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Former WEC champ Paulo Filho opts to skip Bellator's middleweight tourney
Although originally expected to compete in the upstart Bellator Fighting Championships' eight-man middleweight tournament, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho has opted not to sign with the ESPN Deportes-backed organization.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
The middleweight tournament – and other eight-man tourneys in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions – commence next month when Bellator hosts 12 consecutive Friday-night events.
The shows will then air on a one-day tape delay on ESPN Deportes as the first-ever ESPN-televised MMA event series.
"Paulo at his best has proven to be one of the best MMA fighters at his weight," Rebney said. "After months of open and friendly negotiations with his manager Ed Soares, we respectfully were unable to reach an agreement. But we wish Paulo the best and hope that he soon regains his top form."
Soares could not immediately be reached for comment.
However, other managers have recently told MMAjunkie.com that Bellator's standard contract is too restrictive for most fighters. However, the organization has signed many notables, including Eddie Alvarez, Jorge Masvidal, Wilson Reis and Hector Lombard.
Filfo, meanwhile, continues his search for a new home.
Following a disappointing and bizarre loss to Chael Sonnen at WEC 36, Filho (16-1) was cut from Zuffa LLC in November. And unlike the WEC's other top light-heavyweight and middleweight fighters, he was not moved to the UFC when the WEC eliminated the two weight classes.
Filho, who suffered his first career loss in 17 professional fights with the unanimous-decision defeat to Sonnen, failed to make weight for the Nov. 5 fight. Filho initially weighed in at 192 pounds and could only get down to 189 – four pounds over the 185-pound limit – despite two additional hours of cut time.
The contest then became a non-title fight, which garnered the once-highly regarded Filho the wrath of the MMA world.
Filho defeated Sonnen a year prior, and the rematch had been scheduled for early 2008. However, Filho had to pull out of the fight to seek treatment for depression and chemical dependency. The Nov. 5 fight was his first since the original Sonnen match in December 2007.
"It's been a rough year," Soares recently said. "Paulo's had some troubles and a lot of personal issues. But in the end, it'll make him a stronger person."
Filho is now reportedly considering fighting for Sengoku or Strikeforce.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
The middleweight tournament – and other eight-man tourneys in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions – commence next month when Bellator hosts 12 consecutive Friday-night events.
The shows will then air on a one-day tape delay on ESPN Deportes as the first-ever ESPN-televised MMA event series.
"Paulo at his best has proven to be one of the best MMA fighters at his weight," Rebney said. "After months of open and friendly negotiations with his manager Ed Soares, we respectfully were unable to reach an agreement. But we wish Paulo the best and hope that he soon regains his top form."
Soares could not immediately be reached for comment.
However, other managers have recently told MMAjunkie.com that Bellator's standard contract is too restrictive for most fighters. However, the organization has signed many notables, including Eddie Alvarez, Jorge Masvidal, Wilson Reis and Hector Lombard.
Filfo, meanwhile, continues his search for a new home.
Following a disappointing and bizarre loss to Chael Sonnen at WEC 36, Filho (16-1) was cut from Zuffa LLC in November. And unlike the WEC's other top light-heavyweight and middleweight fighters, he was not moved to the UFC when the WEC eliminated the two weight classes.
Filho, who suffered his first career loss in 17 professional fights with the unanimous-decision defeat to Sonnen, failed to make weight for the Nov. 5 fight. Filho initially weighed in at 192 pounds and could only get down to 189 – four pounds over the 185-pound limit – despite two additional hours of cut time.
The contest then became a non-title fight, which garnered the once-highly regarded Filho the wrath of the MMA world.
Filho defeated Sonnen a year prior, and the rematch had been scheduled for early 2008. However, Filho had to pull out of the fight to seek treatment for depression and chemical dependency. The Nov. 5 fight was his first since the original Sonnen match in December 2007.
"It's been a rough year," Soares recently said. "Paulo's had some troubles and a lot of personal issues. But in the end, it'll make him a stronger person."
Filho is now reportedly considering fighting for Sengoku or Strikeforce.
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