Former UFC fighter Rory Markham a No-Go for Bellator

Former UFC fighter Rory Markham, following his release from the UFC and recovering from amounting injuries, was recently signed to budding promotion, Bellator Fighting Championships.

Bellator has done an excellent job in bringing in relevant talent to their fold, while giving their home-grown fighters some credibility, should they prove successful in defeating some of the imported, former UFC standouts.

Markham will forever be remembered in infamy, when he knocked out Brodie Farber in his UFC debut in 2009, with a vicious head kick. After the initial UFC outing, he struggled in performances against contender Dan Hardy and “The Ultimate Fighter” season five winner, Nate Diaz.

According to Bellator today, fellow welterweight Tyler Stinson will replace Rory Markham, who will vie for a spot in the season 4 welterweight tournament, opposite of Steve Carl. The bout between Stinson and Carl will determine the next qualifier for the season 4 Bellator tournament, where undoubtedly Rory Markham would have been an early favorite to steal the show.

Rory, a respected veteran who trains under former UFC welterweight champion Pat Miletich, out of Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa, is withdrawn due to unknown reasons. According to Bellator, the welterweight who moonlights as a middleweight when he can’ make the 170 pound limit, made infamous by his alleged welterweight bout with Nate Diaz–where Markham came in at a staggering 177 pounds, Rory was simply not medically cleared to compete.

Carl is a late replacement, but the Iraqi war veteran is up for the challenge, and will have some leniency when he comes into the bout come Thursday night. The contest, though challenging for a spot at the welterweight tourney, will be competed at a catch-weight of 175-pounds, due to the late notice.