Olympian Rick Hawn official for season-four welterweight tournament in Bellator

Undefeated welterweight prospect Rick Hawn, who made a successful debut in Bellator earlier this year, will be returning in the promotion’s season four welterweight tournament.

Hawn’s last appearance came in spectacular fashion when the Olympic Judoka finished the game Levon Maynard inside of the first round. Though Levon looked good early on, picking his shots on the feet and shrugging off takedown attempts by Hawn, Maynard left an arm extended and Rick instinctively hip tossed Maynard to the mat. Rick followed up with a barrage of punches and before Levon could regain his senses, the referee intervened and called a halt to the bout in the waning moments of the first frame.

The victory was a great way for Hawn to introduce himself to the masses, since he was featured on the main card for Bellator 33, which took place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia before an enamored crowd who witnessed Rick’s impressive Judo skills as well as a double-header of championship action.

Ben Askren, a fellow Olympian albeit in the wrestling circuit, was one of the men featured in the championship bout last October for Bellator 33. He was successful in capturing the promotion’s 170-pound title when he soundly defeated season one tournament winner, Lyman Good.

Rick will now look to work his way through an eight-man field in order to vie for the promotions welterweight championship.

As of right now, both Hawn and Dan Hornbuckle remain the only competitors revealed for the season four tournament, though more are sure to follow.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think about the news? The 34-year-old will surely be one of the most high profiled fighters to be entering the new field of fighters in the 170-pound division, and he made good on his debut with the organization, but how do you think the undefeated fighter will fair from here on out? Sound off in the comment section below.