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	<title>Fighters.com - UFC, MMA and Fighting News &#187; mike ricci</title>
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		<title>Bellator Announces Lightweight Torunament Semifinal Fights</title>
		<link>http://www.fighters.com/04/20/bellator-announces-lightweight-torunament-semifinal-fights</link>
		<comments>http://www.fighters.com/04/20/bellator-announces-lightweight-torunament-semifinal-fights#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:33:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reverend Turk Vangel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gospel Radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator Fighting Championships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bj penn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carney vanier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eddie alvarez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[josh neer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike ricci]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nick thompson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pat curran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[roger huerta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shinya aoki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[toby imada]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fighters.com/?p=14043</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bellator Fighting Championships founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney announced today that &#8220;El Matador&#8221; Roger Huerta (21-3-1) will face rising star Pat Curran (10-3) while “Submission of the Year” title holder Toby Imada (25-14) will face Carey Vanier (8-1) at Bellator’s May 6th event at the Wang Theater in Boston. The winners of these fights will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bellator Fighting Championships founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney announced today that &#8220;El Matador&#8221; <a href="/fighter/roger-huerta">Roger Huerta</a> (21-3-1) will face rising star <a href="/fighter/pat-curran">Pat Curran</a> (10-3) while “Submission of the Year” title holder <a href="/fighter/toby-imada">Toby Imada</a> (25-14) will face Carey Vanier (8-1) at Bellator’s May 6th event at the Wang Theater in Boston.</p>
<p><span id="more-14043"></span></p>
<p>The winners of these fights will face each other in the Season Two finals in June with the winner earning the right to face Fighters.com third-ranked and Bellator lightweight champion <a href="/fighter/eddie-alvarez">Eddie Alvarez</a> (17-2) in a title fight.</p>
<p>Rebney made the announcement today at a presser at the Wang Theatre, where he was joined by Curran and Alvarez, whose much-anticipated Bellator Super Fight with former UFC contender &#8220;The Dentist&#8221; <a href="/fighter/josh-neer">Josh Neer</a> (27-9-1) headlines the May 6th Boston card.</p>
<p>“As a fan, I can’t wait for our May 6th show in Boston,” Rebney said.  “Alvarez vs. Neer should be explosive, with Eddie making his first appearance in the U.S. since he won our lightweight title last summer.  Huerta vs. Curran just got really interesting coming off of Pat’s one punch KO of previously undefeated <a href="/fighter/mike-ricci">Mike Ricci</a>. Toby’s world class submission wrestling vs. Carey’s world class wresting should be a great fight as well.”</p>
<p>The fallout from recent lightweight fights has the rankings in a mess right now and leaves Alvarez in a position to take the number one spot after the consensus one and two both lost. &#8220;The Prodigy&#8221; <a href="/fighter/bj-penn">BJ Penn</a> (15-6-1) lost his title at UFC 112 while second-ranked &#8220;Tobikan Judan&#8221; <a href="/fighter/shinya-aoki">Shinya Aoki</a> (19-5) lost in his American debut on the Strikeforce: Nashville card.</p>
<p>Fighters.com believes that Alavarez is one of the most overlooked fighters in the lightweight division. His only two losses come at the hands of Aoki in 2008 and &#8220;The Goat&#8221; <a href="/fighter/nick-thompson">Nick Thompson</a> (38-11-1) back in 2007.</p>
<p>Bellator has been putting together tough fights in this highly anticipated season and fans are flocking to the tournament format to recapture some of the nostalgia from the early days of the UFC and of Pride Fighting Championships.</p>
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		<title>Bellator to Give Fans Exciting Fights, Will Fans Attend?</title>
		<link>http://www.fighters.com/02/05/bellator-to-give-fans-exciting-fights-will-fans-attend</link>
