WINNER TO BE CROWNED NEW BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

ЛОС-АНДЖЕЛЕС – 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 Куинтон "Rampage" Джексон (37-12), Рой Нельсон (23-14), Чел Соннен (30-15-1),Фрэнк Мир (18-11), “King Mo” (21-6, 1 Северная Каролина), Федор Емельяненко (36-5, 1 Северная Каролина), Matt 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. Предварительно, 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, создавая лояльную армию поклонников по пути. Бывший PRIDE и UFC чемпионом является гордым обладателем многих эпических хлопков выделить барабанами и нокауты, что он мучил на протяжении всей его эпических сражений с подобными Чак Лидделл, Дэн Хендерсон, «Король Мо,»Кевин Рэндлман и, возможно, наиболее заметно, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Вандерлей Силва.

 

Борьба из Лас-Вегаса, Roy Nelson made his Bellator debut earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Javy Айяла а также RIZIN World Grand Prix, 19-fight run with UFC that saw him earn wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Антонио Родриго Ногейра, “Bigfoot” Silva and Cheick Kongo. а также RIZIN World Grand Prix Кимбо Slice а также RIZIN World Grand Prix 10 из Ultimate Fighter. С 19 из его 22 карьера побед ближайшего путем нокаута или представления, the long-time fan-favorite looks to add a championship to his impressive resume.

 

Чаэль Соннен провел большую часть своей карьеры из 44 боев в UFC и WEC., пробежка, в которой он победил бывшего чемпиона в среднем весе Майкла Биспинга, и соревнуйтесь с такими, как Джон Джонс, Андерсон Сильва (дважды), Рашад Эванс, «Сёгун» Руа, Демиан Майя и Брайан Стэнн. В дополнение к его действиям в ринге, Вест Линн, Руда. родной освоил искусство быть перед камерой, проделав трансляцию для ESPN и Fox Sports. После трехлетнего перерыва в активных соревнованиях по ММА, Соннен вернулся в клетку против Тито Ортиз на Bellator 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Bellator: Нью-Йорк.

 

Фрэнк Мир вступил Bellator ранее в этом году после 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, собранный 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, включая Брока Леснара, «Бигфут» Сильва, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. Борьба из Лас-Вегаса, Мир установить многочисленные записи, конкурируя с его бывшим продвижением, выделены наиболее схваток (27), победы (16), и материалы (8) в супертяжелом истории. С 14 из его 18 карьера побед ближайшего путем нокаута или представления, 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 бои, 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 Линтон Vassell, Гегард Мусаси, Roger Gracie and has split a pair of bouts with “Rampage” Jackson with their series tied at one win each.

 

Бывший чемпион PRIDE, «Последний император» является одним из самых почитаемых и уважаемых тяжеловесов борцов спорта видел. С каменным лицом и тихо, Emelianenko хвастался один из самых впечатляющих непобедимым полосы в истории ММА, не теряя бой между 2001 и 2009. многократный чемпион мира по ММА и самбо, Федор недавно вернулся в спорт после короткого перерыва, accumulating two decisive wins since his return to action and competing against Matt Mitrione in an instant classic at Bellator: Нью-Йорк.

 

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, Штат Аризона., 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, Рашад Эванс, 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)

Федор Емельяненко (36-5, 1 Северная Каролина)

Куинтон "Rampage" Джексон (37-12)

“King Mo” Лаваль (21-6, 1 Северная Каролина)

Фрэнк Мир (18-11)

Matt Mitrione (12-5)

Рой Нельсон (23-14)

Чел Соннен (30-15-1)

 

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