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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bellator's first summer series event on Spike TV this month has lost its headliner, as MMAJunkie.com reports that lightweight challenger Dave Jansen has suffered an injury, taking him out of a fight with Champ Michael Chandler. With the loss of that Challenger, Chandler will now take on season eight winner David Rickels, but he'll do so next month at Bellator 97.
The move likely puts the bout between Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal and Seth Petruzelli into the main event of Bellator 96, which airs live on Spike TV on Wednesday, June 19.
Chandler is out to defend his Title a second time. He captured the belt from Eddie Alvarez in 2011 in a thrilling fight, but has fought just twice since then, one a non-title KO over Akihiro Gono, and most recently a submission win over Rick Hawn.
Rickels earned his shot by winning the season eight lightweight tournament, but it came in controversial fashion. After decision wins over Lloyd Woodard and Jason Fischer, Rickels was losing early to Saad Awad in the finals; however, Awad exhausted himself, and after getting knocked down before the bell, didn't get to his feet right away. The ref then called the fight as he didn't respond immediately, despite his protests. Regardless, Rickels was awarded the win, and now he'll get the fight with Chandler after season seven winner Jansen was forced to the sidelines.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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