Bellator Dynamite looks like it could be packed with, well, you know.
Organizers of the September 19 event are pulling out all kinds of stops to garner fan interest, and on Friday evening they revealed the field for a one-night, four-man light heavyweight tournament that will serve as a key part of Bellator‘s next “tentpole” event.
Bellator CEO Scott Coker made the announcement Friday night during the live broadcast of the Bellator 141 main card (h/t David St. Martin of MMA Fighting).
Just announced: The #DYNAMITE1 LH Tournament is set! Live and free on @spike Sept 19th @SAPCenter pic.twitter.com/zf8fDx0P3E
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) August 29, 2015
On one side of the bracket, Phil Davis, the national college wrestling champion who until recently was a fixture in the UFC light heavyweight division, faces Emanuel Newton, a popular and colorful competitor who until February was Bellator‘s reigning champ at 205 pounds.
This might be a grappling-heavy affair, with Newton potentially having an edge on the feet.
In the other tournament bout, American wrestle-boxer Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal takes on British grappler Linton Vassell.
An alternate bout for the tournament pits UFC alum Francis Carmont against Philipe Lins.
In the evening’s main event, current Bellator light heavyweight champ Liam McGeary is a substantial favorite to dispatch famous-but-fading challenger Tito Ortiz. The winner of the four-man tournament will earn a shot at the main event winner.
Bellator Dynamite is being dubbed a “hybrid event,” as it will, along with MMA, feature several kickboxing bouts that will take place under the Glory banner. Paul Daley, a British knockout artist well-known to MMA fans, will compete in his first kickboxing match on American soil.
In a novel twist, the MMA bouts will take place in a cage, while the kickboxing matches will happen in a separate ring.
Lightweight Josh Thomson, who last competed for the UFC in July, makes his Bellator debut at this event.
The event takes place from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The evening’s main card will air on Spike TV.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com