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[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

One week after his controversial submission loss to Ben Askren, Ryan Thomas (10-4) will step in to replace the UK's Jim Wallhead against Jacob McClintock (6-0) at Bellator XV in Connecticut this Thursday. Wallhead is unable to travel to the United States from England due to flight restrictions caused by the Icelandic ash cloud.

One week after his controversial submission loss to Ben Askren, Ryan Thomas (10-4) will step in to... - Bloody Elbow

Jacob McClintock vs. Ryan Thomas booked for Bellator 15
Posted by Press Release on Monday, April 19, 2010

CHICAGO, Ill. (April 19, 2010) — Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas, whose controversial loss to former U.S. Olympian Ben Askren generated substantial comment in the MMA world following Bellator 14 in Chicago last week, has been announced as a last-minute replacement for “Judo” Jim Wallhead at Bellator 15 in Connecticut this Thursday.

Wallhead (18-5), who was anticipating making his U.S. debut with Bellator, is unable to travel from his native England due to the volcanic ash cloud that has halted air travel across Europe over the last several days.

Instead, Thomas (12-4) will get the call versus Arizona Combat Sports product Jacob “Tick Tock” McClintock (6-0), who has won each of his first six pro fights via first round stoppage.

The fight is one of four Bellator fights from this Thursday night’s event at The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., that will be televised LIVE on FOX Sports Net and in special highlight shows this Saturday night on NBC, Telemundo and mun2.

“While I am very disappointed that Jim won’t be able to make it to the U.S. this week, at least some good comes out of this situation as Ryan will get the opportunity to step back into our welterweight tournament,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “After the fight last Thursday, I promised Ryan that he would be our first alternate for the tournament and, based on a natural disaster, his opportunity came much sooner than anyone would have guessed. Ryan and Ben Askren were locked in a tough fight last week that was ended, somewhat controversially, by the referee. While I respect that decision, I am pleased that this opportunity has presented itself for Ryan.”

Thomas, a veteran of the UFC, fell to Askren via technical submission just 2:40 into Round 1 at last Thursday’s event.

Controversy erupted almost immediately after the stoppage, though, as Thomas, his corner and a vocal fan contingent in the theatre’s balcony protested that he gave no indication that he wanted the fight to be stopped.

“It’s a bad call by the referee,” Thomas said afterwards. “It’s just a shame that the fans got cheated and Ben got cheated out of some more cage time. I was fine – it wasn’t like the world was closing in on me. I was totally fine.”

Jacob McClintock vs. Ryan Thomas booked for Bellator 15 | Five Ounces of Pain

Yet another reason to deduce that Bellator are a pretty cool org.

[The Return Of......]

please tell me its set up to where thomas and askren can now meet in the finals if they both make it that far. that would make for a pretty sweet story

[beau420]

Totally deserves to be back. Hopefully next time he gets in a near submission he doesn't close his eyes. Ref should have checked a little better...didn't look like he had him cleanly under the throat.

Sucks that Bellator is having these unforseen hiccups, but I am really happy that they seem to be replacing guys with evenly matched opponents. (Janne Tulirinta in the first week of fights with his visa issue, replaced by Joe Duarte; Ferrid Kheder injured before his fight with Imada, James Krause...weight issue, but great replacement)

Oh shit.....I saw the Pat Curran fight, beating Ricci, but I had no clue that his cousin also fought, Jeff Curran, and lost.....crazy....didn't know if it was televised, I just watched the tourney fights.

[QOTSA420]

Very ballsy of him to do this, and I hope he does well. But in all honesty he was stuck in that choke and botched stoppage or not he was not going anywhere. Maybe they will meet and finish that fight the right way.

[jlruthven84]

Good, he deserves a legit shot. That ref made Dan Miragliotta look like...well, like he knows what the fuck he's doing.