Bellator changes system and 'elite group' for title fights

Bjorn Rebney, CEO of Bellator, announced a new development in the organization's formula. Photo: Bellator (Disclosure)

Bellator, the UFC's main competitor today, has always been governed by a very simple organization: the organization promotes a tournament every season and the winner of this competition in each weight category wins the right to challenge the respective champion. However, given the promotion of a series of rematches and fight marriages outside this system recently, the organization decided to change this formula. As of now, Bellator also has an “elite group” made up of the winners of its tournaments, who can receive a title shot at any time.

“Just as we have done since day one, any fighter who wins 'The Toughest Tournament in Sports' will still be guaranteed a title fight. What I will add here, that I'm really excited about, is that if you win a tournament, you will join an elite group of athletes that we can award a title fight to at any time. For example, if you win a tournament, fight for the title and lose, you will always be in this elite group of fighters who can receive another title shot. We will put some fighters back into tournaments, while others may lose a title fight, win others outside of the tournament and receive another shot at the belt. What's great about this new feature is that it allows us to stay true to our core format, where title shots can only be won through a tournament win, and gives us enormous flexibility to also promote the big fights that fans want to see,” explained Bjorn Rebney, president of Bellator, in a statement posted on the organization’s website.

Among the names announced for the new 'elite group' are five Brazilians: the champions Dudu Dantas e Douglas lima, respectively in the bantamweight and welterweight categories; in addition to the bantamweights Marcos Loro and Rafael Morcego and the featherweight Patrick Pitbull.

Check out all the fighters that make up Bellator’s new “Elite Group” below:

Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Eduardo Dantas (champion), Joe Warren (interim champion), Marcos Loro and Rafael Morcego;

Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Pat Curran (champion), Patricio pitbull, Frodo Khasbulaev, Shahbulat Shamhalaev, Daniel Straus, Joe Warren and Daniel weichel;

Light weight (up to 70 kg): Eddie Alvarez (champion), Will Brooks (interim champion), Michael chandler, Pat Curran, Rick Hawn, Dave Jansen and David Rickels;

Welterweight (up to 77 kg): Douglas lima (champion), Karl Amoussou, Rick Hawn and Andrei Koreshkov;

Average weight (up to 84 kg): Alexander Shlemenko (champion), Doug Marshall and Brennan ward;

Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Emanuel Newton (champion), Quinton Rampage, King mo Lawal, Christian M'Pumbu and Atilla Vegh;

Heavy weight (up to 120 kg): Vitaly Minakov (champion), Cheick Kongo and Alexander Volkov.