As my many friends and fellow MMA fans can attest, I absolutely never have a bad thing to say about Bellator Fighting Championships, nor its CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney. His charismatic attitude and general knowledge of what's going on makes him almost as calculated as Dana White, given his limited resources and his inability to sell out a large arena (Bellator stages their shows on Casino grounds, sometimes at Caesar's in Atlantic City or Indian reserves, like in Yuma, Arizona or next weekend's Bellator 47 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario). His international recruiting drive to bring in the world's top prospects, like current featherweight semi-finalist Ronnie Mann or Polish Prodigy Marcin Held, to open tryouts like the one last weekend in New Jersey, its completely obvious to everybody that despite the fact this brand doesn't carry the words "UFC", Bellator has a clear direction in where it is going.
So, it is quite a surprise that with Nate Marquardt, recently released from the UFC due to his alleged testosterone tampering, being on the market, that Rebney didn't jump at the opportunity to sign the talented Greg Jackson product. In an interview with MMAJunkie on Thursday, Rebney confirmed that indeed talks had taken place between Marquardt's camp and Bellator in regards to a contract, but that ultimately it just "wasn't the right fit" for Bellator at this time, due to multiple issues, not withstanding his reluctance to take place in the tournament for a right to fight for a title.
Unfortunately, this is where I stop extolling the virtues of Mr. Rebney and start telling him this is a grave mistake. With the Mixed Martial Arts umbrella currently the way it is, Bellator stands at No. 2 in the general landscape of the sport. Marquardt is an interchangable fighter, one whom can fight in either 170 or 185 (he won 6 of 9 fights at 185; his fight with Rick Story would have been his 170 debut) and with current champions like Ben Askren and Hector Lombard on Marquardt's "hit list" after an online jawing posted on MixedMartialArts.com as well as ESPN.com/Sherdog, it would no doubt bring Rebney's brand instand credibility to the average MMA fan, In a way similar to what Roger Huerta's tournament loss to Pat Curran in Season 2 was. If either Askren or Lombard were able to reciprecate what they have done in their paths to the title against Marquardt, it would show that MMA is not just a one horse race. That there is a place to watch top talent, and its not only the UFC.
A shame however, that it won't happen.
-In other news, it appears the Strikeforce Challengers series has found a new home. Recently licensed to fight in Nevada, the Strikeforce Challengers series beginning with number 17 this coming Friday will be the first of many to be showcased at Pearl at the Palms Casino on the Las Vegas strip, according to MMAJunkie. Friday's fight will feature a trilogy fight between welterweights Bobby Voelker and Roger Bowling. Wonder if either of these guys win if it will propel them to the top of the Strikeforce welterweight division. Bowling has 10 fights with 2 of them already coming against Voelker.
-Speaking of Strikeforce, they recently signed Canadian prospect Jordan Mein, according to Junkie. Mein, despite being 21 years old, already has amassed 29 fights (22 wins) with victories coming over Joe Riggs and current DREAM welterweight champ, Marius Zaromskis in Missisauga this past May. Wonder if they consider him the heir apparent to GSP.
- UFC 133 has seen several shifts in its co-main features. It was supposed to originally feature Rashad Evans and Jon "Bones" Jones, then due to injuries to Jones it became Evans vs Phil Davis. "Mr. Wonderful" pulled out due to a knee injury, paving the way for Tito Ortiz to continue his comeback on barely 3 weeks notice. Now, comes word that Antonio Rogerio Noguiera has to pull out of its fight with Rich Franklin according to MMAJunkie. The UFC is scrambling to find a replacement.
- Several fights have been rumored to be finalized to UFC 137's card, according to numerous MMA sources. Those include Brandon Vera's return (against Eliot Marshall), as well as Naturalized German Denis Siver vs. Canadian Sam Stout. This comes on the heels of the announcement that BJ Penn will face Carlos Condit in a potential #1 contender's matchup at Welterweight, according to ESPN.com/Sherdog.
Questions? Comments? leave one at the bottom or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com or follow me on twitter at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon
Until next time, fight fans.
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