The 2014 Bellator Summer Series will begin in two weeks at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma and following the featherweight title fight being scratched from the card, the card will now be headlined by a heavyweight bout.
In the main event, former heavyweight tournament winner Eric Prindle (8-5) will look to snap a two fight losing streak when he faces James Thompson (19-14). This will be the Bellator debut for Thompson and he is looking to make a statement so he can get himself into a Bellator tournament.
“I’m back!” Thompson exclaimed. “I’ve been training harder than ever to get back to the big show, and I’m finally here. I’m going to smash Prindle on June 6th, make my way into a tournament, and get that belt. No questions asked. Bellator needs some new blood, and trust me, there will be blood.”
The co-main event will also feature a fighter making his Bellator debut as Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (14-12) looks to snap a two fight losing streak when he faces Terry Davinney (10-6) in a light heavyweight bout.
The fight card will also feature the remaining three opening round bouts in the Summer Series light heavyweight tournament. The tournament field has gone through some changes as Joey Beltran and Mikhail Zayats have pulled out due to injuries.
Taking Beltran’s place against Philipe Lins (8-0) will be submission specialist Austen Heidlage (6-1) and taking Zayats spot will be Rodney Wallace (20-8). Originally, Carlos Eduardo (11-3) was set to face Kelly Anundson (7-2), but Eduardo will now face Egidijus Valavicius (26-10) and Anundson now meets Wallace.
“Friday June 6th live on Spike is going to be a blast,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “Colossus comes in angry and hungry to prove himself to fans and media on the big stage. I watched him battle in Pride years ago and to have him here now is great, while Sokoudjou finds himself in a similar situation. They both have great names and great heritage in our game and fans love to watch these two scrap. It was a shame to lose a fight like Curran vs. Pitbull, but with these two, our Light Heavyweight Tournament and a great prelim card, this is going to be a great night of fights.”
The online preliminary card will feature notable names as recently released UFC fighter Bubba McDaniel (21-8) returns to Bellator and will meet Matt Jones (4-7) in a catchweight bout of 190 pounds. Other notable fights on the preliminary card include Joe Vedepo (15-8) vs. Cortez Coleman (10-5) and Steve Garcia (3-0) vs. Cody Walker (3-1).
The complete Bellator 121: Thompson vs. Prindle fight card is below.
Main Card: (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m PT – Spike TV)
James Thompson (19-14) vs. Eric Prindle (8-5)
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (14-12) vs. Terry Davinney (10-6)
Austen Heidlage (6-1) vs. Philipe Lins (8-0) *
Egidijus Valavicius (26-10) vs. Carlos Eduardo (11-3) *
Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 7 p.m. ET/4 pm. PT)
Stephen Banaszak (3-1) vs. Treston Thomison (7-2)
Joe Vedepo (15-8) vs. Cortez Coleman (10-5)
Rodney Wallace (20-8) vs. Kelly Anundson (7-2) *
Jamelle Jones (2-1) vs. Ray Sloan (6-0)
Bubba McDaniel (21-8) vs. Matt Jones (4-7) **
Steve Garcia (3-0) vs. Cody Walker (3-1) ***
William Florentino (4-3) vs. Guillermo Martinez Ayme (6-0)
* – Light Heavyweight Tournament Opening Round Bout
** – Catchweight bout of 190 pounds
*** – Catchweight bout of 140 pounds