Bellator president Scott Coker proceeded on Ariel Helwani’s ESPN MMA Show on Monday and revealed the news that his marketing is thinking about running a 16-man featherweight grand prix tournament. According to Coker, the tournament will begin running in October and will feature 16 of the best featherweights in Bellator, for example fighters in the division in addition to bantamweights moving up and potentially even lightweights moving down. The featherweight tournament follows in the footsteps of the advertising’s heavyweight grand prix, which just saw Ryan Bader crowned winner, and the welterweight tournament, which remains ongoing.
Coker advised Helwani he needs the first round of eight fights from the tournament to take place on a single night or on back-to-back nights at the autumn. He also said he wants the championship to conclude within a year, which nearly mirrors the heavyweight and welterweight championship timelines.
As far as who will be among the 16 fighters at the tournament, so far no one has been declared, however, Coker did say he desires Bellator featherweight champion Patricio”Pitbull” Freire for a part of the championship game. Pitbull is shooting on Michael Chandler in May for its Bellator lightweight title, so if he does participate in the championship he will still be the winner, meaning that his belt will be on the line in every round of the tournament like Rory MacDonald’s welterweight name is on the line each time he fights.
So far as some other featherweights who are expected to maintain the tournament, here are a few who seem to be close locks: Rising prospect AJ McKee; leading rival Henry Corrales; former champ Daniel Straus; former champ Pat Curran; former top prospect Aaron Pico; former title contender Emmanuel Sanchez; and former UFC fighter Sam Sicilia.
The fact there are not 16 featherweights means that bantamweights are also encouraged to move up, and Coker said that James Gallagher and Darrion Caldwell will be asked to take part in the championship. I would also anticipate Ricky Bandejas and Juan Archuleta to be asked, too. So far as lightweights proceed, there could possibly be a few fighters who may create the cut down a weight class involving Derek Campos, who simply fought at featherweight in his final struggle, and Ryan Scope, who just lost a close struggle against Patricky”Pitbull” Freire.
It is exciting to see Bellator continue to maintain these tournaments as the sport of MMA was build on the tournament format. The advertising’s bedrock back at the Bjorn Rebney days has been the championships but when Coker initially came in they began to go out in trade for superfights and legends fights. But it feels like Coker, Bellator, Paramount and DAZN love the tournaments since this is the next one the promotion will be running within the last two years. Now, you need to wonder what the next tournament for Bellator will be, and when I had to guess that it could be something in the women’s branches. For now, though, featherweight is getting a great set of fights.
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