Pat Curran beat Toby Imada in a split decision at Bellator 21 to secure a title shot against Eddie Alvarez.

Toby Imada was able to control much of the fight closing to within grappling range and scoring a number of take downs, but he never really capitalized on his take downs and the two fighters would quickly find themselves back on their feet.

Pat Curran didn’t really control the fight, but he kept the fight from getting out control. He was did the most damage opening a gash under the eye of Imada in the third.

The split decision wasn’t much of a surprise. Curran may have deserved the victory by doing the most damage, but Imada may have deserved the victory by being the fighter that was more in control. Either way, it was an even fight which always helps the entertainment value.

Next up for Bellator is a welterweight matchup between Dan Hornbuckle and Ben Askren at Bellator 22 on June 17. Hornbuckle is the Bellator odds favorite at -145 while Askren pays +115.

The Bellator 21 lightweight final between Toby Imada (25-13 MMA, 5-1 BFC) and Pat Curran (11-3 MMA, 2-0 BFC) goes on Thursday, June 10 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The winner gets a title shot against Eddie Alvarez who took the belt with a victory over Imada at Bellator 12.

The event will be televised live on Fox Sports Net with highlights the following weekend on NBC and Telemundo.

Imada is the Bellator odds favorite at -155 while Curran pays +125.

Toby Imada, 32, is in his second season with Bellator. He lost the lightweight title fight last season to Alvarez, but he is best known for defeating Jorge Masvidal with a spectacular inverted triangle choke that rendered his opponent unconscious while standing in the semifinals.

Imada is primarily a submission threat. Both of his victories to make it to the semifinal stage of Bellator this season have come by Armbars over James Krause at Bellator 14 and Carey Vanier at Bellator 17. He doesn’t have knockout power, but he has managed a few TKO victories including a recent win over Daisuke Hanazawa at Japan’s King of the Cage on January 30, 2010. His fights rarely go the distance with just one decision in his career.

Pat Curran (11-3 MMA, 2-0 BFC) is Bellator’s rising star. The 22-year-old is an excellent striker and has a Jiu Jitsu base that makes him very effective at ground and pound.

He had a nasty KO victory over Mike Ricci at Bellator 14 and an impressive upset victory by decision over former UFC fighter Roger Huerta at Bellator 17 to qualify.