Bellator MMA has stepped up promotion of its “title shots are earned, not given” approach to matchmaking.
In its eighth season, which debuts on Spike TV on Jan. 17, the organization has called its bracketed “real-sport tournament format” to decide the next light-heavyweight champion, “The Toughest Tournament In Sports.”
“At Bellator, there’s never been a matchmaker sitting behind a desk in a shiny suit deciding who fights who for the title,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said in a press release. “The origin of Bellator was to provide a seamless connection between real sports competition and mixed martial arts, and I believe we have taken that to the next level with a true tournament bracket format.”
The tournament will feature two former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champions making their Bellator debuts.
The Jan. 17 event, taking place at the Bren Center in Irvine, Calif., will see Renato (Babalu) Sobral battle Russian submission ace Mikhail Zayats, while the following week has Muhammed (King Mo) Lawal battling Przemyslaw Mysiala at WinStar World Casino.
Also on the first show, the always colorful Seth Petruzelli returns to Bellator after a year away from the cage. “The Silverback” will take on Tennessee’s Jacob Noe. Holding an impressive 10-1 record in his young MMA career, Noe is coming off an explosive TKO victory at Bellator 73.
“There is a burning rage inside me ready to explode up out of me, and all over my opponent,” Petruzelli said.
California’s “Hardcore Kid” Emanuel Newton will get another shot at tournament glory when he takes on Bulgaria’s Atanas Djambazov. He fell to eventual Bellator light-heavyweight tournament champion Attila Vegh in a close split-decision the last time out.
The debut event is also stacked with two title fights. Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran defends his belt against explosive knockout artist Patricio Pitbull, while Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler battles former Olympian Rick Hawn.
