Brian Foster (right) makes his Bellator debut on March 30 against undefeated David Rickels.
Bellator Fighting Championships returns to Connecticut's Mohegan Sun on Friday, March 30, with the opening round of their welterweight tournament, one that features two former UFC fighters mixed with some undefeated prospects that want to make a name for themselves at their expense.
Karl Amoussou (13-4-2) vs. Chris Lozano (9-2)
Former middleweight Amoussou has lacked consistency in the last two years, amassing a 2-2-1 record in Bellator, Strikeforce, Pancrase and Dream. He now drops to 170 pounds and his November 175-pound Bellator catchweight fight against Jesus Martinez turned out just fine with a first round KO victory.
He'll face Lozano, a late sub for the soon-to-be imprisoned War Machine. Lozano entered last year's tourney and was knocked out in the second round by eventual tournament winner Douglas Lima. He was 3-2 overall in 2011 with both losses coming in the Bellator cage.
Ben Saunders (12-4-2) vs. Raul Amaya (9-0)
Saunders' dream run in his debut Bellator tournament ended in the finals with a second round knockout loss to Lima. The UFC veteran is 4-1 since getting released by Zuffa in 2010 with finishes in all four of his wins. He will face promotional newcomer Amaya who has rung up an undefeated streak in Florida's Art Of Fighting promotion with six submissions and three T/KO's.
Brian Foster (18-5) vs. David Rickels (9-0)
Foster makes his Bellator debut on the heels of a four fight win streak. Released from the UFC after health issues threatened his career, the 27-year-old has finishes in all of his wins and has never gone to a decision. He'll have a tough challenge in the undefeated Rickels, a fixture on Bellator undercards for most of 2011. The submission machine has six tapout wins to his credit with three of his last four coming by triangle choke.
Bryan Baker (16-3) vs. Carlos Pereira (33-9-1)
Like Amoussou, Baker is dropping down to 170 pounds after getting TKO'd by Vitor Vianna last October, snapping a three fight win streak. A promotional fixture since 2009, Baker is 7-2 in his Bellator career and is a former middleweight tournament finalist. He faces the debuting Pereira, a well-traveled veteran who is unbeaten in his last four. Baker should be wary as "Indio" has 22 wins by T/KO.
The event -- entitled Bellator 63 -- will air at 8 PM EST on MTV2. Look for more Bellator-related Season Six news after the jump.
1 recs | 21 comments
too bad they're not giving Hieron
a rematch at Askren
Nate Wilcox - February 7, 2012
Agreed
That would be a great rematch, and Bellator isn’t in a position where they should be declining to make great rematches just for the sake of following their tournament format.
MichaelDavidSmith - February 7, 2012
Agreed they're at a point where their policy of title shots "earned not given" is hurting their ability to put on fights that make sense.
It worked out great at first but their belts aren’t active enough. They should keep up with the tournament format but it shouldn’t be the unique way to design a contender.
Sweet Scientist - February 7, 2012
I like the tournament format in theory
But in practice it sometimes works the exact opposite way of what’s intended, by preventing the best fighters from fighting each other because they have to sit around and wait for the next tournament to end. The point of a tournament is to keep good fighters active and make sure the best of the bunch end up fighting each other. In Bellator, we’re seeing the best of the bunch sitting on the sidelines far too often.
MichaelDavidSmith - February 7, 2012
Totally agreed.
Sweet Scientist - February 7, 2012
I wonder if they can do two four-man tournaments instead of one big eight man tournament, or just something that keeps the tournament format, but tweaked a little.
chrisbboy82 - February 7, 2012
WAR KillaB!
Psychic Octopus - February 7, 2012
War Ben Saunders.
MicahtheCynic - February 7, 2012
Any reason Foster didn't go back to the UFC after his tune up fights?
Maybe I missed it.
HeadKickLegSweep - February 7, 2012
Testicle got crushed.
Paulo Filho's Psychiatrist - February 7, 2012 via mobile
He’s obviously still fighting though, so that’s not the reason. He was on a 2 fight win streak in the UFC before the injury and finished both fights. It’s odd that they wouldn’t want him back, and if they did it’s odd he wouldn’t take the offer.
Machiel Van - February 7, 2012
Pretty sure he was out with injuries before he popped a nut, and they decided to let him go because of frequency of injuries.
OwMyArm - February 7, 2012 via mobile
Brian Foster is a beast hope he does good
Also Killa B
LETS MUTHERFUKERS!!
Elitex10x - February 7, 2012
Good line up. Should be some good fights.
I’m excited to see Amoussou in it, hope he faces Saunders or Foster.
Sweet Scientist - February 7, 2012
In that photo it looks like Foster has really bad breath
StevenGiles - February 7, 2012
what does the Bantamweight tourney look like?
All I know Ed West is in it, & maybe Ueda
The KO Kid - February 7, 2012 via iPhone app
Bellator
Need to stop holding up their titles with tourneys. Champs should fight 1 or 2 tourney winners per year plus a couple of other defences.
taptomyarmbar - February 7, 2012
Then they wouldn’t be Bellator.
They’d be just like everyone else.
RolloTomasi - February 7, 2012
LETS
RolloTomasi - February 7, 2012
This season will be all Saunders
Robert V-U - February 7, 2012
Well THERE GOES AMAYA'S 9-0 RECORD!
thirdparty - February 7, 2012
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