Bellator releases seven fighters

[MMALOPEZ]

The list includes 12-fight veteran Mike Richman (18-6 MMA, 7-5 BMMA), currently serving a two-year suspension after a failed drug test, and former title challenger Dave Jansen (20-4 MMA, 7-2 BMMA), who snapped a seven-fight winning streak with back-to-back losses to then-champ Will Brooks and, more recently, Marcin Held.

Other promotional veterans who no longer fight under the Bellator banner are Mikkel Parlo (13-2 MMA, 4-3 BMMA), Raphael Butler (9-2-1 MMA, 4-2-1 BMMA) and Houston Alexander (16-14-1 MMA, 1-3-1 BMMA).

With two consecutive setbacks since joining the promotion last year, former “King of Pancrase” Isao Kobayashi (18-4-4 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) is also on the list, as well as MMA veteran Thiago Goncalves Jambo – who, following an unsuccessful debut, announced his retirementearlier today on social media.

 

[thedevious]

Fucking what? They're axing good depth for their divisions.

 

[EJRMAN513]

Why cut Dave Jansen. They better be trying to make big big grabs soon because almost everybody on that list of guys released were decent guys for their roster.

 

[MMAddict21]

Why the fuck are they cutting so many fighters lately? Who are they signing? Jansen had no reason to be cut, he's a solid guy in the division and they just cut another guy from their horrid mess of a bantamweight division.


I don't understand the direction Bellator is going in with these decisions, why cut your roster depth when you aren't even signing anyone else??

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Bellator shouldn't make cuts with divisions so shallow. Sure, if they replaced them with prospects it'd be one thing. Look at the prelims, though. In what world would a 12-10 guy that was just knocked out in a few seconds deserve to be on the roster over Dave Jansen or Mikkel Parlo (also, it says he's 13-2 in mma, but how is he 4-3 in bellator if he's only got two losses on his record)?

 

[Cousin Oliver]

They did the same thing last year (Sarnavskiy, Volkov and some others in one fell swoop). At the time, I thought it might be related to the impending free agency of Benson Henderson, who they did end up signing a few months later.

These cuts might be a sign that they're making a serious run at Rory MacDonald.

 

[ryanrandy]

I like Raphael Butler, finish or be finished type guy

 

[NHB7]

Fucking what? They're axing good depth for their divisions.

But hopefully clearing money to pick up exciting new prospects.

 

[TheBrownRanger]

I get worried when talented, little known guys lose in Bellator nowadays. They are in a position to be cut no matter how exciting they are. Seriously, is Rory MacDonald worth having like 14 guys in each division?

 

[Cousin Oliver]

Bellator also recently let Paul Bradley leave as a free agent (he signed with WSOF) so it does look like they're dumping salaries for some reason.

 

[Kalmah]

Viacoker bless

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

WSOF is going to get some good fighters to sign.

 

[thedevious]

But hopefully clearing money to pick up exciting new prospects.

When a promotion like Bellator has to act like an NFL or NBA team with a salary cap when they're not even paying a whole lot for these guys in the first place, they've got some issues.

 

[Cousin Oliver]

When a promotion like Bellator has to act like an NFL or NBA team with a salary cap when they're not even paying a whole lot for these guys in the first place, they've got some issues.

They actually do have a salary cap -- their revenue.

 

[KeeSmyth]

Looks like there getting rid of all the guys who had tournament contracts.from Bjorn

 

[thedevious]

They actually do have a salary cap -- their revenue.

I know, and I get it, but it's just not a good look that they're cutting guys like this while openly trying to explore the possibility of Tito Ortiz fighting Ken Shamrock or Royce Gracie. That's where the money is going towards because those names allegedly bring in money for Bellator. It all reeks.

 

[CoffeeAndBeer]

Looks like they might be letting guys go... so that they build their records back up a bit in other promotions.

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

 

[Bill Laimbeer]

I really don't even understand what they are doing over there as of late. I would put WSOF above them for quality of shows at this point.

 

[KeeSmyth]

Why release Richman he's 6 month away or so from suspension being over and he's one of the most exciting guys on the roster