In an attempt to bolster their light heavyweight division, Bellator signed former UFC champion Quinton Jackson as well as Vladimir Matyushenko. While Rampage is still waiting for his fight, the 42-year-old Matyushenko has been given main event honors at Bellator 99 in Temecula, CA on September 13th. "The Janitor" is scheduled to face former Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu.
Matyushenko (26-7) was bounced from the UFC following consecutive stoppage losses to contenders Alexander Gustafsson and Ryan Bader. The Belarusian has not won a fight since stopping Jason Brilz at UFC 129 in Toronto in April 2011.
M'Pumbu (18-5-1) is also on a two fight losing skid, and in the process he lost his Bellator title to Attila Vegh earlier this year. His last win came against Rich Hale in May 2011, when he won both the season 4 tournament and the inaugural Bellator LHW championship. In addition to his loss to Vegh, he lost a non-title bout to Travis Wiuff.
I don't really understand making this the main event unless Bellator seriously thinks that Vladimir Matyushenko -- what are the chances he'll be called a "legend of the sport?" -- will pull in above-average ratings. And at his age there's really not much upside in promoting him.
If you're not into a main event featuring LHWs on losing streaks and 0 wins in 2 years, Bellator 99 will also feature the season 9 featherweight tournament quarterfinals, and here are the matchups:
Patricio Freire vs. Diego Nunes
Shahbulat Shamhalaev vs. Akop Stepanyan
Des Green vs. Fabricio Guerrero
Joe Taimanglo vs. Andrew Fisher
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