		<comments>http://www.fighters.com/02/05/bellator-to-give-fans-exciting-fights-will-fans-attend#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:29:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reverend Turk Vangel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gospel Radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bao quach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator Fighting Championships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ben asken]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bjorn Rebney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bryan baker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dan hornbuckle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dana white]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eddie alvarez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hector lombard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jim wallhead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[joe silva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[matt horwich]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike ricci]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rory singer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fighters.com/?p=13523</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was announced today that Bellator just inked 6-foot, 3-inch &#8220;The Beast&#8221; Bryan Baker (11-1) for the season two middleweight tournament. The constant announcements of signed fighters for the up-coming season means we will see plenty of exciting fights. Bellator is doing exactly what they need to in order to build the organization but will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was announced today that Bellator just inked 6-foot, 3-inch &#8220;The Beast&#8221; <a href="/fighter/bryan-baker">Bryan Baker</a> (11-1) for the season two middleweight tournament. The constant announcements of signed fighters for the up-coming season means we will see plenty of exciting fights. Bellator is doing exactly what they need to in order to build the organization but will the fans show their support and buy tickets?</p>
<p><span id="more-13523"></span>The addition of Baker is a good one for the tournament. He is a former high school wrestler who is now a black belt in judo and trains at Team Wildman in Denver, Colorado. He has wins against UFC veteran &#8220;Outburst&#8221; <a href="/fighter/rory-singer">Rory Singer</a> (12-9) and former IFL Grand Prix winner &#8220;Suave&#8221; <a href="/fighter/matt-horwich">Matt Horwich</a> (24-13-1).</p>
<p>Baker says his singular goal is to advance through Bellator’s Season 2 tournament to earn the chance to take on reigning World Middleweight Champion <a href="/fighter/hector-lombard">Hector Lombard</a>.“I put so much effort into my training that it gives me 100 percent confidence that I’m going to win every time,” Baker said. “Lombard has the belt and I’m coming for his belt. I’d say that he better stay on top of his training or else he’s in for a big surprise.”</p>
<p>This is just one of many additions Bellator has made in their off season. Former Olympian and highly touted prospect Ben Askren (3-0) signed an exclusive long term agreement and will participate in the welterweight tournament. Hardcore MMA fan favorite <a href="/fighter/dan-hornbuckle">Dan Hornbuckle</a> (14-2) also looking to make a splash in the welterweight tournament. Other fighters include &#8220;The Taz&#8221; <a href="/fighter/bao-quach">Bao Quach</a> (16-9-1), William Romero (4-0), <a href="/fighter/jim-wallhead">Jim Wallhead</a> (17-5) and <a href="/fighter/mike-ricci">Mike Ricci</a> (1-0) to name a few.</p>
<p>Bellator is doing what many fans have been wanting to see for a long time. They are taking all the highly touted prospects along with a few well established fighters and giving them a  way to fight one another. I see Bellator as an organization that is becoming the proving grounds for these prospects. They will have to step in the cage, face each other and then look to fight men like Bellator FC middleweight champion <a href="/fighter/hector-lombard">Hector Lombard</a> (22-2-1) and lightweight champion <a href="/fighter/eddie-alvarez">Eddie Alvarez</a> (17-2).</p>
<p>I have no idea what Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney has planned for the future or where he sees his organization in comparison to the UFC but I feel they could become the perfect feeder organization for Dana White, Joe Silva and the UFC. The only question remaining is if the fans will actually support them and get out to am event.</p>
<p>Last season the events seemed to be lacking fans from what I could tell. I wonder if the periodic signings slowly trickling out is a planned event in order to keep them in the news and to bring in more fans? If so it is a brilliant move. I have seen more people talk about this company in the last 6 months then I did during their first season. If this is any indication the fans will come out to support all the hard work they have put in to the new season and tournaments.</p>
<p>I have my doubts but with four events in Kansas City I hope for the best. The Midwest is a hot bed for MMA with hardcore fans that follow even the most obscure fight organization. My question to you is, will you be attending a Bellator event?</p>
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