, Reis collapsing after a brutal left hook-straight right combination. Now 4-1 under the Bellator banner, Freire moves into the 145-pound final.
Straus guillotine submits Foster
Daniel Straus posted his 12th consecutive victory in the Bellator Season 4 featherweight tournament semifinals, as he submitted Kenny Foster with a guillotine choke. The end came 3:48 into round 3, with Straus advancing to the featherweight final.
Straus controlled the first two rounds with timely strikes, strategic takedowns and superior work in the clinch. He transitioned beautifully from a flying knee to a takedown in the final minute of round one, turning the tide in his favor. Two more takedowns followed in round two for the 26-year-old Cincinnati native, as he kept Foster guessing throughout their encounter.
Despite the 99-degree heat, Straus pressed the fight in the third round. He secured another takedown, softened Foster with ground-and-pound and passed to half guard. From there, Straus locked in the choke for the tapout. The defeat snapped Foster's two-fight winning streak.
Brian Knapp is a contributor to Sherdog.com.
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