If victorious at Bellator 94, Ronnie Mann gets bantamweight-tourney slot

Ronnie Mann (21-5-1 MMA, 3-2 BFC), a late addition to Thursday’s Bellator 94 card, is a win away from earning a slot in a future bantamweight tournament.

The two-time featherweight-tournament competitor will get a shot in a 135-pound tourney if he gets by Rodrigo Lima (10-1 MMA, 0-1 BFC), Bellator CEO and Chairman Bjorn Rebney today tweeted.

“Bellator 94: Awad vs. Rickels” takes place at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. Mann vs. Lima kicks off the Spike TV-televised main card, which follows prelims on Spike.com.

Mann vs. Lima is slated as a bantamweight bout.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, Bellator plans to host tournaments in the bantamweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions this summer, though an exact schedule hasn’t been announced.

Mann makes the move to bantamweight after a lengthy run at 145 pounds that included failed bids at Bellator’s Season 6 and 2011 “Summer Series” featherweight tournaments. The well-rounded Mann also boasts previous stints with World Victory Road/Sengoku, Shark Fights (where he was a champ) and Cage Rage, among others. Most recently, Mike Corey bounced him from Bellator’s Season 6 featherweight tournament via decision.

For more on Bellator 94, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Ronnie Mann)