Bellator promotion, and where it fits in the MMA landscape

Bellator has made major moves last year and this year, bolstering their talent pool and building up their current champions. With the tourney format and champions fighting in non title fights and only defending once a year (?), can bellator break into the mainstream (are they mainstream already?). How long can they continue with their current format and does it bode well to build up their up and coming fighters this way? Are their champions credible (besides alverez) and how would their other champs fair with other top talent outside the organiztion (funky askren, lombard, konrad).

I really like the promotion but sometimes it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth with the format. I did like how they handled using Huerta when he lost though.

I like Bellator.

I think the tournament format is a great way to keep interest from week to week and take relatively unknown fighters and turn them into stars.

Bellator's big problems appear to be on the business & financial side of things. I don't know the numbers, but clearly they are not making money and can only go on this way for so long.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer (subscription newsletter... it's very good) has been vocal in saying that the MTV2 deal is going to possibly ruin them.  Reason being that hardcore fans like us will find MTV2 and watch the fights, but that otherwise they aren't going to get a lot of new viewers on this station.

I'm hoping that Bellator figures it out and is successful.

Maybe if the can get a timeslot right after Jersey Shore they'll get some new fans!!

its cool they got a thing going with mtv2 after march 5th we will know how well the org will do

yea definitely their airplay over the last 2 years has been aweful, the mtv2 deal will do wonders for the org and their fighter's exposure. I think it was the best move they could of made, anytime you can promote on a major television station, your going to get new viewers, especially now that they have flexible programming time slots. Time will tell...

The tournament format is what people wanna see. I mean, a huge draw for Pride was their tournaments, and now, why is Strikeforce blowing up? Their heavyweight GP....

I really hope Bellator breaks more into the mainstream. Unfortunatly I havent had t.v. for about two years so I've only got to see a Bellator card twice. Both times I was suprised by the level of MMA and production that I saw and I really like the idea of the tournament forum, even though I have yet to see one completely play out.