Can Matt Mitrione bounce back?
When Josh Barnett was scratched from his fight with [autotag]Rony Markes[/autotag], Bellator officials found a willing name to jump straight into the fray, with [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] agreeing to step in on short notice to face the Brazilian in a crucial heavyweight bout for both men.
Former UFC and PFL heavyweight Markes (19-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will be looking to make a big first impression on his Bellator debut as he attempts to establish himself as a new contender in the promotion’s heaviest weight class. But he’ll face a man who is desperate to get back into the win column.
Despite arriving in Bellator and reeling off a quartet of wins, Mitrione (13-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has since suffered losses to current champion Ryan Bader and Russian veteran Sergey Kharitonov as his momentum hit the buffers during the last 18 months.
Now Mitrione has stepped in to face Markes, and will be looking to blast his way back into the title discussion with an impressive victory on short notice in Uncasville.
Can Mitrione bounce back into the win column, or will Markes kick off his Bellator career with a big-name victory?