Bellator XL (40) is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event is scheduled to take place on April 9, 2011 at First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma The card is expected to feature fights in one or more divisions in the Bellator Season Four Tournament. The event will be distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Official Fight Card
Main Card
* Welterweight bout: United States Ben Askren vs. United States Nick Thompson
* Welterweight Semifinal bout: United States Brent Weedman vs. United States Jay Hieron
* Lightweight Semifinal bout: United States Lloyd Woodard vs. United States Michael Chandler
Local Feature Fights
* Welterweight bout: United States Tyler Stinson vs. United States Nate James
* Heavyweight bout: United States Eric Prindle vs. United States Josh Burns
* Welterweight bout: United States Dylan Smith vs. United States David Rickles
* Lightweight bout: United States Cody Carrillo vs. United States Michael Osborn
Background
Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren will compete in a non-title bout against Nick Thompson at this event.
A lightweight semifinal bout between Toby Imada and Patricky Freire was originally set to take place on this card. However, the fight was moved to Bellator 39 and replaced with the welterweight semifinal fight between Brent Weedman and Jay Hieron. The Hieron-Weedman fight was rescheduled because Weedman needed to receive clearance for a facial laceration suffered in his Bellator 35 victory over Dan Hornbuckle.
Former Sengoku fighter Ronnie Mann was expected to make his Bellator debut at this event. However, visa issues kept Mann from entering the United States and his fight has been pushed back to the Bellator 42 card.