Bellator MMA issued the following on Tuesday:
Light Heavyweight Title Fight Headlines Bellator 124 from Michigan’s Compuware Arena on Friday, September 12th Live on Spike TV
Newport Beach, Calif. (August 5, 2014) – Bellator MMA will return to the state of Michigan for Bellator 124 from the Compuware Arena just outside of Detroit on Friday, September 12th live on Spike TV. The event will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight Title fight as reigning Bellator Champion Emanuel Newton will defend his belt against Joey Beltran.
The night will also feature the Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final between Liam McGeary and Kelly Anundson, which will be the co-main event of the evening. Tickets for the event will be on sale on Friday, August 8th and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Compuware Arena Box Office.
After defeating Attila Vegh at Bellator 113 and being named the undisputed Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, Newton will put his title on the line against Beltran. With a tough opponent in Newton, Beltran doesn’t plan on putting his fate in the judge’s hands and is looking for the finish against Newton. Beltran is coming off of a submission victory against Vladimir Matyushenko and has recorded 13 of his 15 wins by finish with eight coming in the first round.
“I’ve been wanting to get back in the cage as soon as possible so I went to Scott Coker and he made this fight happen for me,” Newton said. “Beltran is a guy that always pushes the pace and looks for the finish, which plays into my style perfectly. I know he is coming off a nice win against Matyushenko, and has been in this game for a while, so I’m excited for the fight and another chance to defend my belt.”
“I’m jacked to get this shot against Newton,” Beltran said. “He’s a tough guy, but I’ve been in this sport for a while now and have fought some of the best. I’ve got some good momentum after my last fight, and were going to put on a show September 12th.”
Both looking to earn their first Bellator title shot, Liam McGeary will face Kelly Anundson in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. Ranked first for the most TKO/KO in the light heavyweight division, McGeary has recorded all five of his Bellator victories by first round finish and has only spent five minutes and eight seconds in the Bellator cage. Looking to maintain his perfect 8-0 professional record, McGeary will have to hold off Anundson, who is coming off of a strong TKO victory against Philipe Lins in the semifinal round. Anundson has won his previous six fights, five coming by knockout or submission.
More fights will be announced in the coming weeks.
MAIN CARD:
Light Heavyweight World Title Fight: Emanuel Newton (23-7) vs. Joey Beltran (15-10)
Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: Liam McGeary (8-0) vs. Kelly Anundson (9-2)
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California. Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
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