Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Preview
Bellator is three weeks into its 6th season and will now kick off its Welterweight tournament with the quarterfinal round at next week’s Bellator 63. Despite two setbacks to two original participants of the tournament, Bellator filled the slots and will now look to crown their next tournament champion and the future #1 contender to the Welterweight Championship, currently held by Ben Askren. Askren will defend his title the following week at Bellator 64 against Season 5 champion, Douglas Lima.
Having competed in two Bellator tournaments prior, Chris Lozano stepped in and replaced War Machine due to his criminal charges and jail time. He will take on Karl Amoussou, who will be making his Welterweight debut. Lozano competed in the Bellator Season 5 tournament, losing to eventual winner Douglas Lima in the semi-finals. Lozano is 9-2 in his pro career with both of his losses coming under the Bellator banner. Amoussou will look to build off his last fight, a TKO victory over Jesse Martinez at Bellator 59. The French Judoka is 1-1 under the Bellator banner and 13-4 overall in his career. This will be his first Tournament under Bellator.
David Rickels, currently 9-0 in his career will take on MMA veteran Jordan Smith, who is replacing former UFC fighter Brian Foster, who was not medically cleared to compete. The Caveman defeated Levi Avera at Bellator 53, winning for the 3rd time under the Bellator banner via Triangle choke. Smith will make his Bellator debut, carrying with him a two fight win streak, defeating Josh McDonald and Karo Parisyan during that time.
Dropping down to 170 after his loss to Vitor Vianna, Bryan Baker will take on Carlos Alexandre Pereira in the opening round. Baker enters the tournament with a 16-3 record, with loses coming to Vianna and Alexander Schlemenko under the Bellator banner and Chael Sonnen under the WEC banner. Pereira makes his Bellator debut and will be competing in his 43rd fight overall, holding a record of 33-9. The Brazilian is 3-1-1 in his last five fights.
In the final fight of the opening round, Season 5 finalist and UFC veteran Ben “Killa B” Saunders will take on Raul “Smash Mode” Amaya. Saunders, who was defeated in the finals by Lima, will look to rebound from that loss and make it back to the finals to earn a shot at the welterweight champion. The UFC veteran enters the tournament with a 12-4-2 record and had won 4 fights in a row until the loss to Lima. The American Top Team and BJJ Brown Belt has more to prove during this tournament. The young Amaya enters the Bellator tournament with a 9-0 record, with all of his fights coming under Florida’s Art of Fighting promotion. The 26-year old has never gone the distance in his young career, winning 4 of his fights by (T)KO and 5 by the way of submission.
Bellator 63 will take place on March 30th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The main card fights will air live on MTV2.
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About the Author (Author Profile)
I was born in New York, but currently reside in PA. Have been following the sport since about 2000, ever since I picked up a few VHS' of the old UFC tournaments. I served on active duty in the Marines and currently serve in the PA Army National Guard. I've been doing sub-wrestling and BJJ for about 2 years and have studied Aikido for 3 years. I enjoy all forms of combat sports, but huge into BJJ tournaments and of course, MMA.Subscribe
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