Brian Foster Out of Bellator Welterweight Tournament, Replaced by Jordan Smith

Foster not medically cleared, forced out of 170-pound tourney

Bellator welterweight Brian Foster has not been medically cleared to compete in the opening round of Bellator’s upcoming 170-pound tournament.

The promotion announced Thursday that Foster has been forced to withdraw from his bout against David Rickels. Rickels will now meet Jordan Smith on March 30 at Bellator 63 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Foster, who has had several medical issues in his young career, had a run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, earning big victories over Brock Larson, Forrest Petz and Matt Brown. But a brain hemorrhage was discovered before his bout against Sean Pierson at UFC 129, forcing him out of the fight. Following that news, Foster was released by the promotion.

After his short UFC career, Foster moved on to the Cage Warriors promotion, picking up back-to-back wins in October 2011 before signing with Bellator. But he has yet to compete in his new promotion.

Meanwhile, Smith enters Bellator on a two-fight winning streak, with one of those victories coming over former UFC contender Karo Parisyan. The bout against Rickels, an undefeated Bellator veteran, will be Smith’s debut in the promotion.

Bellator 63 features all four welterweight tournament quarterfinal bouts and includes such notables as UFC veteran Ben Saunders and Bellator veteran Bryan Baker.

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