Bellator 56 (LVII) is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by Bellator Fighting Championships. It is set to take on October 29, 2011 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The event will be distributed live in prime time by MTV2.
Announced Bouts
Main Card
Welterweight Championship bout: United States Ben Askren(c) vs. United States Jay Hieron
Heavyweight Semifinal bout: United States Eric Prindle vs. United States Ron Sparks
Heavyweight Semifinal bout: Brazil Thiago Santos vs. South Africa Neil Grove
Local Feature Fight (Spike.com)
Heavyweight bout: United States Daniel Gallemore vs. United States Derrick Ruffin
Welterweight bout: United States Rudy Bears vs. Brazil Marcio Navarro
Featherweight bout: United States Adam Schindler vs. United States Jeremy Spoon
Light Heavyweight bout: United States Kelvin Tiller vs. United States Dan Spohn
Lightweight bout: Brazil Willian De Souza vs. United States E.J. Brooks
Featherweight bout: United States Jeimeson Saudino vs. United States Jacob Aiken
Bantamweight bout: United States Aaron Ely vs. United States Owen Evinger
Background
This event is expected to host the second round of Bellator's second heavyweight tournament.
Mike Hayes was expected to face Blagoi Ivanov at this event, However Hayes was issued a 60-day medical suspension by the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission due to a fractured orbital bone sustained during his fight with Neil Grove at Bellator 52. Thiago Santos will now step in for the injured Hayes. Ivanov subsequently had to pull out of the bout due to an injury and will be replaced by Neil Grove.
oct 24 - updated fightcard & background
oct 28 - updated fightcard
