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Bellator Heavyweight DJ Linderman Dropping To LHW For Season 4 Tournament

Press Release – CHICAGO, IL. (February 18, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships today confirmed the addition of hard hitting former heavyweight D.J. “Da Protégé” Linderman to its upcoming Light Heavyweight Tournament which will air LIVE on MTV2 beginning in March.
The California native currently sports an impressive 8-1 record including a submission victory over Devin Cole, […]

Press Release – CHICAGO, IL. (February 18, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships today confirmed the addition of hard hitting former heavyweight D.J. “Da Protégé” Linderman to its upcoming Light Heavyweight Tournament which will air LIVE on MTV2 beginning in March.

The California native currently sports an impressive 8-1 record including a submission victory over Devin Cole, a knock out win against American Top Team heavyweight Mario Rinaldi last November, and a 2009 victory over Bellator veteran Mike “300″ Hayes.

A skilled football player in high school, Linderman thrives on using takedowns to his advantage inside of the cage. Once on the mat, a furious ground and pound assault usually follows. Linderman’s incredible drive and force is what led the powerful 27-year-old to Bellator.

“D.J. should bring great power with him when he makes the cut to 205 lbs. for the first time in our Light Heavyweight Tournament on MTV2,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He had a very aggressive style at Heavyweight, so at 205, he could be a force in this tournament.”

The former heavyweight that has fought as high as 261 lbs. has committed to dropping weight in order to enter the upcoming Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament. While cutting the weight was a challenge, Linderman is happy with the results.

“I want to improve my game all around,” said Linderman. “I want to improve my cardio, my strength and my quickness. Being a heavyweight that’s dropping down to light heavyweight has its advantages. I feel like I will be better than ever at light heavyweight.”

The upcoming Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament will be the biggest test of Linderman’s young career, and “Da Protégé” is ready for the challenge.

“I’ve never competed in a tournament like this before, so I’m really excited to take part in this one with Bellator,” Linderman said. “I know this tournament will have a bunch of great fighters, and they’re going to try to put everything they have out there, and so will I. I’m looking to make a name for myself to the millions of fans that will be watching on MTV2.”

Linderman joins Daniel Gracie, Nik “The Machete” Fekete, and Chris Davis as confirmed participants in the upcoming Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About MTV2

MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

Bellator Signs Chris “The Professional” Davis To Light Heavyweight Tournament

Press Release – CHICAGO, IL. (February 18, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships has signed the dynamic Chris Davis to its growing list of light heavyweights. After spending over four years serving the United States as a Marine, “The Professional” will bring his skills to the cage in hopes of becoming the first ever Bellator […]

Press Release – CHICAGO, IL. (February 18, 2011) – Bellator Fighting Championships has signed the dynamic Chris Davis to its growing list of light heavyweights. After spending over four years serving the United States as a Marine, “The Professional” will bring his skills to the cage in hopes of becoming the first ever Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion in the first ever Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament, airing LIVE this March on MTV2.

“Chris has a great opportunity in front of him in this 205 Tournament,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Chris has never been out of the 2nd round, in every one of his 10 wins, so his fights are exciting and he has a put it on the line mentality every time he steps into the cage.”

Residing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Davis began his journey into the world of Mixed Martial Arts by chance. After taking a job selling local advertisements, Davis stumbled upon a local gym after looking for new businesses to target. Sensing an opportunity, Davis offered the owner free ad space for complimentary lessons in MMA. It was the perfect fit, and Davis was hooked.

“I knew I was a champion after going out there and winning my first fight following just three months of training,” said Davis. “Now when I go out there and get my hand raised with Bellator, that’s when everyone else will know I’m a true champion.”

That attitude has earned Davis an impressive 10-2 record, including wins against Strikeforce alum Francisco France, Bellator veteran Brian Imes, and fast rising Chris Bell. Having never gone the distance once in his professional career, Davis is tenacious in the cage, using his aggression to overmatch his opponents early in the fight. Davis has won his last three fights by knockout, and has seven first round stoppages to his name.

