Bellator News Weekly: Welterweight Grand Prix-view

Monica and Mercedes have enjoyed the vacation.     PicProps: Bellator.com
In all this talk of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and subsequent rumors of a Lightweight Grand Prix, it seems that some of us are forgetting abo…


Monica and Mercedes have enjoyed the vacation.     PicProps: Bellator.com

In all this talk of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and subsequent rumors of a Lightweight Grand Prix, it seems that some of us are forgetting about the promotion that put on *seven* tournaments last year, without once sucking their own dicks about how awesome they were to pull it off. Well, Bjorn Rebney and company are returning to the airwaves new and improved on March 5th with a new slate of tournaments, and CagePotato wants to keep you abreast of developments.  Because we care, Potato Nation, because we care.

Probably the deepest and most talented division in Bellator, eight fighters are entered in the third tournament at 170 pounds. The field is already set, and packed with stars and standouts competing for a large check (see what we did there?) and a date with current welterweight kingpin “Funky” Ben Askren. A full list of the competitors and some highlight vids are after the jump, so now you can discuss the tournament intelligently, should it come up on the golf course or at the dinner table.  You’re welcome.

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Bjorn Rebney Wants to Know, ‘Where is the Love?’

(Rebney’s thinning patience with Coker showed in this recent Twitter posting.)
By CagePotato contributor S.C. Michaelson
CHICAGO — With the recent announcement from Strikeforce that it will put on a 2011 heavyweight grand prix tournament, the MMA comm…


(Rebney’s thinning patience with Coker showed in this recent Twitter posting.)

By CagePotato contributor S.C. Michaelson

CHICAGO — With the recent announcement from Strikeforce that it will put on a 2011 heavyweight grand prix tournament, the MMA community has been abuzz with excitement and intrigue. Many analysts predict that a successful tournament could be the catalyst to Strikeforce becoming more of a major player in today’s market. However, not everyone is as excited about the prospect of the proposed tournament — enter Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.

"Tournament schmurnament," spat Rebney. "Hello, does anybody remember what Bellator is? Our whole company is based around tournaments. Hell, we just had a heavyweight tournament last year!"

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Bellator Notebook: An Early Look at Season Four

Filed under: Bellator The fourth season of Bellator won’t kick off for another two months, but let’s go ahead and take a look at everything we know so far.

First off, the big news for this season is that all Bellator shows will finally be live for eve…

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The fourth season of Bellator won’t kick off for another two months, but let’s go ahead and take a look at everything we know so far.

First off, the big news for this season is that all Bellator shows will finally be live for everyone thanks to its deal with MTV2. The second and third seasons were available live on Fox Sports Net, but without consistency, as Bellator was at the mercy of local FSN affiliates.

On this upcoming 12-week season, four eight-man tournaments are being featured in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and light heavyweight divisions. In addition to a $100,000 grand prize for the division winners, they will also each receive a title shot, except for the light heavyweight winner, who will be crowned the first-ever Bellator 205-lb. champion.

Joe Riggs Joins Bellator Season Four

Filed under: Bellator, NewsWell traveled Arizona welterweight Joe Riggs has found a new home in Bellator and will make his promotional debut on season four beginning in March on MTV 2.

“Bellator has a lot of well-rounded, talented guys in their middl…

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Well traveled Arizona welterweight Joe Riggs has found a new home in Bellator and will make his promotional debut on season four beginning in March on MTV 2.

“Bellator has a lot of well-rounded, talented guys in their middleweight division,” Riggs stated in Bellator’s announcement Monday. “Guys like Bryan Baker, Eric Schambari, and of course the middleweight champion, Hector Lombard. There are some really good middleweights for me to test myself against, and it was one of the reasons I came to Bellator.”

2010 MMA Knockouts of the Year

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Sengoku, BellatorSitting down to write any best-of list is a no-win situation for the writer. There’s always someone who gets left off, and you hear about it. (Sorry Mac Danzig.) Or there’s someone who shouldn’t be there,…

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Sitting down to write any best-of list is a no-win situation for the writer. There’s always someone who gets left off, and you hear about it. (Sorry Mac Danzig.) Or there’s someone who shouldn’t be there, and you hear about it. (You’re welcome, Frank Mir.)

But that’s also what makes these lists so great – they always elicit discussion. There’s no right or wrong answers, but all the opinions bring out some great and endless debates, part of what makes sports in general, and mixed martial arts in particular, so fun to talk about.

It’s in that vein that we bring you the best knockouts of 2010, and in a little different style than a typical Top 10 list. Sure, dropping in some fun categories apart from one man’s opinion of the best of the year is a cheap way to list more knockouts – ensuring there are fewer snubs. But despite taking the easy way out, we still hope you’ll enjoy a look back at 25 of the year’s best knockouts. We beseech you: Go easy on the writer. And let the debate begin.

Gracie, Davis Expected for Inaugural Bellator 205-Pound Tournament

Filed under: Bellator, NewsWith their new TV deal in place, Bellator has turned its attention to Season 4, which according to CEO Bjorn Rebney, will kick off in March 2011.

On Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Rebney announced that the organization wi…

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With their new TV deal in place, Bellator has turned its attention to Season 4, which according to CEO Bjorn Rebney, will kick off in March 2011.

On Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Rebney announced that the organization will feature a light heavyweight, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight tournament in their upcoming season.

This will mark the first time the organization holds a 205-pound division tournament, and while no names have officially been announced for it, Rebney hinted that Daniel Gracie and Raphael Davis will be a part of the eight-man field.