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 "Rampage" Jackson (37-12), Roy Nelson (23-14), Chael Sonnen (30-15-1),Frank Mir (18-11), “King Mo” (21-6, 1 NC), Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC), Matt Mitrione (12-5) and Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (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. Eerder, 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, het genereren van een loyaal leger fans. De voormalige PRIDE- en UFC-kampioen is de trotse eigenaar van vele epische haspel-slams en knock-outs die hij tijdens zijn epische gevechten met mensen als Chuck Liddell heeft verzameld., Dan Henderson |, “King Mo,” Kevin Randleman and, misschien wel het meest opvallend, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Wanderlei Silva.

 

Uitvechten van Las Vegas, Roy Nelson made his Bellator debut earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Javy Ayala na een acht jaar, 19-fight run with UFC that saw him earn wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Bigfoot” Silva and Cheick Kongo. "Big Country" versloeg ook memorabel de late Kimbo Slice en ging later het seizoen winnen 10 van The Ultimate Fighter. Met 19 zijn 22 carrière overwinningen komen door middel van een knock-out of onderwerping, 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, Anderson Silva (tweemaal), 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 Tito Ortiz bij Bellator 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Bellator: NYC.

 

Frank Mir trad Bellator eerder dit jaar na 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, verzamelde 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, met inbegrip van Brock Lesnar, “Bigfoot” Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. Uitvechten van Las Vegas, Mir set tal van verslagen, terwijl de concurrentie met zijn voormalige promotie, benadrukt door de meeste gevechten (27), overwinningen (16), en inzendingen (8) in zwaargewicht geschiedenis. Met 14 zijn 18 carrière overwinningen komen door middel van een knock-out of onderwerping, 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 gevechten, 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.

 

Een voormalige PRIDE kampioen, “The Last Emperor” is één van de meest gerespecteerde en gerespecteerde zwaargewicht vechters de sport heeft gezien. Stone-faced en stil, Emelianenko pochte een van de meest indrukwekkende ongeslagen strepen in de geschiedenis van de MMA, niet verliezen van een gevecht tussen 2001 en 2009. Een multi-keer wereldkampioen in MMA en Sambo, Fedor keerde onlangs terug naar de sport na een korte onderbreking, 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 The 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 Phil Davis. 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 Ryan Bader (24-5)

Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC)

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (37-12)

“King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC)

Frank Mir (18-11)

Matt Mitrione (12-5)

Roy Nelson (23-14)

Chael Sonnen (30-15-1)

 

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