Bellator President says he has no interest in Toquinho: 'Safety is a priority'

Bjorn Rebney closed the doors of Bellator to R. Toquinho. Photo: Bellator (Disclosure)

Rousimar Toquinho seems to have entered an 'astral hell'. After being fired from the UFC for holding Mike Pierce in a heel hook, the athlete from Minas Gerais had his doors closed at the second largest MMA organization in the world. Bjorn Rebney, president of Bellator, revealed that he has no interest in having the Brazilian on his roster of fighters.

“Risks already exist for the brave, world-class fighters who enter the Bellator cage, without adding even more unnecessary risks to the fight. The fighters’ safety is a priority for me and my team,” Rebney told the North American website TMZ.

Understand the case

Rousimar Toquinho faced Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29, an event held last Wednesday (09), in Barueri, in the interior of São Paulo. In the duel, which marked the Brazilian's debut in the welterweight division, he needed just 31 seconds to land a tight heel hook and force the American to give up.

According to Dana White, president of the UFC, Toquinho took too long to release the key – around 1,08s – and this type of attitude is not accepted inside the Octagon, dismissing the Minas Gerais native.

Despite this, Rousimar released a video on your YouTube channel in which he guarantees that he did not act with malice, that the withdrawal slaps were given to the judge. Even so, he apologized for the event and asked for a new chance in the octagon.

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