Bellator Sets Season 5 Welterweight Tourney
July 23, 2011 by Matt
After a exciting Season 4 Welterweight Tournament that saw Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron capture the tournament crown, an elite class of 170 pounders are back for Bellator’s Season 5 Welterweight Tournament. The winner of the Season 5 tournament receives an automatic title shot against the winner of the highly anticipated Welterweight World title fight between Bellator Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren and Season 4 Welterweight Tournament winner Jay Hieron.
The welterweight action gets started September 10th LIVE on MTV2 from Caesars Atlantic City. The eight-man tournament will feature Brazilian knockout artist Luis “Sapo” Santos, who brings an incredible 49-6-1 record into the tournament, against fan favorite and five-time Bellator vet Dan “The Handler” Hornbuckle in an explosive matchup. Hornbuckle hails from Mahomet, and has fought locally at the Duneland Classic, Ironheart Crown and the TFC.
The sport’s top welterweight prospect Douglas “The Phenom” Lima enters the tournament riding a six-fight win streak and faces submission specialist Steve Carl. The buzz has been growing for Lima, and the impressive welterweight is ready to show fans what he is truly capable of.
“I’m not going to go in there and just lay on a guy or run around the cage,” said Lima. “When I step inside the cage, I’m ready to go to war. I’m not in there to play around.”
Bellator 39 winner Ben Saunders is looking to make noise in his first Bellator tournament and will have his work cut out for him when he takes on former Judo Olympian and Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finalist Rick Hawn in quarterfinal action.
Bellator veteran Brent Weedman will look to build off his Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semifinal appearance when he takes on hard-hitting Cleveland native Chris “The Assassin” Lozano in what is sure to be an explosive fight.
“A lot of these guys were in our Season 4 Tournament, and after seeing some of the performances they put on, it was a no-brainer to bring a lot of them back,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “With newcomers to the tournament like Ben Saunders, Douglas Lima and Luis Santos, the winner of the title fight between Ben Askren and Jay Hieron will have a great fight on his hands.”
The Season 5 Welterweight Tournament in full is listed below:
Douglas Lima vs. Steve Carl
Dan Hornbuckle vs. Luis Santos
Ben Saunders vs. Rick Hawn
Brent Weedman vs. Chris Lozano
I’ve said it before on this site and I’ll say it again: if you’re not watching Bellator you’re missing out on some amazing MMA. And now that it’s live on MTV2, it’s easily accessible. They do tourneys how they are supposed to be done.
HAWN, WEEDMAN, HIERON AND GOOD ADVANCE IN BELLATOR MTV2 DEBUT
March 6, 2011 by searstapper
Lemoore, CA. (March 5, 2011) — Bellator Fighting Championships made its highly anticipated season 4 debut on MTV2, and the action certainly didn’t disappoint. The night saw Bellator’s Welterweight Tournament field get cut in half, with Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn, Jay Hieron, and Lyman Good moving onto the Bellator Welterweight Semifinals later this season.
BELLATOR ADDS JAY HIERON TO SEASON 4 TOURNEY
November 16, 2010 by Matt
Highly regarded welterweight Jay Hieron is no longer the most sought after free agent in his weight class, as the decorated 7-year veteran of the sport has inked an exclusive contract with Bellator Fighting Championships. The Xtreme Couture trained fighter has been confirmed for 2011′s Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament. Currently riding a seven-fight, three year win streak, Hieron enters the promotion with an impressive 19-4 professional record and is widely regarded to be among the top contenders at 170 lbs.
“The Thoroughbred” is a true veteran of the sport, competing and eventually becoming the Welterweight Champion of the now defunct IFL. No stranger to the big stage, Hieron won both of his fights with Affliction before moving on to Strikeforce where he also compiled an unblemished record of 2-0.
“Jay Hieron is a fantastic signing for us at 170 lbs.,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Jay is a world-class fighter with serious talent. I can’t wait to see him back on National television competing against other top fighters where he belongs. Jay’s a spectacular addition to our upcoming season 4 welterweight tournament, where he could earn a shot at our Bellator Welterweight World Champion, Ben Askren.”
Growing up near Long Island, New York, Hieron found an outlet for his aggression through high school and college wrestling before running into personal problems outside of the cage. After his problems reached a breaking point, Hieron made the decision to get back into the gym where he first discovered MMA. It was a decision that saved his life.
“The gym is really what saved me,” said Hieron. “I was going through some real tough times, and the gym was a place I could go and get away from it all. I got a little taste of MMA from a few guys in the gym, and fell in love with it.”
“The Thoroughbred” is currently one of the team leaders at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, the training center of MMA legend Randy Couture.
“I’m really proud to be a part of the gym,” Hieron said. “I was there before it was ever called Xtreme Couture, so it’s an important place to be, and I’m really happy to see it doing so well.”
Hieron now joins Bellator as one of the most dangerous fighters to enter the already stacked welterweight division with notable victories over the likes of UFC veteran Jake Ellenberger, Jason High, Delson Heleno, Jesse Taylor and Joe Riggs.
Having not entered the cage since January of this year, Hieron is eager to return to doing what he does best, and it was the unique Bellator tournament format that admittedly attracted the well rounded Hieron to the promotion.
“It’s just a great fit for me,” said Hieron. “At this point in my career, I want to stay as active as possible, and the tournament format allows me to do that. It’s a great organization, and it’s just the perfect fit.”
Hieron joins Season 2 finalist Dan Hornbuckle, undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn, Season 2 semifinalist Steve Carl, undefeated knockout artist Chris Lozano, UK standout “Judo” Jim Wallhead, and fast-rising finisher Brent Weedman as fighters that have been confirmed for the upcoming Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, slated for 2011.
MMA PUNCHOUT!
February 12, 2009 by Matt
Old school video games meet MMA!