“I want to overwhelm my opponents,” said Davis. “I want them to feel within the first 45 seconds that they are well beyond their means, and they shouldn’t be in there with me. That’s the pace I go for.”

“The Professional” will meet some of his toughest competition yet in the Light Heavyweight Tournament, and will need to be on top of his game to achieve the ultimate goal.

“I’m looking forward to being part of Bellator’s first ever light heavyweight tournament, Davis said. “I welcome the thought of having to fight as often as I will. I’m going to just stay in shape and train all the time. I think it will help accelerate my learning curve and help me to get better.”

Davis joins Nik “The Machete” Fekete and Daniel Gracie as the only other confirmed participants in the Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

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Bellator Officially Announces Ronnie Mann Signing To 145 lbs. Division

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 17, 2011) – Ronnie Mann is coming back to America. Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the acquisition of the top featherweight Brit to its burgeoning roster of 145 pounders. Mann, who has spent the bulk of his 21 fight career in Japan and England, made his U.S. debut […]

Press Release – CHICAGO, Ill. (February 17, 2011) – Ronnie Mann is coming back to America. Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the acquisition of the top featherweight Brit to its burgeoning roster of 145 pounders. Mann, who has spent the bulk of his 21 fight career in Japan and England, made his U.S. debut last September where he won the Shark Fights Featherweight Championship. Mann will not compete in the upcoming Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament but will make his Bellator debut in the fourth season with an opportunity to take part in a future tournament. Bellator Season 4 begins in March and will air LIVE on MTV2.

“Ronnie Mann is a great talent at 145. We’ve been putting this alliance together for months and we’re very pleased that we Ronnie will be fighting at Bellator on MTV2″ said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Ronnie is at the top of his game right now and he will have impact on our deep featherweight division.”

A Sengoku veteran and former Cage Gladiators Welterweight Champion, Mann brings a very impressive 18-2-1 professional record to the Bellator cage, which included a 12-fight undefeated streak spanning the first three years of his career. Fighting out of Cheltenham, England, Mann became a well rounded martial artist at a young age, getting his start in Muay Thai at 11 before subsequently competing in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu tournaments at 13-years-old. Wasting no time making the jump to MMA, Mann took his first amateur fight at 16 before turning pro at just 17-years-old.

Now seven years later with a pair of championship belts and 21 professional fights on his resume, Mann will take the next step of his career with Bellator Fighting Championships LIVE on MTV2.

“Signing with Bellator is like a dream come true for me. I am more than excited for the opportunity to show fans what I’m capable of here in the United States,” said Mann. “Even more exciting than that is the fact that I’ll be getting to show what I’m capable of against some of the best fighters in the world, which Bellator provides. Honestly, I can’t wait to put my skills on display. 2011 is my time to shine.”

“Trying to capture the Bellator World Featherweight Championship is absolutely my main goal. I don’t care how long it takes, that’s what I’m here to do,” said Mann.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

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Bellator Press Conference Monday Feb. 21 To Kick Off Fourth Season

MMA Promotion Bellator Airing LIVE On MTV2 Comes to Shreveport with March Event
Pre-event Press Conference on February 21, 2011 – 1:30pm
Press Release – Shreveport -(February 17, 2011) – The press conference for Bellator Fighting Championships’ March 12th event will be held on Monday, February 21st at Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium at 1:30pm.
Participants will include Shreveport […]

MMA Promotion Bellator Airing LIVE On MTV2 Comes to Shreveport with March Event
Pre-event Press Conference on February 21, 2011 – 1:30pm

Press Release – Shreveport -(February 17, 2011) – The press conference for Bellator Fighting Championships’ March 12th event will be held on Monday, February 21st at Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium at 1:30pm.

