Recently, the World Series of Fighting promotion sent a challenge to Bellator. They proposed a 10-fight cross promoted Pay-Per-View event featuring fighters from both organizations going up against each other.
When Bellator didn’t respond, AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon jumped in and said that they would be willing to meet WSOF’s challenge.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, WSOF’s executive vice president and matchmaker Ali Abdelaziz responded to AXS TV Fights’s offer and gave Bellator a deadline to accept.
Abdelaziz spoke highly of Andrew Simon and AXS TV Fights, but ultimately doesn’t see that crossover happening.
“It needs to make sense for the fans to watch, for the fans to enjoy,” Abdelaziz said. “I’m not going to bring a guy from XFC to fight a guy like Marlon Moraes. That would be a mismatch. Nobody is going to watch.
“Tell me one guy in XFC who can fight Marlon. Tell me at 205 (pounds) who can fight Anthony Johnson. Tell me anyone who can fight Rousimar Palhares and give him a good match the fans will care about it. It has to make sense.”
Instead, Abdelaziz is giving Bellator one more chance to answer the call.
“They have 48 hours to accept the challenge,” Abdelaziz said. “It’s good for the fans, good for the fighters. Let’s do it. You challenged Strikeforce before. They didn’t take it, but we’re willing to take it. We’ll give you a run for your money. We can win this challenge.”
Come on Bellator!