After a 2011 featuring Flash (Patricky "Pitbull's flying knee en route to his TKO of Toby Imada), Controversy (Joe Warren's unanimous decision victory over Wilson Gustao), History both being repeated (Rich Hale's inverted triangle) and being made (Christian M'Pumbu's 205 lb. title being the first time an African has won a major MMA championship) as well as a corporate takeover (UFC now owning Strikeforce), Bellator now heads into its 5th season next Saturday as the #2 organization on the MMA pyramid. The brainchild of one Bjorn Rebney has certainly grown in leaps and bounds from Season 1 (which was aired on ESPN Deportes) to, in this MMArmaggedist's view, a welcome change of pace from the norm (The UFC), featuring incredible highlights (like Zak Jensen and Neil Grove's kneebar stalemate which turned into a wild flurry of punches at Bellator 47) and single elmination tournaments, with no politics when it comes to giving title shots (hence their motto : Win and move on. Lose and go home).
But with everything that has happened recently in the world of MMA, it leads to a new series of questions. Such as :
5) Is this Bellator's last season on MTV2? - The one knock on Bellator has always been the promotion has been bounced around networks more than a basketball on a court. From ESPN Deportes (for season 1), to FOX Sports Net (Seasons 2 and 3), and MTV2 (which started in March). A deal with FOX cable outlet FX was in the works until it was shelved (which resulted in the UFC signing a deal with the cable giant last week). With that happening, and with MTV2 and UFC's soon to be former home, SPIKE being under the same umbrella (VIACOM communications), does this mean that Bellator will fill the void the UFC left by making the move to SPIKE? Rebney said no and that for the time being, he's committed to MTV2. Viacom execs have remained tight lipped. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
4) Will the Featherweight belt be defended twice this season? - Current Bellator featherweight kingpin Joe Warren has dropped down in weight to 135 in order to particpate in the Bantamweight tournament for a shot at current champion Zack Makovsky, with Warren's reasoning being his desire to be the first man in the promotion's history to hold 2 titles simultaneously. With Patricio Pitbull's title shot from Season 4 (which was supposed to happen this summer at Bellator 47) being put on hold due to a broken hand, does it mean Warren will have to defend his title after the Bantamweight tournament concludes or he's eliminated? Also, what does this mean for Pat Curran, who earned a shot at the Featherweight strap due to his victory in the inaugural "Summer Series" Tournament?
3) Will the "Superfight" winning streak end? - In lieu of giving tournament winners automatic title shots, Bellator keeps its various champions busy in the wake of non-title "Superfights", featuring such notable fighters as Paul Buentello, Falaniko Vitale and Nick Thompson, just to name a few. In the current format, The champions are 11-0 vs. the competition. But with Warren winning a fight against Gustao in Season 4 that many people (including color commentator Jimmy Smith) thought he had lost, is it only a matter of time before we see a champion lose a one-fight, non-title matchup? and will that time be this season?
2) Can Ben Saunders do what Nate Marquardt wouldn't? - Earlier on this summer, former UFC title challenger Nate Marquardt was in serious discussions with Bellator following his release from the UFC (surrounding the testosterone replacement therapy [TPT] fiasco), before balking at the tournament format (and subsequently heading to England where he found a new home in BAMMA). In the meantime, another former UFC castoff, Ben Saunders, came in and showed what skills he brought to the table, by dismantling Korean born American Matt Sung Lee (which qualified him for the Welterweight tournament). Saunders, in my opinion, was prematurely cut from the UFC and deserved a far better fate. With his original opponent in the first round US Olympic Judoka Rick Hawn withdrawing and now facing replacement Chris Cisneros, will Saunders continue to make the most of his opportunity?
1) Is this Dan Hornbuckle's time? - At 30 years old, The Native American has amassed a record of 22-4, with 9 KO's and victories over Nick Thompson and Akihiro Gono in Sengoku over in Japan. Yet, despite all his successes, Hornbuckle hasn't seemed to find his groove in Bellator, amassing a record of 3-2 with his best performance being a finalist to current Welterweight champion Ben Askren in the Season 2 tournament. With him now being a veteran of 3 tournaments and arguably the most established name in the 170 lb. division fighting for a chance at a title, is this the time Hornbuckle breaks through the barrier and goes from "Runner Up" to "Tournament Champion"?
Tune in starting next Saturday, with Bellator 49 airing starting at 9 PM EST on MTV2 in The US and The Score in Canada.
Until Next time, fight fans!
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