Bellator Fighting Championships has decided to roll the dice on former Strikeforce star Brett Rogers (Pictured). The troubled heavyweight will make his promotional debut on June 22nd at “Bellator 71.”
“I am incredibly thankful to Bellator for giving me and my family this opportunity,” said Rogers. “I feel that I am still one of the top heavyweights in the sport and now I have the opportunity to prove it with Bellator. I love the tournament format as it will give me the chance to regain my top position, of course with a lot hard work.”
Rogers was arrested twice in 2011, once in June for assaulting his wife at their Minnesota home and again in October for violating the terms of his pre-sentencing release. UFC president Dana White immediately fired Rogers from Strikeforce following his first incarceration.
After completing a two-week jail term in December, the 31-year-old professes his legal woes are in his rear-view mirror and he’s looking forward to starting the next chapter in his professional career.
“Over the past year I have been challenged in my personal life, but all is now good in the Rogers family,” Rogers revealed. “Everyone makes mistakes in life but it’s how you recover that really counts. I spend every day with my wife and kids and enjoy every minute of it. Fighting is my job and I love it, but I also love my family and that’s why I made things right before returning to the cage.
“All I can say is get ready for a new and improved Brett Rogers.”
As far as his résumé inside the cage, Rogers blasted out of the mixed martial arts gates by winning his first 10 fights. “Da Grim” has since dropped four of his last five fights, with his most recent defeat coming to Eddie Sanchez at “Titan Fighting Championships 20″ in September.
Bellator 71 takes place inside Mountaineer Casino in Chester, West Virginia. The promotion is currently looking to secure an opponent for Rogers.
Here are the athletes slated to appear in the show.
Preliminary Card:
(Spike.com 7PM ET/4PM PT)
Brett Rogers vs. TBD
Cole Presely vs. Joey Holt
Neil Johnson vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen
Jason Butcher vs. Duane Bastress
John Hawk vs. Tim Carpenter
Kevin Zalac vs. Travis Clark
Josh Stansbury vs. Dan Spohn
Main Card:
(MTV2 8PM ET/PT)
Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Marcus Vanttinen vs. Philipe Lins
Rich Hale vs. Beau Tribolet
Travis Wiuff vs. Chris Davis
Zelg Galesic vs. Attila Vegh
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/118329/bellator-signs-former-strikeforce-star-brett-rogers/
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