Participants will include Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, Shreveport Convention Center & Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Regional General Manager Sam Voisin, and Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Featuring some of the sport’s top stars, Bellator brings a unique format of world-class fighting to fans with 12-week, eight-man tournaments in respective weight classes. The March 12th event will feature the soon-to-be announced Bellator Lightweight Tournament quarterfinal pairings as well as a host of exciting Local Feature Fights.

For more information, visit Bellator.com http://Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator http://www.facebook.com/Bellator

About Bellator Fighting Championships

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Sengoku Continues Fire Sale, Featherweight Ronnie Mann Signs With Bellator

(photo via Esther Lin @AllElbows.com)
Sengoku has released another highly touted fighter from contract in featherweight Ronnie Mann (18-2-1). Mann, who had one fight left on his Sengoku Raiden Championship contract, was looking to be released in order to fight in North America, now he’s gotten his wish and will fight for Bellator Fighting Championships.
MMAFighting.com […]

(photo via Esther Lin @AllElbows.com)

Sengoku has released another highly touted fighter from contract in featherweight Ronnie Mann (18-2-1). Mann, who had one fight left on his Sengoku Raiden Championship contract, was looking to be released in order to fight in North America, now he’s gotten his wish and will fight for Bellator Fighting Championships.

MMAFighting.com reported Wednesday night that Mann had been released by Sengoku and had then subsequently signed an exclusive contract with Bellator according to the promotions CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Mann has already taken one fight out of Japan at last falls September Shark Fights 13 event by defeating Doug Evans via split decision to become the Shark Fights featherweight champion. The bout was his first in North America.

The victory was his second in a row and put his record at 7-1 in his last eight fights. The English fighter fought three times for Sengoku going 2-1, all bouts took place in 2009 with him losing in the second round of the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix to Hatsu Hioki.

No date was given for Mann’s Bellator debut, nor was an opponent named.

Bellator Banking On Fans Making Saturdays ‘Fight Night’

Bellator Fighting Championship has worked out a broadcast deal with MTV2 to bring you their brand of mixed martial arts on Saturday nights starting next month.
Shows will begin a few hours before the normal scheduled times for UFC pay per views, ending just as the live UFC event begins. They are hoping that you’ll […]

Bellator Fighting Championship has worked out a broadcast deal with MTV2 to bring you their brand of mixed martial arts on Saturday nights starting next month.

Shows will begin a few hours before the normal scheduled times for UFC pay per views, ending just as the live UFC event begins. They are hoping that you’ll use the remote control to switch between Spike TV (those occasions when the UFC puts prelims on Spike that is) and MTV 2. Making Saturday nights ‘Fight Night.’

But what I’d like to know is, will you be tuning in?

A normal pay per view runs for about three hours, and for many can be a way for groups to gather to watch the live show at home or at their local watering hole. Adding another two hours to that evening may be a little much for the average Joe to spend tuning in to a Bellator event and then having friends pile in for the live UFC event, or to quickly run out to the local pub for a seat in front of the big screen.

For shut ins like myself who live by the flicker of multiple computer screens and televisions, were probably the ideal demographic for Bellator, plus it will keep us busy while we wait for the pay per view.

Certainly the bars and pubs would like you to come in early, spend some extra cash while your watching Bellator on their screens, but how many of these places would actually bother tuning in? With other sports events like basketball or hockey how many normal fans can tune in for five hours?

I would expect most places to carry the live UFC prelim specials, but who wins the argument between featuring the Bellator main event against a prelim bout from the UFC. With some fans simply associating the words mixed martial arts to mean the Ultimate Fighting Championship I’d put my money on Bellator fans losing out.

Bellator will put on some great events with their upcoming fourth season. I hope they can find their niche on Saturday nights. I don’t think they will ever do outstanding ratings over two hours but I can definitely see them doing well enough to satisfy MTV 2 execs into signing them for another stint. I mean what man with a remote control will just watch one channel when there are multiple sports events on.