Bellator season four finalist, Rick Hawn (11-1) has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming fight with Ben ‘Killa B’ Saunders (10-3-2) due to a knee injury.
Hawn and Saunders had been scheduled to meet at Bellator 49 next month in the opening round of Bellator’s season five tourny.
Hawn posted the news on Twitter (@RickHawnMMA), noting that he’d be back later this fall which is a good indicator that the injury isn’t bad.
– Have to call off my fight against Ben Saunders in the Bellator tourney. Hurt my knee but ill b back stronger than ever in a few months.
Bellator 49, which opens the promotions fifth season, is scheduled to take place on September 10 at Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey.
Hawn suffered his first career defeat in his last fight, losing to Jay Hieron by split decisoin at Bellator 43 in May in the season four welterweight tournament finals. Previous to that the former Judo Olympiad had earned wins over Lyman Good and Jim Wallhead to make it into the season four finals.
Saunders made his Bellator debut in April, earning a third round TKO doctor stoppage against Matt Lee in an entertaining 175 lb catchweight bout. That win likely earned Saunders a spot in this falls season five tournament. ‘Killa B’ had been scheduled to appear at Bellator 47 but was forced to pull out of the event due to an undisclosed injury.