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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bellator has booked a big heavyweight bout for Bellator 31, as they announced on Thursday's Bellator 28 broadcast that Dave "PeeWee" Herman and Ricco Rodriguez will face off on the card.
Herman has been embroiled in a legal battle with Bellator that forced Shark Fights to pull him from their event this Saturday, but with this fight they've likely come to some resolution on that. He brings a 16-2 record to the Bellator cage, his last loss coming by way of disqualification when he delivered illegal knees to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at an event in May in Abu Dhabi.
Rodriguez is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who has had a bit of a resurgence over the last year. The 33 year old is an 11 year veteran of the sport, and has run up nine straight victories since July of 2009. He'll be making his Bellator debut on this event.
The card comes to the L'Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, La. on September 30. It will feature the women's tournament semifinal round as well as the Bellator debut of UFC vet Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
Penick's Analysis: This is by far the best heavyweight fight Bellator has or will put on. Herman is a 25 year old fighter and a definite prospect. A win over Rodriguez would be huge, and for Rodriguez, if he can defeat Herman, it will help him continue this current run he's been on. But I really need to question why Bellator needed to run in New Orleans last night against the Saints-Vikings game when they are returning to the state three weeks later. It makes zero sense.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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