Bellator MMA is picking up momentum in the latter half of 2015 as the promotion is bringing back a one-night tournament for its 142nd event, which will take place in San Jose, California on September 19th. Bellator 142: Dynamite will feature a light heavyweight title bout between champion Liam McGeary and UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz. McGeary took the title from Emanuel Newton in a very close decision while Ortiz has gone 2-0 in his Bellator stint thus far to earn a crack at the champ. The co-main event is a unique one-night four-man light heavyweight tournament. It will feature former champion Emanuel Newton vs promotion newcomer and top 10 205-pounder Phil Davis. The other half of the bracket will be former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion “King Mo” Lawal vs recent title challenger Linton Vassell. Here are the rules for the tournament (per MMAJunkie) Here are the plans for the tournament:
- Two semifinal bouts and one tournament reserve bout will be contested over two five-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period. If any of the bouts are scored a draw, the bout is officially declared a draw, but the judges overseeing the fight will each cast a ballot on who they think should advance to the finals “by merit of his performance.”
- A minimum of 30 minutes will separate the end of the semis and the beginning of the finals
- The tournament final will be contested the same as a non-title fight, with three five-minute rounds and two one-minute rest periods. A draw will trigger the same process as the semifinals, only the fighter who gets the most votes will be declared the tournament’s winner.
- If a semifinal winner cannot advance due to injury, a “survivor” rule will put his opponent into the finals. If that opponent can’t advance, however, the winner of the tournament reserve bout will advance. To advance, all tournament participants need medical clearance.
- Fouls that end bouts will be addressed depending on whether the infraction was intentional or accidental. If an accidental foul renders the semifinal winner unable to continue, the uninjured fighter will advance, and the tournament reserve winner will remain on standby.
- If an intentional foul ends a semifinal bout, the fouling fighter will be disqualified and the fouled fighter will be “medically eliminated.” Then the tournament reserve winner will advance.
- If an accidental foul ends the finals before two rounds have been completed, the tournament is over without a winner. After two rounds, the bout gets judged on the completed rounds.
- Any additional circumstances not addressed by the rules will resolved by “the senior (CSAC) representative in conjunction with the Bellator regulatory affairs director.”
To mix things up even more, there will also be Glory kickboxing fights taking place on this card as Paul Daley will take on Fernando Gonzalez in a pure kickboxing match MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas completed the lineup of betting odds for Bellator 142 today at Several Bookmakers, and you can check them out below: ——————– Bellator 142: Dynamite September 19, 2015 | SAP Center | San Jose, California MAIN CARD (MMA) Spike, 9 p.m. ET Tito Ortiz +315 Liam McGeary -445 Light Heavyweight Title 1.5 Over -190 1.5 Under +150 — Mike Bronzoulis +435 Josh Thomson -705 2.5 Over -170 2.5 Under +130 — Linton Vassell +285 Muhammed Lawal -405 Light Heavyweight Tourney Opening Round 1.5 Over -170 1.5 Under +130 — Emanuel Newton +285 Phil Davis -405 Light Heavyweight Tourney Opening Round 1.5 Over -230 1.5 Under +170 — MAIN CARD (KICKBOXING) Zack Mwekassa +220 Saulo Cavalari -300 Kickboxing Bout – 205 Title belt Fernando Gonzalez +335 Paul Daley -505 Kickboxing Bout – 170 lbs — PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA) Spike.com, 6:30 p.m. ET Roy Boughton +220 Francis Carmont -300 Light Heavyweight Tourney Alternate Bout James Terry -110 Carlos Eduardo Rocha -130 ——————– Click below to bet the fights now! 