The Bantamweight World Grand Prix is
official!Coming in 2022, the
#BellatorBWGP will feature @SergioPettis,
@Kyoji1012,
@LeandroHigoMMA,
@TeamMixMMA,
@JArchMMA,
Magomed Magomedov, @StrabanimalMMA
and @RaufeonStots.#Bellator272
pic.twitter.com/1koQ0yvMeu— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA)
December 4, 2021
Bellator MMA made sure to leave fans wanting
more at its year-end show, announcing a stacked eight-man tourney
for next year.
During the
Bellator 272 main card broadcast, the organization announced
its next tournament in the form of a 135-pound grand prix. Eight
fighters in the division, the top seven in its rankings plus the
title challenger later that night, will participate in the brackets
that will be set at a later date. No events have been confirmed for
2022, and no date has been given on when the tourney will
launch.
The top two fighters at the tournament are competing in the main
event of Bellator 272, as Sergio
Pettis looks to defend his throne against Kyoji
Horiguchi. According to the promotion, the victor between
Pettis and Horiguchi will defend their title against a contender in
the to-be-announced bracket, while the losing fighter will still
enter the race for the belt. Every fight throughout the grand prix
will be contested over five rounds, and one alternate was announced
after prevailing later that night: Josh Hill,
who demolished Jared
Scoggins to earn a place as a backup competitor should one
withdraw.
In addition to Pettis and Horiguchi, the following ranked
bantamweights will make their way into the tournament: #1 Juan
Archuleta, #2 Raufeon
Stots, #3 Patrick
Mix, #4 Magomed
Magomedov, #5 Leandro
Higo and #6 James
Gallagher. The winner-take-all tourney will grant the victor a
tournament championship belt, the division’s title and a check for
$1 million.