The Weekly Wrap: Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

Bellator inks Warren

Bellator Fighting Championships announced a high-profile signing this week, locking up charismatic and uber-promising featherweight Joe Warren to compete in its 145-pound tournament.

Warren, a world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling who defeated a former WEC champion and longtime No. 2-ranked featherweight in his first two pro fights, will compete alongside Georgi Karakhanyan, William Romero, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire and Bao Quach in the 145-pound bracket.

Warren was a semi-finalist in last year’s Dream tournament, suffering his first loss to eventual winner Bibiano Fernandes via armbar. Because of his gift of gab, early wins, and remarkable athleticism, Warren was one of the most sought-after featherweight free agents in the game. He competed for the first time in three years in Greco-Roman wrestling on Jan. 30, losing two matches in the Kit Carson Cup held in Colorado. Warren told Yahoo Sports his Bellator contract allows him to continue to compete in Dream.

As they await the April 8 launch of Bellator’s second season, several Bellator fighters have been competing elsewhere.

Bellator’s dominant middleweight titleholder Hector Lombard defeated Joey Gorczynski via decision on Feb. 4 in Miami in his second fight since winning the Bellator title last June. Lombard told Sherdog.com that he expects to fight in the spring in a Bellator “super fight,” but will not defend the title until September.

Also on the Feb. 4 Miami event, which was promoted by former NBA player Glen Rice under the name G-Force Fights, Jorge Masvidal, who will compete in Bellator’s lightweight tournament, dropped a split decision to fellow Bellator veteran Luis Palomino.

Bellator also announced the addition of WEC veteran Bryan Baker to its middleweight tournament. Baker joins Eric Schambari in Bellator’s 185-pound tournament stable.

In addition to Hollywood, Fla., Bellator will also stage events in an open-air venue in Kansas City, Mo. The promotion’s April 29 and June 24 (Season Two) events and Aug. 26 and Oct. 14 (Season Three) events will take place at the Kansas City Power & Light District entertainment complex.