The Grand Prix has become a highlight of Bellator’s yearly schedule. While 2023 is scheduled to see the conclusion of the Bantamweight tournament it will be the launching point for the Lightweights race to seven figures.
The winner of each Bellator Grand Prix is interim or champion, gets a Grand Prix championship belt, and $1 million dollar check.
The quarterfinals begin with two fights at Bellator 209 March 10th at the SAP Center in San Jose California.
That night unbeaten champion Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) makes his first defense against former WEC & UFC champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson (30-11). Nurmagomedov has lived up to the billing of top prospect in the sport running rough shot over the promotion. He’s 5-0 with three first round finishes. The term prodigy gets thrown around it the 24-year made dethroning Patricky Freire look almost effortless. Henderson had quite the career resurgence in 2022. After a four fight skid had many questioning what he had left in the tank. Henderson scored decision wins over Islam Mamedov & Peter Queally to get in title contention.
The other querfinal will see Tofiq Musayev (20-4) facing Alexander Shabliy (22-3). Musayev is 16-1 over his last 17-fights. The native of Azerbaijan holds a de ion win over Patricky Freire in Rizin and knocked out Sidney Outlaw in 27 seconds at Bellator 283. Shabily is on a 7-fight win streak. The Russian is 3-0 coming off a second round knockout of Bret Primus.
The rest of the fails for the Gran Prix was filled out by former champion Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (24-11), former Featherweight champion AJ “The Mercenary” McKee (20-1), former BAMMA, M-1, & Road FC champion Mansour Baraoui (20-4), & talented finisher Sidney “Da Gun” Outlaw (16-5)
