Bellator Fighting Championship

[CPT]

Kind of surprised there has been no talk about this on here.

I'm still not sure how it works, but I think they are holding three or four tournaments (FW, LW, WW, MW) over the course of about 3 months. I think the winners in the first round get paid $25,000, winners in the second get $50,000, and the winner gets $100,000. They keep going on about the winner taking home $175,000, so I'm guessing that is how it is set up. They aren't allowing elbows for the first two rounds to reduce the chances of injury in the tournament format. Probably a good move.

Anyway, I finally got around to watching their first event, and it was decent. I waited for the version with English commentary to come out, which doesn't come out until the Wednesday after the event. Even the Spanish broadcast isn't live, which is kind of stupid in this day and age. Other than that, the production was pretty strong, being an ESPN product (Deportes, but still ESPN). I actually liked the human interest pieces they had on each guy before the fights. Just like 2 minutes to get to know the fighter, in ESPN style. Could have done with some more information about their past fights, but it was better than nothing, considering Alvarez and Masvidal were the only guys I would know if they were standing in front of me wearing a nametag.

Speaking of Alvarez, I don't really see what this does for his career. He's expected to win. I guess it's a pretty good payday ($175,000 for 3 fights is actually really good for a LW, especially one outside of the UFC), especially if it only takes 3 months to get those fights. I think he should have kept fighting in Dream or come over to the UFC to fight top guys, instead of beating on cans for two rounds before a potential finals matchup with Masvidal (could be decent). Not a huge deal unless he plans on staying with them.

The fights were decent, except for one snoozer. I'd recommend checking it out, but it's not a can't miss event. I do like the fact that they will be having a show every week for the next little while.

Anyone else watch or have any more information on Bellator FC?

[cowboyronnie]

I thought it was very good. The Reyes guy had the best fight. A super good fight. His BJJ looked awesome (rolling for knee bars and jumping the RNC) and the other guy had some moments of great pure MT.

The organization is chasing the latino market, and guys like Alvarez might be joining for that reason...? Still, Alvarez doesn't speak Spanish, so I'm not sure what sort of Latino pride he could have.

[El Hardee]

Estevan Payan Arizona Combat Killers FTW!!!!!! This guy hear has the biggest heart in the gym, super intense cat. 1-0 in Bellator, on a side note Bellator pays twice as much as the UFC for 1st timers, look for alot of talented to fighter to join this promo in the future.
http://www.bellator.com/fighters/Feathe ... 145-lbs-2E)/Estevan-Payan/details.html

[cowboyronnie]

Event II doesn't have many names I recognize. Were there good fights?

Event III has Hector Lombard, a total stud. Most talent in the org.

[CPT]

I haven't really been watching the events, but I've seen some highlights, and it looks like Bellator has had some great action. It also looks like they are using this season to learn what to do and what not to do, and apparently the next season or tournament, or whatever you want to call it will air on ESPN or ESPN2. If they can start having live broadcasts, they may really be on to something. I just find it hard to get really hyped up to watch fights that happened like 5 or 6 days ago. Especially when you usually find out what happened if there's something out of the ordinary, like in these next two clips (and conversely, if you don't hear anything, you can usually take it as a sign that everything went as planned, ie/ no upsets)...




SPOILERS






From last week, if anybody hasn't seen it yet, this is one of the craziest submissions I've ever seen. Definitely a front runner for submission of the year. Toby Imada takes out Jorge Masvidal with an inverted triangle choke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpr9lPqcMDM


And from this week, possibly the favourite for knockout of the year. Yahir Reyes KOs Esteban Payan with a huge spinning back fist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgfgLnFrvxs

[Cammo101]

Event II doesn't have many names I recognize. Were there good fights?

Event III has Hector Lombard, a total stud. Most talent in the org.

Eddie Alvarez just called, he wants this crazy statement stricken from the record.

[cowboyronnie]

That's two awesome finishes for Reyes. Look-up his first Bellator fight.