WINNER TO BE CROWNED NEW BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

LOS ANGELES – Bellator has announced plans to host a year-long grand prix heavyweight tournament in 2018 featuring eight of the roster’s biggest stars with the winner becoming the new Bellator world heavyweight champion. The Bellator MMA World Grand Prix 2018 Heavyweight Tournament will air on the soon-to-launch Paramount Network.

 

The star-studded list of participants includes newly signed Quinton "түйвээлт" Жексон (37-12), Рой Нелсон (23-14), Chael Sonnen (30-15-1),Фрэнк Мир (18-11), “King Mo” (21-6, 1 Сүлжээний Холболт), Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 Сүлжээний Холболт), Мэтт Mitrione (12-5) and Bellator light heavyweight champion Райан Бадер (24-5).

 

Spanning multiple events and locations throughout 2018, the three-round tournament allows for matchups never before thought possible and will ultimately crown a new Bellator heavyweight champion. Өмнө нь, Bellator President Scott Coker orchestrated the most recent successful heavyweight tournament in mixed martial arts with the STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix that spanned from 2011-12.

 

Matchups, dates and locations for the single-elimination grand prix will be determined shortly, as will tournament alternates who will be available to fill in due to any unforeseen circumstances.

 

A five-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, “Rampage’s” legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way. The former PRIDE and UFC champion is the proud owner of many epic highlight reel slams and knockouts that he has racked up throughout his epic battles with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Дэн Хендерсон |, “King Mo,” Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Вандерлей Силва.

 

Лас-Вегас гарч тэмцэх, Roy Nelson made his Bellator debut earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Javy Ayala following an eight-year, 19-fight run with UFC that saw him earn wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Антонио Родриго Ногейра, “Bigfoot” Silva and Cheick Kongo. “Big Country” also memorably defeated the late Kimbo дээр зүсмэл гэж яригдах and later went on to win season 10 нь Ultimate Fighter. Нь 19 нь түүний 22 ажил Хасагдах буюу хүлээн замаар ирж ялалт, the long-time fan-favorite looks to add a championship to his impressive resume.

 

Chael Sonnen spent a majority of his 44-fight career with the UFC and WEC, a run that saw him defeat former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, and compete against the likes of Jon Jones, Андерсон Силва (хоёр дахин их), Rashad Evans, “Shogun” Rua, Demian Maia and Brian Stann. In addition to his in-ring action, the West Linn, Ore. native has mastered the art of being in front of the camera, having done broadcast work for both ESPN and Fox Sports. Following a three-year hiatus from active MMA competition, Sonnen returned to the cage against Тито Ортиз үед Bellator 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Bellator: NYC.

 

Фрэнк Мир дараах Bellator энэ оны эхээр орсон 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, цуглуулсан 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, Брок Lesnar зэрэг, "Алмас" Силва, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. Лас-Вегас гарч тэмцэх, Мир өөрийн хуучин дэмжих нь өрсөлдөж байхдаа олон тооны бүртгэлийг тогтоосон, Хамгийн зодоон онцолсон (27), ялалт (16), , танилцуулах (8) хүнд жингийн түүхэнд. Нь 14 нь түүний 18 ажил Хасагдах буюу хүлээн замаар ирж ялалт, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt will now try his hand in Bellator’s heavyweight division.

 

“King Mo” will again fight at heavyweight and look to build off his success within the division following recent wins against Satoshi Ishii and Cheick Kongo. A winner in nine out of his last 11 тулаан, the 36-year-old will look to claim heavyweight gold in 2018 and add to his championship collection that already includes a STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title. The “Moneyweight” fighter owns additional wins over Linton Vassell, Gegard Mousasi, Roger Gracie and has split a pair of bouts with “Rampage” Jackson with their series tied at one win each.

 

Асан бахархал аварга, "Өнгөрсөн эзэн хаан" хамгийн их эрхэмлэн хүндтэй хүнд сөнөөгч спорт харсан нэг юм. Чулуун нүүртэй, нам гүм, Emelianenko ММА түүхэн дэх хамгийн гайхалтай ялагдаагүй зураасаар нэг нь хөдөлмөр зарсан, хооронд нь дайралт хийвэл алдаж үгүй ​​биш 2001 болон 2009. ММА болон самбо дахь олон удаагийн дэлхийн аварга, Fedor саяхан товч завсарласны дараа спортод буцаж, accumulating two decisive wins since his return to action and competing against Matt Mitrione in an instant classic at Bellator: NYC.

 

Matt Mitrione remains poised to make an impact in the Bellator heavyweight division following three knockout wins since signing with Bellator in 2016, including a first-round KO of Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator NYC this June. The Illinois native and standout defensive end at Purdue University earned All-Big Ten honors in 2000 and subsequently earned his way into the NFL where he played six seasons as a member of the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Mitrione ultimately found his way into MMA where he became a high-level competitor, defeating the likes of the late Kimbo Slice, Derrick Lewis and Gabriel Gonzaga.

 

Bader will make his third appearance for Bellator and first since defending his light heavyweight championship at Bellator 186. Fighting out of Tempe, Ariz., Bader began his professional career on an impressive run, steamrolling the competition en route to a 12-fight winning streak and winning one of the most competitive seasons of Ultimate Fighter in franchise history on Spike in 2008. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting 15 over some of the 105-pound division’s top talent, including victories over former world champions Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Rashad Evans, as well as two wins over Фил Дэвис. Currently riding a four-fight winning streak with victories in nine of his past ten bouts, the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University will look to become a current two-division champion in Bellator MMA.

 

Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Participants:

Bellator World Light Heavyweight Champion Райан Бадер (24-5)

Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 Сүлжээний Холболт)

Quinton "түйвээлт" Жексон (37-12)

“King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 Сүлжээний Холболт)

Фрэнк Мир (18-11)

Мэтт Mitrione (12-5)

Рой Нелсон (23-14)

Chael Sonnen (30-15-1)

 

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