Welterweight Semis, Mann-Foster Slated for Bellator 53 in Oklahoma

Sherdog.com confirmed the switch on Tuesday with a source close to the event, who also confirmed that the welterweight tournament semifinals will highlight the main card broadcast on MTV2 and Epix. The source also revealed that a featherweight feature fight between former 145-pound tournament competitors Kenny Foster against Ronnie Mann (Pictured) will go down at the event.

Bellator’s ongoing welterweight tournament field has been narrowed to four competitors, as Ben Saunders, Luis Santos, Douglas Lima and Chris Lozano defeated Chris Cisneros, Dan Hornbuckle, Steve Carl and Brent Weedman in their respective quarterfinal matchups at Bellator 49 on Sept. 10. To decide the tournament finals, Saunders will now lock horns with Santos while Lima faces Lozano.

Bellator 53 marks the Chicago-based promotion’s inaugural trip to the Buffalo Run Casino and its seventh event hosted in Oklahoma. Previously, Bellator has promoted shows in Concho, Newkirk and Norman.