...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Stephan Bonnar signing with Bellator this week came as a surprise for a wide array of reasons, not only in terms of Bellator's interest to begin with, but in Bonnar cutting ties with the UFC after entering their Hall of Fame in 2013.
Well, it turns out Bonnar signed with Bellator after getting Dana White's blessing, as the UFC released him from his own contract in order to head to Bellator.
White explained after the UFC 177 weigh-ins on Friday that he granted Bonnar's release because Bonnar wanted to head to Bellator to beat up Tito Ortiz. Given White's history with Ortiz, he saw no issue with helping facilitate that.
"I released him to do it," White said (via MMAFighting.com). "He was under contract to us. We released him to do it, and I wish him the best... He was retired. What he told me is he wants to beat the s*** out of Tito, and I'm down with that. I released him."
Penick's Analysis: Well that makes a little more sense. I still have no idea why Bellator or Viacom think bringing him in is a good idea, but that's what they're doing, and the deal's done. But it's immensely believable that White would be all behind a guy like Bonnar heading to Bellator specifically to fight Ortiz.
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
