Bellator has been on fire the last several weeks, and the Lightweight tournament beginning at Friday’s Bellator 101 should be no exception. Several grizzled veterans and rising young lions will face off in the greatest test of staying power and upward mobility respectively, making for outstanding matches in the opening round.
After a week off, Bellator MMA was back in action tonight with Bellator 93 from inside the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. The night was headlined by the finals of the season 7 lightweight tournament between Marcin Held and Dave Jansen.
With no title fights on the card, Thursday’s Bellator 87 main card will showcase the opening round of the promotions lightweight tournament. Bellator’s first two events if season eight featured three title fights that forcing portions of the light heavyweight and featherweight opening round tournament bouts to be televised on the preliminary card. Not this card though, all four lightweight bouts will be featured on the Bellator 87 main card on Spike from inside the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Well yet another year has come and gone, 2012 was an odd year for MMA but the year will not easily be forgotten. This year saw the UFC all over network TV, Bellator stumble its way into next year and smaller promotions like RFA, LFC and XFC make a name for themselves. Unfortunately it also saw Strikeforce take a nosedive and the UFC cancel an event for the first time.
As the seventh season for Bellator nears its end and the promotion counts the days until their big move to Spike, they have three big events left. These three events will not only close out all four of the season seven tournament finals but the light heavyweight title will be defended for the very first time.
The spots were few and far between for value bettors this weekend, but those with a sharp eye found a few easy bucks to be had. While the lack of Tachi Palace Fighting odds hurt players, wagers could be made on Legacy Fighting Championship 15, Bellator 81 and UFC 154, leaving us with a wide open field. While favorites were king this weekend, let’s check out a few of the underdogs that padded our pockets.
The final semifinal bouts of Bellator’s seventh season were held tonight at Bellator 81 inside the Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island. Lightweights Rich Clementi, Marcin Held, Dave Jansen and Ricardo Tirloni were vying for the two spots in the final and a shot at the $100k and the Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
Friday night from the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA, the opening round of the lightweight tournament saw four exciting bouts that resulted in some unexpected outcomes. A mix of returning tournament participates and Bellator newcomers would step into the cage at Bellator 77.
UFC on FOX 9 Weigh in Photo Gallery
Photo gallery from the UFC on FOX 9 weigh-ins featuring the UFC flyweight championship bout between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez. Also on the card are local favorites Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Danny Castillo and Roger Bowling.
Bellator 100 Weigh-in Pictures
Last night the fighters for tonight’s Bellator 100 stepped onto the scales with all 24 fighters making weight. The historic 100th event for Bellator takes places tonight from the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona and features an all welterweight main card on Spike TV.
UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez Weigh-in Pictures
Due to a previously scheduled Arena Football game at the HP Pavilion, today’s UFC on FOX 7 weigh-ins were held less than a mile away at the California Theater. The small theater was completely filled with cheering fans and all the fighters they came to see made weight.
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale Weigh-in Pictures
Amidst everything else going on, the UFC has themselves a busy day today with the UFC on FX 6 taking place in Australia and The Ultimate Fighter 16 finale weigh-ins. All 24 fighters made weight today for tomorrow’s event that will crown The Ultimate Fighter 16 welterweight winner.
UFC on FUEL TV 4 Weigh-in Results and Photos
SAN JOSE, Cal. – Still recovering from Saturday’s UFC 148, MMAValor.com was inside the HP Pavilion for today’s UFC on FUEL TV 4 weigh-ins. A few of the fighters would need to step onto the scale behind a towel but all 22 fighters on the UFC on FUEL TV 4 fight card made weight.
