Since its debut in 2009, Bellator has hosted 12-week seasons that feature eight-man tournaments. The only way to win a title or earn a title shot is to win a tourney, which requires fighters to compete three times in as little as three months.
Consider that many fighters — even winners — are often medically suspended 30 or 60 days after a fight due to the usual bumps, bruises and cuts, and it’s a risky proposition. For the most part, the format hasn’t presented problems, but due to injuries, the season-five heavyweight-tourney semifinals now have two injury-replacement fighters.
To keep its champions active, Bellator books them for non-title fights (while contenders are determined by concurrent tourneys). The champs are heavy favorites, but last Saturday at Bellator 55, light-heavyweight titleholder Christian M’Pumbu (18-4-1) had a decision loss to Travis Wiuff (65-14) and became the first champ to lose such a fight.
“We understand our format comes with risks,” Bellator CEO and chairman Bjorn Rebney recently said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s helped distinguish our brand.”
Franklin eyes return
Former UFC middleweight champion and West Chester Twp. resident Rich Franklin (28-6) recently underwent successful shoulder surgery and expects to return to the cage next summer.
Surgeons tacked down his labrum in several spots and trimmed his rotator cuff during the Oct. 12 procedure. Franklin can return to light training in three to four months, which is something he eagerly awaits.
“Now that I’m injured and can’t do things, it’s fired me up,” he said. “When you’re stopped from doing something, that’s when you’re most hungry for it.”
Xenia’s Brown moves
With original opponent John Hathaway (15-1) injured, Xenia native and current Columbus-based fighter Matt Brown (12-10) has been moved from UFC 138 to a fight with Seth Baczynski (14-6) later in the month at UFC 139.
The event is Nov. 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Brown vs. Baczynski is expected to be part of the preliminary card that streams free on Facebook.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to mmajunkie.com.
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