WINNER TO BE CROWNED NEW BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

لس آنجلس – 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 "داد و بیداد" جکسون (37-12), روی نلسون (23-14), Chael Sonnen (30-15-1),فرانک میر (18-11), “King Mo” (21-6, 1 NC), تبادل نظر Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC), مت Mitrione (12-5) and Bellator light heavyweight champion رایان بدر (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. پیش, 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, همانطور که بازیکنان جایگزین مسابقات نیز به دلیل شرایط پیش بینی نشده در دسترس خواهند بود.

A five-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, “Rampage’s” legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, ایجاد یک ارتش وفادار از طرفداران در طول راه. قهرمان سابق پراید و UFC، صاحب مفتخر بسیاری از اسلم ها و ناک اوت های حماسی است که در طول نبردهای حماسی خود با افرادی مانند چاک لیدل انجام داده است., دن هندرسون |, «شاه مو,کوین رندلمن و, شاید مهم ترین, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Wanderlei سیلوا.

مبارزه از لاس وگاس, Roy Nelson made his Bellator debut earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Javy آیالا following an eight-year, 19-مبارزه با UFC انجام شد که باعث شد او در مقابل Mirko Cro Cop پیروز شود, آنتونیو رودریگو نوگیرا, "پاگنده" سیلوا و چیک کنگو. “Big Country” also memorably defeated the late Kimbo برش and later went on to win season 10 از نهایی جنگنده. با 19 از خود 22 حرفه برنده آینده از طریق حذفی یا تسلیم, 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, اندرسون سیلوا (دو برابر), رشاد ایوانز, "شوگون" روآ, Demian Maia and Brian Stann. In addition to his in-ring action, the West Linn, سنگ معدن. 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 تیتو اورتیز در Bellator 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Bellator: NYC.

فرانک میر در اوایل سال جاری Bellator پیوست 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, جمع آوری شده 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, از جمله براک لزنر, "پاگنده" سیلوا, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. مبارزه از لاس وگاس, میر رکورد متعدد در حالی که رقابت با ارتقاء سابق خود, هایلایت شده توسط ترین دعوا (27), پیروزی (16), و ارسالی (8) در تاریخ سنگین وزن. با 14 از خود 18 حرفه برنده آینده از طریق حذفی یا تسلیم, 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 دعوا, 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 لینتون Vassell, Gegard Mousasi, Roger Gracie and has split a pair of bouts with “Rampage” Jackson with their series tied at one win each.

قهرمان سابق PRIDE, "آخرین امپراتور" یکی از مبارزان محترم ترین و مورد احترام سنگین وزن ورزش دیده است. سنگ رو و آرام, Emelianenko یکی از رگه های بدون شکست چشمگیر ترین در تاریخ MMA افتخار, از دست دادن یک جلسه بین نمی 2001 و 2009. قهرمان چند ساعت جهان در MMA و سامبو, تبادل نظر به تازگی به ورزش پس از یک وقفه کوتاه بازگشت, 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, طور., 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 نهایی جنگنده 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, رشاد ایوانز, as well as two wins over فیل دیویس. 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 رایان بدر (24-5)

تبادل نظر Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC)

Quinton "داد و بیداد" جکسون (37-12)

“King Mo” لاول (21-6, 1 NC)

فرانک میر (18-11)

مت Mitrione (12-5)

روی نلسون (23-14)

Chael Sonnen (30-15-1)

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