Fighters to watch as Bellator starts its 7th Season
With the Summer Series having come to a close, Bellator is getting ready to kick off its Season Seven opener this Friday. We’ve got a lot of fighters gearing up for their chance at the tournament championship, others taking their stab at the divisional title belt, and still more just looking for a chance to shine on the main and undercards.
As usual Bellator has assembled long list of fighters taking part in the season’s action so let’s take a look at some of the talent you’ll be seeing in the next few months inside the Bellator cage.
Eddie Alvarez: One of the original Bellator champions, Alvarez has been involved in some of the best fights in the promotion’s history. Possessing true professional caliber boxing and a background in wrestling, Alvarez came into Bellator after exploding onto the scene in Japan and found just as much success stateside. With wins over Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran and having secured revenge against Shinya Aoki, Alvarez will close out his current Bellator contract this season with a potential barn burner against Patricky Freire.
Lyman Good: A former champion at Welterweight, Lyman Good has been grinding away in the tournament brackets since losing his title to current champ Ben Askren. A traditional karate fighter, Good possesses crippling power in his hands and the cool confidence of a life-long martial artist under fire. As the Bellator ranks have swelled in the last several years, Good has fought to stay afloat and will need a string of impressive wins to keep his name on the Bellator roster.
Alexander Volkov: A new face in the Heavyweight tournament, Volkov comes to us with the stamp of approval from Fedor Emelianenko himself. At nearly seven feet tall, Volkov has a simple yet deadly striking arsenal that has thus far shut down nearly every opponent before they can even get close. With serious power, imposing size and a difficult style to navigate, Volkov presents a true danger to the division.
Rich Clementi: Journeyman fighter Rich Clementi has seen and done it all. From his time in the TUF house to fighting in the UFC, Dream and all over the world, Clementi is a well-known and respected fighter anywhere he chooses to compete. With a style built around seamless wrestling and BJJ, along with fast and accurate boxing, Clementi can hang with any fighter in the world and will surely cause a few fellow Lightweights to sweat in this tournament.
Alexandre Bezzera: While his tournament dreams may have been dashed against Marlon Sandro, Bezzera is getting back into the cage and will look to gain entry yet again. Fighting in the style of a Jose Aldo or Renen Barao, Bezzera combines rapid-fire multi-level striking with opportunistic takedowns and submissions. While his loss to Sandro by split decision certainly stung, Bezzera is a dedicated individual who won’t rest until he’s at the top of the Featherweight heap.
Thiago Santos: An interesting prospect who ran into weight issues in his last several bouts, Santos will reenter the Heavyweight tournament and work his way back to the top. A natural puncher who crushed the competition, Santos also brings a seldom used BJJ blackbelt to the cage; a rare accomplishment for someone his size. While the weight cut from 300lbs is daunting, a fit and ready Santos has potential to walk through the opposition and grab the vacant title.
Wagnney Fabiano: An imposing grappler who has grabbed titles across the globe, Wagnney Fabiano is coming to put a Bellator championship in his trophy case. A top-level BJJ talent known for a suffocating top game, Fabiano has also surprised opponents with a no-nonsense striking game with deceptive power, seeing him through all but the toughest encounters in his career. While Fabiano has been on the shelf since his departure from the UFC, he’ll look to get back into the thick of battle in the Bellator Featherweight tournament.
With each fight, the potential is there for a new star to be born, and with the amount of new faces and grizzled veterans coming through the doors of Bellator Fighting Championships, I’m sure we’ll be in for a good time this season with memorable bouts aplenty. Let Bellator be your Friday night fix and you won’t be disappointed!
About the Author (Author Profile)
I'm a 20+ year veteran of martial arts and a fan of MMA since UFC 1, when my world was thrown on its head by the budding sport. I'm obsessive in the pursuit of martial abilities and have competed across the country in everything from Vale Tudo to archery to Scottish broadsword. Once my body broke down, I picked up a pen and went in the direction of writing. I specialize in betting advice, predictions, and I'm a walking encyclopedia of MMA trivia. I own a cafe in Exeter, NH called Hammersmith Sandwich Company and write out of my office between customers.Subscribe
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