Scott Coker says another Bellator grand prix is in the works this year.
Bellator plans to trim down on size but beef up the numbers in their next grand prix.
Scott Coker announced plans for a Bellator featherweight grand prix on Monday’s episode of “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show”. Coker teased the news last week when telling reporters to “think smaller.”
Bellator President @ScottCoker says another tournament announcement is forthcoming. His hint? “Think smaller.”
Which division do you want for the next Bellator tourney? https://t.co/5BCd7wT4sY pic.twitter.com/BLH5wnxnhN
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 13, 2019
Coker did not reveal who the competitors were, but did announce the grand prix would feature 16 featherweights. That is double the number of entrants compared to the promotion’s first two grand prix tournaments.
Featherweight is arguably among Bellator’s most stacked divisions. The 145-pound champion Patricio Freire is currently scheduled to challenge Michael Chandler for the latter’s lightweight championship in a champ vs. champ grudge match.
There are plenty of studs at featherweight to include in the tournament. Among them are the aforementioned Freire, Daniel Straus, Aaron Pico, Henry Corrales, Darrion Caldwell, Leandro Higo, Emmanuel Sanchez, Sam Sicilia, Chinzo Machida, John Teixiera, and Pat Curran and A.J. McKee — the latter two meet at Bellator 221.
The featherweight tournament is expected to begin in October.