Bellator Fighting Championship
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:45 pm
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?
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?
