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 "sakaje" 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. Précédemment, 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, Dan Henderson, “King Mo,” Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Wanderlei Silva.
Goumen soti nan Las Vegas, 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, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Bigfoot” Silva and Cheick Kongo. “Big Country” also memorably defeated the late KIMBO Tranch and later went on to win season 10 nan Ultim konba a. Avèk 19 nan l ' 22 karyè ranport vini pa fason pou pentch oswa soumèt, 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 (de fwa), 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 nan La ap 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of La ap: NYC.
Frank Mir ansanm la ap pi bonè ane sa a apre 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, ranmase 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, ki gen ladan Brock HT, "Bigfout" Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. Goumen soti nan Las Vegas, Mir mete dosye anpil pandan y ap ak konpetisyon ak pwomosyon ansyen l ', make pa batay yo pi (27), viktwa (16), ak soumèt (8) nan istwa pwa loud. Avèk 14 nan l ' 18 karyè ranport vini pa fason pou pentch oswa soumèt, 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 batay, 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.
Yon ansyen PRIDE chanpyon, "Anperè a Denye" se youn nan konbatan yo ki pi venere ak respekte pwa loud te espò a wè. Stone-fè fas ak trankil, Emelianenko pwogram youn nan tach yo pi enpresyonan envenku nan istwa a nan mma, pa pèdi yon bout ant 2001 ak 2009. Yon chanpyon nan lemonn milti-tan nan mma ak Sambo, Fedor fèk tounen nan espò a apre yon lakun kout, accumulating two decisive wins since his return to action and competing against Matt Mitrione in an instant classic at La ap: 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 la ap 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 La ap 186. Fighting out of Tempe, Arizona., 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 Ultim konba a 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 "sakaje" 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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