Bellator announces 8 participants for lightweight grand prix; tournament starts March 10 in San Jose
The Bellator lightweight grand prix is official, and so are its eight participants.
While some matchups are still being worked out, the tournament is slated to begin at Bellator 292 on March 10 from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Bellator president Scott Coker announced the news Wednesday on “The MMA Hour.”
After a report Wednesday by OC Register, MMA Junkie confirmed with promotion officials the first two quarterfinal matchups at Bellator 290: champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson, and Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy.
This leaves Mansour Barnaoui, Sidney Outlaw, A.J. McKee, Patricky Freire, and Sidney Outlaw left to be matched up.
The lightweight grand prix is the fifth tournament during the Coker era of Bellator, but the first at lightweight. Heavyweight, featherweight, light heavyweight, and bantamweight previously have been featured.
Coker did not rule out the tournament could end by the end of 2023, depending on how the fights and scheduling plays out.
Scroll below to find out more about the eight fighters who earned a shot to compete in the Bellator lightweight grand prix.