Building a Brand: Bellator Fighting Championships

http://www.mmacombat.com/blogs/blog17803-building-brand-bellator-fighting-championships.html

As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares to kick-off its sixth season, which will begin Friday, March 9, 2012, with Bellator 60 - Warran vs. Curran, I find myself counting down the days until the weekly production resumes, until it returns to Ontario soil, until the fighters take the stage for season six.

The UFC set the blueprint, identifying that talent is an organization's biggest asset and marketing tool. When you build a brand out of fighters and retain those athletes, they in turn become synonymous with the promotion's brand and the two give each other a better shot at growing together.

Bellator FC has succeeded in accomplishing just that; it's a modest accomplishment when compared to the marketing machine that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but for a company who put on its first show in April of 2009, considerable leaps have been made in a relatively short period of time.

With Viacom's recent purchase of a majority stake, and the experience that comes with promoting a brand like the UFC throughout their most crucial years of development, the sky is the limit for Bjorn Rebney's vision.

Today, I find myself looking forward to Friday night fights because of consistently strong productions with top-tier competitors like Pat Curran, Eddie Alvarez, Cole Konrad, Ben Askren, Hector Lombard, Zack Makovsky, Douglas Lima, Michael Chandler, Marlon Sandro and the Pitbull Brothers, just to scratch the surface. These fighters have proven they're among the very best on the planet, and have etched their way into the memories of hardcore fans because of thrilling performances week in and week out.

In early 2011, Rebney revealed the company was operating cash-flow even for the first time in its short history; a nice milestone achieved by few in a difficult and competitive business. With new partnerships in place, a few years from now Bellator's CEO could be singing an even sweeter tune.


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MMA Combat - Alvarez vs. Chandler Scheduled for Bellator 54

MMA Combat - Alvarez vs. Chandler Scheduled for Bellator 54

Bellator FC champion and world-ranked lightweight, Eddie Alvarez (22-2-0) will defend his promotion title against Season 4 Lightweight Tournament winner, Michael Chandler (8-0-0), October 15 at Bellator 54. The match-up was announced by Bellator officials on Thursday who also confirmed the event would take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom.

Alvarez made comment of his opponent in the official release, stating:

“I watched the [Season 4] lightweight tournament very closely and was really impressed with a lot of the competition,” Alvarez said. “Knowing that Chandler is my opponent, I’ve already gone back and started to watch film, and I’ll be ready. He brings a really good pace, and it’s going to be a great fight.”

The Philadelphia Fight Factor product at 26 years of age is a finisher to say the least; with 12 [T]KOs and 7 submissions, Alvarez has stopped 19 of 24 career opponents inside the distance and does not have a decision loss on record. Since tapping to a heel-hook courtesy of submission specialist Shinya Aoki, in December of 2008, Alvarez has posted seven consecutive wins including his latest performance, a dominate decision victory over Pat Curran at Bellator 39 this past April.

While acknowledging the extraordinary talents of the champ, Chandler believes he'll bring a different look to their fall encounter.

“Eddie is obviously a world class lightweight, but in a lot of the fights I have watched, no one has really pushed the pace against him,” said Chandler in a statement. “I want to put him on his heels and make him respond to what I’m doing in the cage. I’ve got a few months to prepare, and I’ll be more than ready for Oct. 15.”

At a perfect 8-0 and now fighting out of Xtreme Couture, wrestling standout Michael Chandler won the Season 4 Lightweight Tournament defeating dangerous Team Nogueira representative, Patricky Freire, in the finals this past May via unanimous decision. The High Ridge, Missouri native at 25, has stopped 6 of 8 professional opponents and as a division 1 All-American at the University of Missouri, wrestled alongside Bellator welterweight champion, Ben Askren, and top-ranked Strikeforce contender, Tyron Woodley.

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MMA Combat - Bellator 47 - Results

MMA Combat - Bellator 47 - Results

Saturday, July 23, Bellator Fighting Championships went live from Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario, Canada in what was the Chicago-based promotion's first show North of the Border. The event featured the semi-finals of the Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Tournament, with once-beaten Nazareno Malegarie squaring off with former Sengoku champ and Nova Uniao standout, Marlon Sandro; while top-ranked European, Ronny Mann, towed the line against one-time lightweight title challenger, Pat Curran on the other side of the bracket.

