Bellator Still In Search Leaders Of The Heavier Divisions

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the fight game, it has always been about the heavier weight classes. The UFC has Cain Velasquez and Jon Jones, boxing has Wladimir Klitschko and the World Series of Fighting is still too green to have an established face at heavyweight or light heavyweight (though they are pushing Tyron Spong).

Even Glory Kickboxing has been stockpiling top heavyweight kickboxers and held a heavyweight tournament during their debut show on Spike. Bellator is still searching for a fighter to fill the void at heavyweight and light heavyweight.

Bjorn Rebney has made moves in an attempt to create “the face” of the two divisions. At heavyweight, he signed Cheick Kongo and Lamar Johnson. Johnson has not done so well lately, losing his last two bouts in the UFC (Stefan Struve, Brendan Schaub) and his Bellator debut (Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz). He is scheduled to fight Ryan Martinez on March 7.

Kongo on the other hand, has proven his worth in Bellator, winning both of his fights in the organization. Now he is slated to Vitaly Minakov at Bellator 115 on April 4 for the heavyweight title. With a victory and his notoriety from his UFC days, Kongo could prove to be the perfect man to sit atop the Bellator heavyweight ladder.

At light heavyweight, Muhammed Lawal and Quinton Jackson seems to be the front-runners to fit the slot. Though Attila Vegh and Emmanuel Newton have put on great shows, neither have a distinctive personality to hold the division a float. Both Jackson and Lawal have strong personalities that will keep people tuning when they fight.

Jackson has the star name that Bellator needs, having success in both the UFC and Pride. Rebney has to be on his knees praying Jackson wins the tournament. He knows Rampage can pull in revenue when he fights.

If two big names can hold the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in Bellator, that will bring the company that much closer to competing with the UFC.


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