MVP Injured, Out of Bellator 151. Gilbert Smith vs Gonzalez Set

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CC27

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http://mmajunkie.com/2016/02/michae...a-champ-gilbert-smith-in-vs-fernando-gonzalez

Fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see Michael Page show off his flashy fighting style again in the Bellator cage.

Page (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) is out of his scheduled Bellator 151 co-main event showdown with Fernando Gonzalez (24-13 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) for undisclosed reasons. Stepping in to replace “Venom” is the now former RFA welterweight champion Gilbert Smith (12-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Bellator officials confirmed the switch to MMAjunkie

Gonzalez vs. Smith is the co-headliner of the March 4 event, which takes place at Winstar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Smith will make his Bellator debut after he captured RFA’s 170-pound title with a submission of Benjamin Smith this past June and a TKO of Bristol Marunde to defend the gold in October. “Midnight Magic” was featured on the cast of “The Ultimate Fighter 17,” but was let go from the UFC after just one official loss. He found success outside the promotion, winning seven of his past nine fights.

Eager to spoil Smith’s Bellator debut will be Gonzalez. The 32-year-old has won all four of his appearances under the Bellator banner including notable victories over Karo Parisyan, Marius Zaromskis and Karl Amoussou.

Also confirmed for Bellator 151’s main card is the debut of bantamweight Sirwan Kakai (12-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). “Zohan” recently signed with Bellator after he was released from the UFC with a 1-1 record and is set to collide with six-fight Bellator veteran Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), who will bring consecutive victories into the matchup.

The latest Bellator 151 main card includes:

  • Joe Warren vs. Darrion Caldwell
  • Fernando Gonzalez vs. Gilbert Smith
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Goiti Yamauchi
  • Sirwan Kakai vs. Joe Taimanglo
 
Too bad. That card just took a huge hit.
 
That card was looking great. Pretty average now. Awesome main though. Shame for MVP was his chance to really take the next step.

Gilbert is a really solid replacement though. And Sirwan was cut a little unfairly as well.
 
MVP is gonna be 55 before we see him against anyone legit. Come on man this is getting annoying. Dude fights twice a year and he barely breaks a sweat when he fights. What is good man?
 
Shame we don't see him get a solid test for once, but Smith is a pretty solid replacement in general, let alone in Bellator terms...could've gotten a fighter with a 5-14 record as a replacement.

And I actually can see Smith ruining Gonzalez's little streak.
 
At least it's still a good fight. Maybe now he'll fight Ward sometime a little later
 
Sucks, I was really hoping Gonzalez would destroy MVP's hype train. Should've gotten someone like Ward, Chidi or McDonough, Gilbert Smith is meh. Without a title fight, Bellator 151 doesn't really look that good anymore.
 
Michael Page should be fighting every 3 months. And he definitly needs to takea step up.

Shame he's out.
 
He seems injury prone and pulls out of fights that would gain him more exposure. Heard about him for years, but have seen him fight twice.
 
That woulda actually been a good step, bummer
 
VIP1349 said:
That card was looking great. Pretty average now. Awesome main though. Shame for MVP was his chance to really take the next step.

Gilbert is a really solid replacement though. And Sirwan was cut a little unfairly as well.
Click to expand...

I don't think Sirwan was cut actually, if my memory is correct he only signed a 2 fight deal with the UFC and took bellator's deal immediately after the fight with Saenz.
 
beefcake180 said:
I don't think Sirwan was cut actually, if my memory is correct he only signed a 2 fight deal with the UFC and took bellator's deal immediately after the fight with Saenz.
Click to expand...
All articles about it say cut that I've seen.
 
MVP is such a waste of talent... Can't even get excited for his fights anymore...
 
TheBrownRanger said:
Sucks, I was really hoping Gonzalez would destroy MVP's hype train. Should've gotten someone like Ward, Chidi or McDonough, Gilbert Smith is meh. Without a title fight, Bellator 151 doesn't really look that good anymore.
Click to expand...

Which title fight do you think that they lost..?
 
VIP1349 said:
All articles about it say cut that I've seen.
Click to expand...

Yup he was cut although it was strange as they said that he could fight again on the same contract for te UFC but that it probably wouldn't be for a full year.


“They just said that they have too many employees and need to let go of some people,” says Sirwan. “I was unfortunately one of them as they follow the first-in, first-out principle. It was not about my performance in the cage. They mentioned, however, that I will be invited back in the future if someone were to pull out due to injury.”

The UFC told Sirwan that he could choose to remain and fulfill his contract, but that he would have to wait nearly a year (August 2016). Sirwan had no plans to sit and wait, therefore, he made Bellator his new home.

“I was even told that if I should continue with the same contract, I would not get off until August 2016 and that I could sit on the bench and wait, but I want to improve my life and the only thing that is important in this sport is to win their matches. I win my fights I am going where I want.So when Bellator opened his door, I chose to say yes.”
 
Gutted, I like watching Gonzalez fight, this was gonna be a huge test for Page.
 
This was gonna be a decent fight/test for Page, shame.
 
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