Emmanuel Sanchez has earned a spot in the Bellator featherweight grand prix semifinals and a title shot to go with it.

Sanchez outpointed Daniel Weichel in a terrific scrap during the main card opener of Bellator 252 on Thursday night, earning scores of 48-46, 49-46, 49-45 for a unanimous decision at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The opening round set the tone. Sanchez (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) was active from the jump, keeping Weichel (40-12 MMA, 9-4 BMMA) guessing with a wide variety of strikes, from shots to the head and body to spinning kicks. Weichel, while throwing with less volume, landed the hardest shots of the round, connecting on counters whenever Sanchez got a little sloppy, including a crisp right hand which rocked Sanchez backwards.

The second round was all Sanchez as he pushed a frenetic pace, always moving forward and landing from all angles. A mix of elbows and brutal body shots dropped Weichel to the mat. Sanchez did his best to finish the fight on the ground, but Weichel’s toughness saved the day as he rode out the storm and finally got back to his feet.

Things slowed a bit in the third as Weichel had taken a beating and Sanchez expended a lot of energy in the previous round. Sanchez’s repeated leg kicks, with an occasional head kick to keep things honest, were the most significant exchanges of the round.

In the fourth, Weichel landed a solid right hand and grabbed Sanchez from behind, but wasn’t quite able to get him to the mat. Sanchez escaped and resumed his volume striking, opening a cut over Weichel’s right eye.

The final round was a mere matter of maintenance for Sanchez, who was well ahead on the cards, and he fought a disciplined round and never gave Weichel an opening to steal the fight.

The bout was a quarterfinal round matchup in the tournament, which paused for an eight-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. He is also slotted to face the winner of the evening’s main event, a title fight between champion Patricio Freire and challenger Pedro Carvalho, in the semifinals.

“I’m just loving what I do and doing what I love,” Sanchez said. “Life is good.”

The win was the third in a row and seventh in the last eight fights for Sanchez, who defeated Tywan Claxton in the opening round in September 2019. It also avenged a split decision loss to Weichel at Bellator 159 more than four years ago.

Weichel, who defeated Saul Rogers in the opening round, has dropped three of his past four bouts.

The featherweight tournament quarterfinal bout was part of the Bellator 252 main card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It aired on CBS Sports Network/DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 252 results:

• Emmanuel Sanchez def. Daniel Weichel via unanimous decision (48-46, 49-46, 49-45) — featherweight grand prix quarterfinal
• Aaron Pico def. John DeJesus via knockout (punch) — Round 2, 4:14
• Keri Melendez def. Emilee King via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 3:03
• Manny Muro def. Devin Powell via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
• Jornel Lugo def. Schyler Sootho via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Lucas Brennan def. Andrew Salas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Roman Faraldo def. Pat Casey via knockout (flying knee) – Round 2, 2:30
• Trevor Gudde def. Khonry Gracie via TKO (knee, strikes) – Round 3, 3:28