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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bellator on Tuesday officially announced two of the bouts headed to their September 23 Bellator 30 event from Fourth Street Live! in Louisville, Kentucky. A previously reported fight between Bryan Baker and Jeremy Horn has been finalized, and a season four tournament qualifier is set between Brent Weedman and Jacob McClintock.
Horn, one of the most experienced fighters still competing in the sport today, makes his Bellator debut in this fight with season two runner-up Baker.
"As the sport progresses on, my experience starts to mean less and less in the ring,” said Horn. “I obviously have a good understanding of when to stay calm and when to turn things on, but for the most part, I feel like a lot of us are on a pretty level playing field. With a guy like Bryan, he is a well rounded fighter that doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, and it’s just going to be a great fight."
Baker fell short against Alexander Shlemenko in the season two finals, losing for just the second time in his career.
"The whole goal [of the tournament] was to have a shot at the title, and I didn’t get to that point, so obviously there is disappointment,” said Baker. “I didn’t get much of a chance to show my abilities in that fight, but I’m excited I get another chance in Louisville to give the fans a good show."
"Knowing who Jeremy has taken on, it just makes me even more focused for this fight. Fighting an opponent with a history like that, it pulls the better fighter out of me, and I’m excited for Bellator 30. Everyone knows Jeremy has made his career off of his submission moves, so I’m looking to stay on my feet. I’m more athletic than him, and my reach should give him all sorts of problems."
Jacob “Tic-Toc” McClintock was defeated in the first round of Bellator's season two welterweight tournament by Ryan Thomas. He'll now try to earn a spot in the season four tournament with a win over Weedman. Weedman is on an eight fight win streak heading into this fight, and has finished all 16 of his wins by TKO or submission, to go with only five defeats.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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