In the evening's co-main event and the first semi-final pairing, Sandro took the center of the cage early, looking to dictate the action with a measured stand-up attack. Landing a big right hand half way through the round, Sandro staggered Malegarie who began to look for the takedown more frequently with little success. As he settled into his groove, the Brazilian - who has now posted wins in five of his previous six outings - started to showcase a well rounded game complete with punches, kicks, knees and even the occasional takedown. It was all too much for Malegarie on Saturday night, as the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black-belt searched for answers that never came before his fifteen minutes were up, with all three judges scoring the contest 30-27 in favor of the Nova Uniao fighter.

The main-event saw England's Ronnie Mann take on 2010 lightweight tournament winner, Pat Curran; controlling the center of the cage, the larger Curran used more effective counter striking and a handful of flying knees to keep Mann cautious and at-bay throughout the bout. Mann never found his timing, and despite finishing rounds two and three strong it was too little too late, as all three judges scored the fight in the American's favor, sending Curran through to the tournament finals where he will face Marlon Sandro for the right to challenge 145lbs promotion champion, Joe Warren later this year.

Other results from Bellator 47 are found below:

1 Alex Ricci def. Alka Matewa via TKO (Elbows and Punches) rd 2 2:40
2 William Romero def. Daniel Langbeen via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
3 Alexandre Bezerra def. Jesse Gross via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) rd1 1:28
4 Neil Grove def. Zak Jensen via TKO (Punches) rd1 2:00
5 Chris Horodecki def. Chris Saunders via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
6 Marlon Sandro def. Nazareno Malegarie via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
7 Pat Curran def. Ronnie Mann via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00

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MMA Combat - Bellator 48 Complete with Nine Bouts

MMA Combat - Bellator 48 Complete with Nine Bouts

The fight card for Bellator 48, August 20, at the Mohegan Sun in Unicasville, Connecticut, is now complete with nine fights signed to the event. The third and final installment of their "Summer Series" set of shows, Bellator 48 will feature the finals for the promotion's Featherweight Grand Prix, with those spots being determined this coming weekend in the semi-final pairings at Bellator 47 in Orillia, Ontario, Saturday, July 23.

The main-card will also include a non-title heavyweight tilt pitting Bellator champion, Cole Konrad (7-0-0) against UFC veteran, Paul Buentello (29-13-0). Additionally, former UFC heavyweight champion, Ricco Rodriguez (46-11-0) will be making his Bellator debut when he takes on TUF alumnus, Seth Petruzelli (13-6-0).

Speaking with the Savage Dog Show on the Sherdog Radio Network, Rodriguez had the following to say regarding his new-found opportunity with Bellator FC:

“Bjorn [Rebney] went to the networks and fought for me. I’m grateful. I’ve been begging Bjorn for almost two years to get me in.… This opportunity will definitely change my life.”

The four fight main-card will be broadcasted live on MTV2 (The Score in Canada). Below is the full card.

MAIN CARD (MTV2)

Featherweight-tourney final
TBA vs. TBA
Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello (heavyweight non-title fight)
Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricco Rodriguez
Juan Barrante vs. Rene Nazare

PRELIMINARY CARD

John Clarke vs. Dan Cramer
Andrew Calandrelli vs. Matt Nice
Brett Oteri vs. Ryan Quinn
Nik Fekete vs. Mark Griffin
Saul Almeida vs. Tateki Matsuda

MMA Combat - Canadian Chris Horodecki Signs with Bellator

MMA Combat - Canadian Chris Horodecki Signs with Bellator

Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Canadian lightweight Chris Horodecki (17-3-0) has officially signed with Bellator Fighting Championships and will make his promotion debut in little over a week at Bellator 47, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. The event will mark the promotion's first show North of the boarder, and features the semi final match-ups for the Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Tournament.

