Bellator Fighters Featured in New One-Hour Show
By BOB EMANUEL JR. (Scripps Howard News Service)
Over the first few years of its existence, Bellator Fighting Championships made constant strides to improve the depth and quality of both its roster and its productions.
Next year could bring monumental changes.
The promotion, which is nearing the end of its sixth season, will debut on Spike TV in 2013. The network plans to elevate Bellator’s status even further with a joint project between Bellator, Spike and eight-time Emmy Award-winner Bertram van Munster, who produces “The Amazing Race” for CBS.
“We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as Van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike,” Bellator CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney said.
The details of the one-hour show have yet to be released.
“The concept of this groundbreaking new series will broadly appeal to not only mixed martial arts fans, but to reality show enthusiasts as well,” said Sharon Levy, Spike TV’s executive vice president of Original Programming.
Van Munster and Elise Doganieri will executive produce the series.
“Some of the most physically gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series,” noted van Munster.
QUICK JABS:
April is shaping up to be a great month for the Jones family. Middle brother Jon, the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion defeated Rashad Evans via a unanimous decision last weekend in the main event of UFC 145. Jon, however, is not the lone professional athlete in his family. His older brother, Arthur, is defensive tackle with the Baltimore Ravens. His youngest brother Chandler, a former defensive end at Syracuse, was drafted by the New England Patriots in last week’s NFL Draft. Despite his brothers’ proficiency in football, Jon Jones said the sport never suited him. “I was the skinny kid with no coordination,” Jon Jones said. “Both my brothers were always great at football, but when I wore the helmet and pads, I looked so skinny with these long legs poking out they called me ‘Bones.’ But I found my calling in the UFC”
Alistair Overeem’s recent positive test for elevated levels of testosterone resulted in dramatic changes to next month’s UFC 146 card. Overeem, the former Strikeforce champion, was scheduled to challenge UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. Former champion Frank Mir, who was scheduled to fight fellow former champion Cain Velasquez, was elevated to the main event against Dos Santos. “I cannot express how sorry I am to the (Nevada State Athletic) Commission, Junior dos Santos, the fans, the owners and employees of the UFC, my friends and family and anyone else who this has affected,” Overeem said in a statement. “I absolutely do not believe in, nor do I use performance-enhancing drugs. I am a clean fighter and I will do whatever it takes to prove this to everyone.” Velasquez will now fight Antonio “Big Foot” Silva, who was scheduled to fight Roy Nelson. Nelson will fight Gabriel Gonzaga. Overeem said an oversight in the choice of medicine led to the failed test. “Prior to the UFC 146 press conference in March, I aggravated an old rib injury on my left side,” he said. “My doctor prescribed, and I accepted, an anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone. I was completely unaware that testosterone was one of the ingredients in the medication. Although I was unaware, I do realize it is my job to know what I am putting into my body.”
