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The Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix kicks off tonight at Bellator 292, with Usman Nurmagomedov facing Ben Henderson and Tofiq Musaev facing Alexander Shabily.
Bellator President Scott Coker believes that the upcoming grand prix is the greatest lightweight tournament in MMA history.
“This is going to be arguably the greatest lightweight tournament in the history of MMA,” Coker said following Thursday’s Bellator 292 ceremonial weigh-ins (transcript via Mike Bohn & Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie). “You guys saw gauntlet of fighters that are going to be in this tournament, and I think there are two or three dark horses that could upset these fighters. That is going to depend on how they perform under pressure. I’m really excited about this first night of fights.”
Other fighters in the grand prix include AJ McKee, Patricky Pitbull, Brent Primus and Mansour Barnaoui.
Coker also believes that whoever wins the tournament will be the best lightweight in all of MMA.
“How could you deny that?” Coker said. “The guy is not going through one (or) two, he’s going through three fights in a one-year period of fighters of this quality, he’s got to be the best lightweight.”
