Bellator Fighting Championships: 5 Fights Every Fan Must Watch This Fall

Although not as well known as the UFC, Bellator Fighting Championships has become a premier mixed marital arts organization known for their exciting fights that almost always end in a spectacular finish.

With their fifth season—shown on MTV2 and Epix—swinging into full gear, Bellator has a host of amazing events scheduled for the rest of the autumn season.

Six events, starting with this weekend's Bellator 54 in Atlantic City, N.J., remain on the schedule including two title fights involving two of the promotion's biggest stars.

As season five chugs along, the finals for Bellator's bantamweight and heavyweight tournaments are also expected to be resolved by the end of fall, tentatively scheduled for Bellator 59, which coincidentally will be held in Atlantic City, as well.

With so many great fights on hand in the remaining months, here are five Bellator fights that MMA fans should not miss.

5. Thiago Santos vs. Blagoi Ivanov, Bellator 56

In a heavyweight tournament semi-finals match-up, 5-0 (1 NC) Blagoi Ivanov will face 9-1 Thiago Santos in a bout that is almost guaranteed to end with a bang.

Santos, who made his U.S. debut at Bellator 53 last weekend, will replace Mike Hayes who was forced out of the tournament due to an injury. 

The Brazilian, affectionately known as the "Big Monster," won his Bellator debut in stunning fashion, choking out Josh Burns just 2:23 into the first round. The match was set to be a fight for a reserve spot in the heavyweight tournament.

Ivanov won his match in the opening round of the tournament, submitting Ultimate Fighter alum Zak Jensen at Bellator 52.

Both fighters are well-rounded, possessing heavy hands as well as solid ground games. It will be interesting to see how Ivanov's Sambo contends with Santos' Jiu-Jitsu.

4. Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao, Bellator 55

Coming into his Bellator debut with a bang, bantamweight Alexis Vila caused a stir by knocking out one of the promotion's biggest names.

At Bellator 51, Vila finished Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren with a KO punch just over one minute into the first round.

This win extended Vila's record to a perfect 10-0 as he advanced to the semi-finals of the bantamweight tournament.

Set to face WEC veteran and jiu-jitsu ace Marcos Galvao, it will be interesting to see if Vila can roll over another opponent and prove he is the real deal in Bellator's bantamweight division.

3. Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron, Bellator 56

Former Olympic wrestler and undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren will take on season four's welterweight tournament winner Jay Hieron in one of the most highly-anticipated title fights remaining on Bellator's schedule.

Askren has had a meteoric rise to the title, winning the second season's welterweight tournament en route to the belt. Utilizing his world class wrestling, Askren has also aided some UFC fighters, including former WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, shore-up their game,

Since his short stint in the UFC and WEC, Hieron has revitalized his career in recent years, currently riding a 10-fight win streak that includes wins over longtime veterans Joe Riggs and Jesse Taylor.

A former NCAA Division I wrestler himself, look for Hieron to test the 27-year-old champion.

2. Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley, Bellator 58

Hector Lombard may be the biggest name outside of the UFC.

Having not lost since dropping a decision to Gegard Mousasi in Pride in 2006, Lombard has gone on an insane 22-0-1 streak which culminated in him taking both the Bellator Middleweight Championship and the inaugural Australian Fighting Championship's middleweight title.

Lombard is a very well-rounded fighter, possessing top-level grappling skills as well as a powerful striking game. More than half of his wins have come via knockout, making him a huge threat in the stand-up department.

Facing Lombard at Bellator 58 will be journeyman Trevor Prangley. Prangley has been on a skid of late, losing three of his last five bouts.

This fight, set to be a catchweight, non-title fight, is more of a showcase of Lombard's skills as he awaits the winner of the middleweight tournament.

Regardless of its importance to the title picture, any time fans have the opportunity to see Lombard fight, they should take it.

1. Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler, Bellator 58

Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez will be defending his belt against Michael Chandler at Bellator 58.

Originally slated for Bellator 54, Alvarez suffered an injury that forced the champion off the October 15 card and postponed the bout until November.

Alvarez has been on a roll since losing to Shinya Aoki, winning seven fights in a row since the 2008 defeat. Using his solid wrestling base and heavy hands, Alvarez has defeated the likes of Roger Huerta, Pat Curran and Toby Imada during his reign as Lightweight Champion.

Chandler is no one to scoff at, as the Xtreme Couture product has gone 8-0 in his MMA career. He defeated top Bellator lightweight Patricky Freire to win the last lightweight tournament.

A former NCAA Division I wrestler, Chandler will be a great opponent for the highly-regarded Alvarez.

This is definitely one fight for which every fight fan should tune in.