9 Bouts Official for Bellator 49 MTV2-Epix Simulcast

Nine bouts are now official for Bellator Fighting Championships 49, as promotion officials Tuesday announced an undercard attraction between featherweights James Jones and Lester Caslow.

Featuring the quarterfinal round of Bellator’s latest welterweight tournament, the company’s fifth-season debut will air on MTV2 in standard definition, as usual. However, the promotion announced Tuesday that Bellator 49 will also be broadcast in high definition on Viacom-owned premium cable channel EPIX.

“This is the perfect time and the perfect channel to introduce Bellator in high definition,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in a release. “Epix has fantastic programming, tremendous reach and I always find a great movie on their channel. I look forward to continuing our relationship with MTV2 [while] our new partnership with Epix brings the magic of HD to Bellator fans nationwide.”

Bellator 49 will feature eight men contending for four spots in the welterweight tournament semifinal. Going down Sept. 10 at Caesar’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., the event features Douglas Lima facing Steve Carl, Luis Santos locking horns with Dan Hornbuckle, Ben Saunders squaring off with Chris Cisneros and Chris Lozano scrapping with Brent Weedman.

The winner of the tournament will be awarded $100,000 in total pay and a shot at Bellator’s welterweight championship, currently held by Ben Askren.