Eric Prindle, Bellator’s season five heavyweight tournament finalist, has been scratched from his Bellator 61 headlining scrap against Thiago Santos due to flu-like symptoms following a significant weight cut.
As a result, promotion officials have postponed the heavyweight rematch to March 23 at Bellator 62 in Laredo, TX. Friday night’s fight card will instead be headlined by a middleweight quarterfinal bout between UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao (28-4, 1 NC) and TUF 11 contestant Norman Paraisy (10-1-1, 1 NC).
USA Today first reported the switch, which was then confirmed by Prindle via Twitter.
Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) reportedly began vomiting on Tuesday night and has struggled with the illness throughout the ensuing days. The 35-year-old bruiser expressed willingness to fight as planned, but Louisiana officials ultimately felt it best to cancel the bout.
The announcement marks another chapter in the ever-expanding history of Prindle-Santos. The two heavyweights initially met last November, at Bellator 59 for season five’s heavyweight tournament finals. However, action stopped just 94 seconds into the contest, when Santos (10-1) whizzed a soccer kick straight into the groin of a downed Prindle.
Prindle was eventually ruled unable to continue and the match was declared a no contest.
The winner of the eventual rematch is expected to receive $100,000 and a shot at Bellator’s reigning heavyweight champion, Cole Konrad.