In a bold and strange move, one week before Bellator MMA returns to action in the new year, officials have demoted the scheduled main event, and replaced with a more of a legends matchup between two unranked men.
According to reports, Bellator decided to make the switch when the Viacom owned Paramount studios pulled rank to put Rampage Jackson vs. Chael Sonnen in the main event.
This degrades integrity of the show, as many fans were quick to point out, causing an uproar in the MMA community.
The originally scheduled main event between Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima, and top ranked UFC import Rory MacDonald is one of the biggest fights in promotional history.
However, Rampage Jackson is a big crossover star from film and T.V., and apparently that was enough for the promotion to sell out, and opt for entertainment over sport.
MMA Reporter Steven Muehlhausen was first to report the news.
Can confirm via @BellatorMMA President Scott Coker, the main event of #Bellator192 will be Chael Sonnen vs Rampage Jackson with Douglas Lima vs Rory MacDonald WW Title Fight as the co-headliner. #MMA @sonnench
Can confirm via @BellatorMMA President Scott Coker, the main event of #Bellator192 will be Chael Sonnen vs Rampage Jackson with Douglas Lima vs Rory MacDonald WW Title Fight as the co-headliner. #MMA @sonnench
— Steven Muehlhausen (@SMuehlhausenMMA) January 12, 2018
Here’s some reactions from the mma community:
Can’t hate this enough. Slap in the face to your champ (Lima) and one of the best fighters on the planet (MacDonald). If you did this two months ago fine, but a week out? That’s utter disrespect. Wow. https://t.co/KD8mMJ1kOt
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 12, 2018
On the flip side, the brilliance is people will debate this for a week so it’s some newfound buzz (good or bad) leading up to it. Still think it shows a lack of trust in all four.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 12, 2018
Don’t even think of comparing this to McGregor/Diaz at 196 headlining over Holm/Tate. That was a very late replacement to a champ v champ title fight, McGregor was a champ, + he was already in the main to begin with. Apples and oranges. Nothing changed with this Bellator card.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 12, 2018
Don’t usually do it a week out. Perception is reality. It’s not the kinda look I would put out. Can’t wait to discuss on Monday though! (The brilliance part.) https://t.co/r6O1crI8Ur
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 12, 2018
Grandpa fights selling wolf tickets.
— Lowest Ebb (@FuriousPiles) January 12, 2018
Put old veterans in the main event over current guys? How very WWE of them.
— AJ Version 1.0 (@AJV1Beta) January 12, 2018
Especially since I don’t think anyone cares for Sonnen v. Rampage in 2018
— Mike (@Ballzgotw8) January 12, 2018
— Felipe Carvalho (@itscsfelipe) January 12, 2018
What the fuck.
— SheepishLordOfChaos (@Chuck_Meade) January 12, 2018
What the fuck @BellatorMMA.
— Tyler Ramsay (@ramsaytk) January 12, 2018
I’ve been a @BellatorMMA fan for a long time but there have been soooooo many WTF decisions of late, it’s hard to keep supporting them.
— Whisky Jean (@Whisky_Jean) January 12, 2018
Bellator has never respected their champions or their title fights. Their women’s title fight was on the damn prelims! Typical Bonehead Bellator move.
— Walter Barrio (@WalterBarrio) January 12, 2018
bellator leaving 2017 on a high to begin 2018 with shit like this wtf
— ˗ˏˋ rob ˎˊ˗ (@robwest_2000) January 12, 2018
Yeah this is bad
— Connell (@Connell_3) January 12, 2018
— Swan Cubson (@TehCyborgNinja) January 12, 2018
— Kyle Volkman (@volkstyles) January 12, 2018
— Mike (@Mike070490) January 12, 2018
Lmao. That's why you can't take take this organization seriously.
— Shanny (@cshanny55) January 12, 2018
— 7OM (@7ommyF) January 12, 2018
Why would @BellatorMMA put a shitshow like that as the main event?
— dacofty (@_dacofty_) January 12, 2018
That's fairly foolish.
— Kringlejuice (@Jonjoejuice) January 12, 2018
