Source: Kheder Allegedly Bolts from Bellator Weigh-Ins; Shockley In
Mike Whitman Mar 11, 2011
Bellator fans, Ferrid
Kheder has left the building.
According to a source close to the promotion, Kheder checked in at the Bellator 36 weigh-ins on Friday and then left while the undercard competitors were hitting the scales. Sherdog.com confirmed news of alleged Kheder's departure after MMA Junkie initially reported on the matter.
When it came time for the lightweight tournament competitor to
stand and deliver, he was allegedly nowhere to be found. The
official announcement during the live stream of the weigh-in was
that the fighter was talking with commission officials and would
step on the scale after the stream went off the air.
That plan apparently went out the window, as one member of the Bellator staff actually chased after Kheder when it was realized that he had exited the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Calls from the promotion to the lightweight's phone allegedly went unanswered.
Stepping up to replace Kheder in the tournament will be undefeated Hoosier Josh Shockley. Originally scheduled to face Kelvin Hackney, Shockley now receives a significant bump in competition, as the lightweight will square off with two-time tournament finalist Toby Imada in Saturday night's quarterfinals.
The rest of the lightweight tournament competitors weighed in without issue on Friday. The winner of the eight-man tournament will receive $100,000 in total pay and a shot at Eddie Alvarez's lightweight title.
Bellator 36 will air on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Bellator 36
Saturday, March 12
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Shreveport, La.
“Razor” Rob McCullough (155.8) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155.2)
Josh Shockley (XXX) vs. Toby Imada (155.8)
Carey Vanier (155.2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (155.4)
Marcin Held (155.2) vs. Michael Chandler (156)
Chad Leonhardt (185.6) vs. Kelly Leo (185.2)
Matt Hunt (150.2) vs. Kevin Aguilar (145)
Javon Duhon (149.4) vs. Booker Arthur (144.6)
Undercard fighters Hackney, Duhon and Hunt missed weight. The bouts will continue as catchweight contests.
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According to a source close to the promotion, Kheder checked in at the Bellator 36 weigh-ins on Friday and then left while the undercard competitors were hitting the scales. Sherdog.com confirmed news of alleged Kheder's departure after MMA Junkie initially reported on the matter.
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That plan apparently went out the window, as one member of the Bellator staff actually chased after Kheder when it was realized that he had exited the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Calls from the promotion to the lightweight's phone allegedly went unanswered.
An Olympian in judo at the 2000 Beijing games, Kheder has found
himself mired in controversy in the last several months. Prior to
today's alleged incident, Kheder was the source of much criticism
following a contentious decision victory over UFC veteran Hermes
Franca in December. After Kheder was declared the victor in a
bout that most felt he lost, the decision was eventually changed to
a no-contest.
Stepping up to replace Kheder in the tournament will be undefeated Hoosier Josh Shockley. Originally scheduled to face Kelvin Hackney, Shockley now receives a significant bump in competition, as the lightweight will square off with two-time tournament finalist Toby Imada in Saturday night's quarterfinals.
The rest of the lightweight tournament competitors weighed in without issue on Friday. The winner of the eight-man tournament will receive $100,000 in total pay and a shot at Eddie Alvarez's lightweight title.
Bellator 36 will air on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Bellator 36
Saturday, March 12
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Shreveport, La.
“Razor” Rob McCullough (155.8) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155.2)
Josh Shockley (XXX) vs. Toby Imada (155.8)
Carey Vanier (155.2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (155.4)
Marcin Held (155.2) vs. Michael Chandler (156)
Chad Leonhardt (185.6) vs. Kelly Leo (185.2)
Matt Hunt (150.2) vs. Kevin Aguilar (145)
Javon Duhon (149.4) vs. Booker Arthur (144.6)
Undercard fighters Hackney, Duhon and Hunt missed weight. The bouts will continue as catchweight contests.
Reader comments are active below. Chime in with an opinion or thought by signing in with your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Yahoo! account.
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