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5. Pat Curran vs. Joe Warren
Bellator 60
March 9, 2012 | Hammond, Indiana
Warren had to be helped out of the cage, minus the Bellator featherweight title. Curran dethroned the self-professed “Baddest Man on the Planet” with a brutal third-round knockout and captured the 145-pound championship at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino. Their encounter ended on a horrific volley of knees and punches, with the former champion unconscious in a seated position at the base of the cage. At one point, Warren seemed to turn away from the onslaught in an outward sign of submission, but referee Jeff Malott allowed it to continue until he had been knocked cold 1:25 into Round 3.

Curran nearly finished it in the first round, as he had Warren badly hurt with a head kick and follow-up blows. The former Greco-Roman wrestling world champion weathered the storm and carried the bout in to the second round. There, Warren seemed to find himself, as he scored with takedowns and opened a small cut under Curran’s right eye. Alas, round three brought with it unsettling violence.

The challenger cracked Warren with a knee to the head, backed him into the cage and let loose with a hellacious barrage of punches and knees. Warren was clearly out on his feet more than once but was left to absorb further punishment. Curran did not let up until the job was done.

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