Bellator News: Curran Added To Bellator Featherweight Tourney

Pat Curran - photo courtesy of Bellator

Curran featured in Bellator featherweight tourney

Former Bellator lightweight tournament winner and recent Eddie Alvarez victim Pat Curran will make the drop down a few pounds to the 145 lb. division to compete in the next featherweight tournament.

Bellator officials announced the news earlier today.

Curran went through a tough field in the promotion’s 2010 lightweight tournament, facing the likes of Roger Huerta and Toby Imada. He opened up his tourney run with a vicious knockout over Mike Ricci, following it up with an improbable upset win against former UFC star Huerta. In the finals, he earned a narrow split-decision over Imada to earn a lightweight title shot.

But an injury forced the top contender out of action for 10 months, and when he returned, Alvarez was waiting for him. The two clashed at Bellator 39 earlier this month with the champion taking home a unanimous decision, though Curran displayed heart against one of the world’s top lightweights.

“I’ve fought at featherweight for most of my career, so I’m really excited to get back to a weight class where I can really do some damage,” said Curran in the official release. “I had some great results as a lightweight, but I’m really going to make some noise in this summer featherweight tournament.”

Curran’s first fight as a Bellator featherweight will come at Bellator 46 on June 25, though an opponent has yet to be named. The eight-man tourney will take place at the June 25 event for the quarterfinals, as well as Bellator 47 and 48, which will feature the semifinal fights and the finale, respectively. The winner earns a title shot against champion Joe Warren.

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