James Thompson Meets Eric Prindle in Bellator 121 Heavyweight Headliner

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English heavyweight James Thompson has signed with Bellator MMA and will lock horns with former title challenger Eric Prindle in the Bellator 121 headliner.

Promotion officials announced the news Thursday, additionally revealing three Summer Series light heavyweight tournament matchups, as Rodney Wallace, Austen Heidlage and Egidijus Valavicius lock up with Kelly Anundson, Luiz Philipe Lins and Carlos Eduardo, respectively.

Bellator 121 takes place June 6 at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla., and will also see UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou make his promotional debut opposite 16-fight pro Terry Davinney in the Spike TV-broadcast co-headliner.

Thompson, 35, began his pro career in 2003 and went on to compete for both Pride Fighting Championships and EliteXC, notably facing the likes of Kazuyuki Fujita, Don Frye and Alistair Overeem. After losing 12 times in a 15-fight stretch, “The Colossus” has since gone 4-0 with one no-contest in his last five. Thompson returned to action this past March after nearly a two-year hiatus, submitting Colin Robinson with an arm-triangle choke in Northern Ireland.

Prindle, 37, began his career 7-1 but has since won just a single bout in his last five outings. “The American Soldier” last competed on March 7, suffering a third-round technical knockout defeat to Javy Ayala at Bellator 111.