I’m not sure whether it is the Reebok deal, Bellator MMA making a serious push at evening the MMA playing field or the UFC only being willing to pay so many top competitors, but it certainly seems like a lot of big names are starting to migrate from the Octagon to the second-biggest promotion around.
With three straight losses, former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson was the latest UFC standout to sign with Bellator MMA. There were initial reports that the UFC was not interested in renewing Thomson’s contract after his recent struggles, but The Punk refuted those remarks in an official press release and stated that the UFC did not match a Bellator MMA offer made to him after testing free agency.
“I’m over here reading this UFC reporter saying that they’ve declined to re-sign me when the truth of the matter is that they’ve been trying to re-sign me for my last two fights. I declined and instead chose to fight out my contract and test the free agency market with Bellator,” Thomson said.
“At that point, Bellator made me an offer that the UFC was unable to match given their relationships with Fox and Reebok. It’s a done deal; I’m back working with Coker, and I couldn’t be more excited to get back to an organization that is trending upwards with fighter-friendly contracts. Any intelligent fighter is going to go where the money is, and for me the money was at Bellator.”
Now, Thomson’s first Bellator MMA opponent has been determined. Matchups with Michael Chandler or Melvin Guillard seemed more intriguing given Thomson’s name value, but he will instead meet Mike Bronzoulis at Bellator 142 on September 19, according to Sherdog’s Jeff Sherwood.
Bronzoulis will make his return to Bellator MMA after having lost to Joe Riggs in the Fight Master finals. Despite winning three in a row, Bronzoulis will likely be a huge underdog in a matchup designed to get Thomson back into the win column.
At the moment, Bellator 142 also includes a light heavyweight title bout between Liam McGeary and Tito Ortiz in addition to a 205-pound tournament that will feature Phil Davis’ Bellator MMA debut.
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