CHICAGO, Ill. (April 22, 2011) — Bellator Fighting Championships today announced Season Two Lightweight Tournament winner Pat Curran will drop to 145lbs. and enter the Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Tournament. Curran will make his featherweight debut on June 25th at Bellator 46, broadcast LIVE on MTV2 from the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. The Featherweight Tournament will begin at Bellator 46, with semifinal fights taking place at Bellator 47 and finals at Bellator 48. The winner will earn a title shot against reigning Bellator Featherweight World Champion Joe Warren.
“I’ve fought at featherweight for most of my career, so I’m really excited to get back to a weight class where I can really do some damage,” said Curran. “I had some great results as a lightweight, but I’m really going to make some noise in this summer featherweight tournament.”
After three straight victories in Bellator’s Season Two Lightweight Tournament, Pat Curran walked away with $100,000 and a title shot at Bellator 39 against current Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie Alvarez. After five grueling rounds with the champ, Alvarez retained his Lightweight title. However, Alvarez was quick to sing the praises of his opponent, saying, “Pat’s got more heart than I could ever dream of having at 23 years old. The resiliency he showed for five rounds was incredible.”
“Eddie Alvarez was right on target when he talked about Pat’s heart, but Pat also has spectacular knockout power and a great all-around mixed martial arts arsenal. Pat Curran will be a beast at 145,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.
The Season 5 Featherweight Tournament is shaping up to be one of Bellator’s most competitive tournaments to date, with Sengoku veteran and Bellator 42 competitor Ronnie Mann, and Brazilian knockout artist Marlon Sandro as possible participants in the summer tournament, with additional fighter announcements coming shortly.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