Horodecki, out of Team Tompkins in London, Ontario, will meet Chris Saunders (9-1-1) in front of a packed house at Casino Rama on July 23, 2011. The IFL and WEC veteran most recently fought and defeated David Castillo via rear naked choke on April 2, 2011; the fight was Horodecki's first since being released by the WEC after going 2-2 inside the promotion with losses to Anthony Njokuani and Donald Cerrone. At just 23 years of age, and already a veteran of the sport, "The Polish Hammer" will look to keep momentum going for himself later this month.

Saunders is a winner in 7 straight contests. The California native made his professional debut in July of 2009 and has remained extremely busy ever since, competing ten times to-date. "The So Cal Kid" has finished back-to-back fights via TKO.


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MMA Combat - Bellator Champions Eye Bout with Marquardt

MMA Combat - Bellator Champions Eye Bout with Marquardt

With his highly publicized release from the UFC, prior to UFC Live 4 in June of this year, Nate Marquardt (31-10-2) is now a man with a target on his back; at least that's the way middleweight and welterweight champions Hector Lombard (29-2-1) and Ben Askren (8-0-0) see it. Marquardt failed to pass his pre-fight medicals on the Saturday before his main-event bout with Rick Story, with elevated levels of testosterone as a result of testosterone replacement therapy the fighter claims he is prescribed for a legitimate deficiency. A former UFC middleweight title challenger and perennial top-ten, Marquardt is a big fish for anyone to add to their mantle, particularly when you're competing outside a Zuffa owned promotion where such talent is harder to come by and the fighter's release was not performance related.

Speaking with the Savage Dog Show on the Sherdog Radio Network, the Bellator middleweight champ had this to say:


“He’s a big name up there,” Lombard said. “I’m ready for the challenge. I want to show everybody what I’m capable of doing. I just want to fight that guy bad... Ben Askren said it all, I think [Marquardt] is a cheater, but [against] me, he can take all the drugs he wants. I’m going to whoop his ass anyway.”

The comments Lombard is referring to came on June 28, when Askren posted the following message on his twitter account:

@nathanmarquardt you are a cheater, not once but frequently. Stop cheating, come to bellator and I will crush you. @bjornrebney

Desperately seeking the notoriety that comes with fighting top competition, Lombard recognizes the opportunity at hand and believes a return to 185lbs is the likely scenario for the former King of Pancrase.

“I don’t see him making [170]... He’s a natural 185,” Lombard said. “He’s been fighting at 185. At one point he was number two in the world at 185... There’s no excuses anymore. Don’t say you’ve got a contract with the UFC because he doesn’t have it. He can take the fight and prove everybody wrong.”

Bellator Fighting Championships stands to deepen its rosters on the back of a handful of recent dismissals by the UFC. Whether or not the signings are financially viable is another thing all together, but it's likely the fighters will entertain offers from the largest North American promotion outside of the Zuffa banner; according to Lombard, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has already offered the fight, but the terms were not agreed upon so until an official announcement is made we will stand by in anticipation.


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MMA Combat - Pitbull Withdraws from Bellator FC 47

MMA Combat - Pitbull Withdraws from Bellator FC 47

Season Four Featherweight Tournament champion Patricio "Pitbull" Friere (17-1-0) has suffered a broken left hand and is forced to withdraw from Bellator 47, July 23, 2011, where he was to challenge promotion champion Joe Warren (7-1-0) in the main-event of Bellator's inaugural Canadian show in Orillia, Ontario.

A winner of three straight, Freire has been impressive in 2011, rebounding from his June 2010 loss to Warren - which came via split decision - with consecutive knockout stoppages of Georgi Karakhanyan and Wilson Reis. Earning his rematch in 2011, the bout was to mark Warren's first title defense since capturing the belt from Joe Soto in September of 2010. Warren did however compete in a non-title contest this past April, defeating Marcos Galvao by unanimous decision at Bellator 41.

The injury was reported Tuesday by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and Freire posted the following shortly after on his twitter account:

“Now that Bellator made it official, it’s true,” Freire wrote. “I won’t be able to fight Warren this month. Saturday, I heard it will take me four months to be able to fight again. I’m already focusing on recovering as fast as I can so I can have my shot at the belt.”


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