For the first time in Bellator history, the organization will be holding a four-man middleweight tournament with the semifinal matchups being Doug Marshall vs. Dan Cramer and Kendall Grove vs. Brett Cooper. 
Bellator announced the tournament field on Tuesday evening and the Groove-Cooper bout will be at Bellator 114 and Marshall-Cramer will take place the following week at Bellator 115.
Both semifinal bouts will be placed on the main cards and a date for the tournament final will be determined at a later date.
Marshall (18-7) won the season eight middleweight tournament last year by defeating Cooper. He faced Alexander Shlemenko for the title in the main event of Bellator 109 but was unable to walk away with a victory as Shlemenko won by knockout in the first round. After the fight, it was learned that Marshall had tested positive for a banned substance and recently came off suspension.
“The Rhino will be running through guys with brutal KO’s and giving the fans a show,” Marshall said. “I want to prove that my fight against Shlemenko was a fluke, and I’m ready to make another run through that tournament and get another title shot.”
Cramer (10-4) was also in the season eight tournament and was defeated in the semifinals by Cooper. He was scheduled to be placed in the season nine tournament, but an eye injury forced him out of the tournament.
“I am really excited to get back into the tournament,” Cramer said. “It is going to be an exciting fight and Doug and I are both sluggers. This is going to be a tough fight for both of us and will come down to who wants it more. ”
Grove (20-13, 1NC) was signed by Bellator last year and defeated Joe Vedepo by decision in his debut with the organization. It was his second straight win and he has won six of his last nine fights.
“I’m very excited to be a part of the next Bellator Middleweight Tournament,” Grove said. “These tournaments are an awesome way to fight the best guys in the division quickly and get that title shot. Cooper is a tough guy, but I’ll be ready on March 28th.”
Cooper (19-9) has lost back to back fights, with the defeats coming against Marshall and Shlemenko. Prior to those fights, he had won six fights in a row and three of the wins came by TKO.
“Grove is a tough customer but I’m going to put him away,” Cooper said. “I really am pulling for Marshall in the other side of the bracket, so I can smash his face in the finals. And after that, the Russian has it coming too. I’m not looking past anybody in this tournament, it’s full of tough, skilled guys but whoever is in my way to the title is getting two basic food groups: leather and canvas.”