Bellator has set up its most star-studded tournament so far.
Former UFC title challengers Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Yoel Romero will highlight this year’s Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix, the promotion announced Tuesday.
The eight-player tournament will begin on April 9 at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun, with the quarterfinals continuing on April 16.
In addition to Johnson and Romero, the Grand Prix list will feature former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, former UFC contenders Corey Anderson and Phil Davis, and Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.
Johnson and Romero, both recently signed by the UFC, will face each other in the quarterfinals of the tournament on April 16. Nemkov will headline the April 16 card, putting his title on the line in the quarterfinals against Davis. On April 9, Bader vs. Machida will headline and Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov will serve as the main co-event.
Bellator’s first card of the year will be on April 2 at the Mohegan Sun. The event will be chaired by Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire defending the featherweight title against Emmanuel Sanchez. This fight will function as a semifinal fight at the Bellator’s World Pesos Pena Grand Prix. The winner will face the AJ McKee blue-chip prospect.
On May 7, Juan Archuleta will defend his Rooster Bellator title against Sergio Pettis, it was announced Tuesday as well. The ads came via a YouTube live stream from Mohegan Sun, which also included Bellator’s new home broadcast in the United States: Showtime.