Dantas Injured, Warren Meets Silva for Interim Starp at Bellator 118
Bellator MMA has announced that there has been a change to the Bellator 118 main event. There will still be a 5 round Bantamweight title fight but it will instead be for the Bellator interim Bantamweight title, as due to an Eduardo Dantas injury, Joe Warren (10-3) will instead be facing Rafael Silva (21-3).
Dantas has suffered a head injury during training and is listed as out indefinitely.
Silva is on a 13 fight win streak and is the 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight tournament winner, who due to injury had to with draw from his title shot at Bellator 111. Silva earned his title shot with wins over Rodrigo Lima (SUB) and Anthony Leone (UD).
Silva said of the opportunity “I’m healthy, and I’m ready to fight,” Silva proclaimed. “I know Warren always likes to talk, but this fight isn’t going to be about talking, it’s going to be about who is the better fighter, and everyone is going to see who that is on May 2nd. I’ve always wanted to face Dantas, and now Joe Warren is in my way. I’ll take care of that shortly.”
Warren is a former Bellator featherweight champion, who won the season 9 Bantamweight tournament with wins over Nick Kirk (SUB) and Travis Marx (TKO).
Joe Warren had these comments about the opponent change “It doesn’t matter which Brazilian they throw at me, I’m going to destroy who is ever across the cage from me,” Warren said. “It sucks Dantas got injured as I was focused on destroying him and taking his belt. But, now I’ll destroy Silva and Dantas can try to come and take my belt.”
Bellator 118 on May 2nd takes place at the Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City , New Jersey.
Quotes were obtained by Bellator.com
MAIN CARD:
Bellator Interim Bantamweight Title Fight: Rafael (21-3) vs. Joe Warren (10-3)
Bellator Welterweight Tournament Semifinals: Andrey Koreshkov (15-1) vs. Sam Oropeza (11-2)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marcos Galvao (15-6-1) vs. Thomas Vasquez (7-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Opening Round: Liam McGeary (6-0) vs. Mike Mucitelli (6-0)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Welterweight Feature Fight: Gemiyale Adkins (8-6) vs. Dante Rivera (15-7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Jesus Martinez (8-5) vs. Ryan Contaldi (7-7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Tim Woods (6-4) vs. Eugene Fadiora (13-1)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Joe Pingitore (4-1-1) vs. Darrion Caldwell (4-0)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Jay Haas (11-13) vs. Lester Caslow (11-9)
Catchweight Feature Fight (151lbs): Julian Lane (6-3-1) vs. Anthony Morrison (18-10)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Mike Bannon (5-1) vs. Sidney Outlaw (2-0)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Amran Aliyev (3-2) vs. Kevin Roddy (13-15-1)
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