No one is happy when someone gets injured. Let me clarify, no one with a soul is happy when some one gets injured. Tito Ortiz suffered a “fractured neck” according to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and is forced out of the organizations first PPV event. Not only that, but now Bellator is cancelling the whole entire PPV and instead, is showcasing the event on Spike TV.
Trying to make fans pay for something that was dubbed “unworthy,” might not be done as well as Bjorn and company was hoping for. Now, Spike TV will get a huge rating boost, and fight fans will get to see some great Bellator fights for free. This is the epitome of taking a bad situation and making it better.
Bjorn announced that the event is now moved to Spike TV. This means that now we get Alvarez vs. Chandler 2 for the lightweight title for free. These two went at it the first time around. PPV or not, you can bet that both fighters will deliver a spectacular performance once again. Plus, we also get “King Mo” vs. Newton 2 for the interim light heavyweight championship and Curran vs. Straus 2 for the featherweight championship. November 2nd has just shifted gears in a positive way for Bellator.
According to Bellator and Rebney, Tito wanted the fight, but Doctor’s said he could end up paralyzed and made him withdraw. Apparently current Bellator light heavyweight champ Attila Vegh was contacted as a backup, but nothing came to fruition.
I am saddened to see Tito withdraw from this fight, but in no way am I mad that true Bellator fans get this extremely jam packed card for free. Tito’s injury is a blessing in disguise for himself and the fans. We get a great card, and Tito avoids anything that could of possibly cause him to never to be able to walk again.
Rebney said that Bellator PPV are not dead and that there will be more in the future. So, if Tito ever does come back, you can bet he has a spot on one of their PPV events. Get well soon. And as far as the fans go, enjoy the best free Bellator card you will ever witness. Just don’t shoot Tito a thank you on twitter. I’m sure he isn’t happy.
MAIN CARD (Spike TV, 9 p.m. ET)
Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez – for lightweight title
Pat Curran vs. Daniel Straus – for featherweight title
Muhammed Lawal vs. Emanuel Newton – for interim light heavyweight title
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com, 6 p.m. ET)
Cheick Kongo vs. Vinicius Queiroz – heavyweight tourney final
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Joe Riggs – “Fight Master” tourney final
Patrick Cenoble vs. Terry Etim
Mike Richman vs. Akop Stepanyan
Karo Parisyan vs. Cristiano “Soldier Boy” Souza
Jesse Juarez vs. Joe Williams
Brandon Halsey vs. Hector Ramirez
Mike Guymon vs. Aaron Miller
Joe Camacho vs. Cleber Luciano
Darren Smith vs. Josh Smith