1. Bellator Fights Last Night
2. Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fight Video
3. Bellator Heavyweight Tournament
4. Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fights
5. Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fight
6. Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament

Not wanting to risk the match-up, Bellator officials on Tuesday announced that Johnson and Romero would fight in a quarterfinal bout of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix on April 16. During a press conference announcing Bellator’s move to Showtime, the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix fighters were revealed. This will be an eight-man tournament. Included are Bellator Light Heavyweight. Starting on April 9, current Bellator heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (27-6, 1 NC) takes on former UFC champion Lyoto Machida (26-10) in a rematch of their 2012 bout, while two recent high-profile free agent signings Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson (22-6) and Yoel Romero (13-5) clash in a battle of Bellator.

Timothy Johnson doesn’t foresee Bellator making any firm plans for the heavyweight division until champion Ryan Bader gets through his next fight.

Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA), who hasn’t defended the Bellator heavyweight belt since September 2019, is currently preparing to be part of the eight-man light heavyweight grand prix, and is scheduled for an opening-round bout with Lyoto Machida at Bellator 257 on April 9.

If Bader loses that bout, he’s said he will immediately return to heavyweight for a title defense. If he makes a deep run in the tournament, though, it could mean two years or more without the belt being up for grabs.

That leaves a contender like Johnson (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA), who has put together a three-fight winning streak, sitting idle.

4 hours ago  Bader’s next fight vs. Machida happens on April 9 at Bellator 256. That card also includes former UFC star Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. The other four fighters in the tournament. On April 9, the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix will get underway. The tournament will continue on April 16. Then on May 7, Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta will put his gold.

Bellator Fights Last Night

“They haven’t talked to me directly, (only) indirectly through my agent Brian Butler,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I can kind of put 2 and 2 together from what Bader’s been saying in interviews and what (Bellator president) Scott Coker has been saying in interviews. It’s kind of a holding pattern right now. We’re kind of waiting to see what happens with Ryan on April 9. Until then, I’m kind of handcuffed.”

Although Johnson isn’t keen on inactivity, he understands the situation. There was high demand to put together a 205-pound grand prix, and as a former champion of the division, Bader had to be involved.

“All the fans wanted this light heavyweight grand prix with the names and stuff, so I can’t hate on Bellator too much for giving the fans what they want,” Johnson said. “At the same time, I’m kind of sitting over here twiddling my thumbs because I want to fight. Sometimes you’ve got to be patient, I guess. It kind of sucks, but at the same time I understand. Ryan won the heavyweight tournament he was the light heavyweight champ. He just lost to Nemkov and he has an opportunity to do another tournament and get the title back. If I was in Ryan’s shoes I would probably do the same thing. Can’t hate on that. A chance to win a tournament and another million dollars? Can’t hate on that too much.”

Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fight Video

Johnson said he doesn’t expect to get a fight until June, which is a bit frustrating, but fortunately he’s got some outside ventures to occupy his time. He turns 36 on March 13, though, and time is becoming increasingly more precious.

The conundrum, however, is that Johnson thinks he’s earned a shot at the belt by beating Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione and Tyrell Fortune in consecutive fights, He said he’s not interested in taking another fight unless a belt is up for grabs, even if it’s of the interim variety.

“If it’s for (an interim) title (I would fight anyone),” Johnson said. “After my fight with Kongo, I’ve always been a yes-man and a company man and I’ve never really been too selfish in that department, whether I was in the UFC or Bellator. This time around after that Kongo fight I was like, ‘I can be a little selfish.’ That would be a fight, if it’s for an interim or a title outright. But I think I can probably hold out for one of those two.”

Bellator Heavyweight Tournament

On Tuesday afternoon, Bellator MMA announced a big TV deal with Showtime Sports in the US. The promotion also announced four dates for upcoming events, and launched a light-heavyweight tournament which is set to start in April.

The light heavyweight tournament will showcase some of best 205-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. The tournament includes former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, Cory Anderson, Yoel Romero, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, Vladim Nemkov, Phil Davis, Ryan Bader and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

Current Bellator 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov will defend his title in the first round vs. Phil Davis. Cory Anderson will take on promotional newcomer Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. Lyoto Machida will face off against Ryan Bader in a rematch from a fight they had in 2012. But the fight that everyone is talking about is an encounter between Rumble Johnson Johnson and Yoel Romero. Both fighters will face off in what will be their promotional debut.

Here is the bracket, and the scheduled dates of the upcoming events.

Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fights

The featherweight grand prix will continue on April 2 at Bellator 255, champion Patrício “Pitbull” Freire will defend his title against Emmanuel Sanchez, with the winner fighting AJ McKee in the final.

A bantamweight title fight was also announced for May 7, newly crowned champion Juan Archuleta will make his first title defence when he takes on Sergio Pettis at Bellator 258.

Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Next Fight

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament