‘Tonton’ Joins Bellator Light Heavyweight Draw
Mike Whitman Feb 25, 2011
Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 4 light heavyweight
tournament field is nearly set, as the promotion on Friday
announced Christian
M’Pumbu as the seventh official tournament participant.
M’Pumbu (Pictured) joins six other competitors in the quest to become Bellator’s inaugural 205-pound king. “Tonton” enters the draw alongside Tim Carpenter, D.J. Linderman, Chris Davis, Nik Fekete, Richard Hale and Daniel Gracie. A release announcing the participation of Raphael Davis is expected shortly.
While not officially announced by the promotion, Bellator’s light heavyweight tournament is expected to begin March 26 at Bellator 38 from a to-be-named location. The winner of the draw will receive $100,000 in total pay and the title of Bellator’s first-ever light heavyweight champion. Bellator’s Season 4 events will air live on MTV2.
A veteran of both Deep and M-1 competition, M’Pumbu comes to Bellator by way of Paris. The Frenchman -- originally born in the Republic of Congo -- began his professional career in 2004 and ran off nine straight victories. The 33-year-old’s most notable win is likely his 2007 submission victory over current UFC heavyweight contender Stefan Struve. A veteran of 19 professional fights, M’Pumbu has submitted more than half of his career victims and has only seen the third round once in his career.
“I have wanted to take a step up in competition for some time now. I’m ready for this,” M’Pumbu said in a release. “I truly believe that I will be the Bellator world light heavyweight champion. I’m excited about the future. Hard work always pays off.”
M’Pumbu (Pictured) joins six other competitors in the quest to become Bellator’s inaugural 205-pound king. “Tonton” enters the draw alongside Tim Carpenter, D.J. Linderman, Chris Davis, Nik Fekete, Richard Hale and Daniel Gracie. A release announcing the participation of Raphael Davis is expected shortly.
While not officially announced by the promotion, Bellator’s light heavyweight tournament is expected to begin March 26 at Bellator 38 from a to-be-named location. The winner of the draw will receive $100,000 in total pay and the title of Bellator’s first-ever light heavyweight champion. Bellator’s Season 4 events will air live on MTV2.
A veteran of both Deep and M-1 competition, M’Pumbu comes to Bellator by way of Paris. The Frenchman -- originally born in the Republic of Congo -- began his professional career in 2004 and ran off nine straight victories. The 33-year-old’s most notable win is likely his 2007 submission victory over current UFC heavyweight contender Stefan Struve. A veteran of 19 professional fights, M’Pumbu has submitted more than half of his career victims and has only seen the third round once in his career.
“I have wanted to take a step up in competition for some time now. I’m ready for this,” M’Pumbu said in a release. “I truly believe that I will be the Bellator world light heavyweight champion. I’m excited about the future. Hard work always pays off.”
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