Bellator Signs "Judo" Jimmy Wallhead to Multi-Fight Deal
by Leland Roling on Dec 21, 2009 3:00 PM EST
in MMA News
Email
Print
According to MMAJunkie.com, Bellator has made another solid welterweight acquisition that will add more skill to an already-stacked season two welterweight tournament:
Bellator officials today informed MMAjunkie.com that "Judo Jim" has signed a multi-fight deal with the organization to compete in the tournament.
The organization soon hosts eight-man tourneys in four weight classes to determine No. 1 contenders for its season-one champions.
The second season, which commences in April, airs live on FOX Sports Net affiliates on Thursday nights, and highlights packages air on NBC and Telemundo over the weekend. Both the second and third seasons take place in 2010 and run for 12 weeks.
Dan Hornbuckle, Jacob "Tick Tock" McClintock, and former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren will also take part in the welterweight tournament in what could truly make for one of the best tournaments we've seen outside of PRIDE.
"Judo" Jim Wallhead (18-5) is a Judo black belt who won England's under-21 Judo championships at the age of 19 and earned his black belt at 16. He currently trains out of Team Rough House, known for housing Paul "Semtex" Daley, Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy, Andre Winner, Nick Osipczak, Dean Amasinger, and recently helping Ross Pearson train for his UFC 105 bout.
He's currently riding a six-fight win streak, but his strength of record isn't overwhelming to say the least. This will surely be his chance to shine with such touted fighters in the mix, and it's a warm welcome to a fighter who should have made it into one of the larger organizations much sooner. He was snubbed during The Ultimate Fighter 9 tryouts for being "too experienced", but he'll now have the opportunity to prove that he belongs in the spotlight.
Video of Wallhead's performances after the jump...
Loss to Dennis Siver
11 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nice!
Great addition to the Welterweight tourney. I was under the impression the UFC was going to sign him after he beat Mills. He’s a legit threat to Hornbuckle (which I haven’t considered any of the other contestants to be).
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
damn
Bellator is really putting together a stacked tournament. This is one of those things were I want all these guys to win since they’re all such promising prospects. But there can only be one…
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
has anyone thought about an mma business model of having open mma tournament championships sponsorerd by major companies like budweiser with a big prizes for winning ala golf pga… UFC and strikeforce could be the main tournaments of the year like the masters or british open… fighters like fedor and brock lesnar wouldnt be contractually obligated to one organization but rather fight in select big tournaments a year.. seems to work for tennis and nascar as well
that is an interesting idea
file it in the “over Dana White’s dead body” category
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Its what...
M-1, Strikeforce, Shine, Bellator, and other companies want to do. Its what the UFC is completely against. My opinion is that this may happen soon, though it will be small scale (maybe involving 2 or 3 promotions) really soon.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 21, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
tournaments to me just seem to make waaay more sense.. they are much more marketable, more interesting, and build star power like crazy.. crocop pride grand prix, eddie alvarez, hector lombard etc etc… plus it get rids of all can crushing accusastions as fighters are seeded like tennis… fedor and brock can both enter a tourney for a 5 million grand prize and not fight eachother until the championships.. and if one happens to lose then they can meet at the next big tourney like phil mickelson and tiger
Can’t wait until Bellator starts up their second season. Their WW tournament is pretty much an awesome WW prospect GP, and I hear they are picking up some other great names for their other GP’s.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 21, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
This WW GP looks absolutely sick to me as a fan
but I have very little faith in Bellator as a promotion. I know at least one fighter under contract with them who has gotten pretty fucked over personally by the delay between the seasons combined with the restrictiveness of their contracts. Real talented guy (with limited drawing power) who can’t get or maintain valued sponsorships any more given that he can only fight in tiny regionals since his main promoter said “Wait, hold on, I can totally get better TV deal.” And even that deal seems questionably profitable. They don’t intentionally mistreat their fighters, and it seems all good since Alvarez got his DREAM fight, but a lot of the smaller names are struggling.
I’d much rather see this tourney happen under Strikeforce with Tyrone Woodley in the mix, winner gets a superfight with Heiron. If the challenger wins, they get an SF/DREAM unified WW title shot. If Heiron wins then whatever because fuck Jay Heiron seems to be a pretty steady message from promoters.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
