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[Cat--Smasher]

Bellator offers fans choice of fights for premiere on Spike

Bellator’s “Vote for the Fight” promotion set for its debut on Spike TV in January. The first fight on the new network will feature the fight picked by its fans.

Via MMA Junkie:

“Vote for the Fight” is a “web series” that premieres Thursday at Spike.com. It will follow four of the promotion’s top welterweights, and fans then can vote for the fight they want to see in the Season 8 premiere’s opening fight in January. Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, Douglas Lima and Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver are the four fighters profiled in the web series and on the ballot.

Bellator offers fans choice of fights for premiere on Spike : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA

Bellator: Vote For The Fight | SPIKE

War Machine
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Bjorn Rebney explains War Machine "fueled by hate" prison promo - Mixed Martial Arts News

“I think it would be disingenuous on my part to look at Jon and say ‘well there’s a lot of controversy around you now, so we’re not going to take you back,’” said Rebney.

“We perhaps should have done a better job explaining ourselves. The series that is going to happen on the web is going to be a look behind the scenes. The Saunder’s story is all about being at ATT, and the love of his dog and his family relationship, and how is trying to come back and be a success. Lima’s story is different. Daley’s is done in the UK. And John’s story is a bit in prison, so that’s subsequently part of the story like you are 24/7 behind the scenes.”

“If you track his story, tthe first time when he was out, for about a nine month run before he got back in jail, he did nothing wrong. Knowing Jon he is going to say dumb things on a consistent basis but he didn’t break any laws, he didn’t punch anybody on the street, he was as good as Jon has ever been on an extended period but the judge had put him back in jail for something he had done prior to his last incarceration. So he told me, ‘Look, I need the direction, I don’t want to not know when a fight is going to be, I want total direction’, so that is what we gave him.”

“He won’t be in commercials in that vein in any way shape or form. This is really a behind the scenes web series and you will get a thirty minute piece on Jon to deal with his time in prison, some of it will deal with where he is now, where he is training, what he is doing, what he’s eating and what he is doing to stay out of trouble. Obviously for Sauders and Daley, it will be a different tack, but I hope people didn’t interpret it for being an ad for ‘come watch Jon in jail’. It is just part of his story and a very compelling story as well. “

“I think people might have viewed it as an advertising book but it is much more - look you are not going to just see guys training, you are going to get to see where they are and who they are and what’s going on and Jon’s story is deeply rooted in the problems he has had so you are going to see some of that and some of it is him being in prison and talking to the cameras through prison glass. When Jon is not doing the wrong thing, he is a very talented and very aggressive fighter, brings the fight and makes for great TV. We had him sign originally when we were on ESPN Deportes over three and a half years ago and he said some incredibly stupid things and we cut him and then he went and had a run in different places and then got in trouble again and got out and begged us for a shot.”

“He was training the day after he got released and throwing up all over the gym because he hadn’t had much training. He’s back and he’s got literally 11 weeks to get ready before the fight.”

“He is an interesting character but my biggest concern is if eleven weeks is enough time for anybody to get ready, having been away for nine months, against this level of competition. We will see. “

[TheDoucheyWun]

I think Bellator has done a good job picking 4 fighters to follow considering they are probably the 4 meanest/most entertaining fighters on their roster. What I dont like is 3 out of the 4 are UFC castaways.

[joeodd2]

Voting War Machine vs Daley, Shit talking and a Guaranteed KO. I want Saunders to fight Lima again and see if he can improve from that loss, sorry Ben I know he's your team mate, but he whooped your ass dude. You gotta get that back if you want to be looked at as a serious contender again.

[MIZjitsZOU]

Lima already had his shot at askren. I would like to see Daily vs Lima (hope Daily wins, not b/c I dislike Lima, just b/c of askren already blanketing him) and War machine vs Saunders. I want to see Daily vs Askren. Daily handeld Tyrone Woodley's wresting ok, so with more prep maybe he could do good against my boy askren.

Note I say my boy askren b/c I live in Columbia mo home of the tigers where he was a national champion. I keep hoping he will start trying to finish people. With such high level wierd wrestling you would think he could pick up some subs.

[IrishX(aka bornbear)]

Ben Saunders vs Paul Daley.

[Mac]

Saunders and Lima are by far better fighters than Dailey and Machine so I would rather they meet later in the tourney for their rematch.

[ckauffman28]

love this concept, wish UFC woulda done it long ago..

[MIZjitsZOU]

Originally Posted by Mac

Saunders and Lima are by far better fighters than Dailey and Machine so I would rather they meet later in the tourney for their rematch.

Don't agree. I think Daily is the best of the four. Saw him fight live. He is a tough puncher and good athlete. I want to see him fight askren.