Former IFL standout Shad Lierley will return for another season of Bellator, but this time as a competitor in the featherweight tournament.
With the Lierley announcement, there is only one competitor left to be announced for the upcoming Bellator 145-pound tournament.
Lierley, who has a Division III wrestling background out of NYU, holds a 5-2 record with all five of his wins as a featherweight and both his two losses as a lightweight. Further, his losses were against solid competition in Chris Horodecki and top-ranked Wagnney Fabiano. Last May, he won a decision over Nathan Murdock at Bellator's stop in Monroe, La.
The Alaska-born Lierley made his MMA debut with the IFL promotion in 2007 and won his first fight in 44 seconds by TKO. Lierley met former IFL star Horodecki in Lierley's third career fight, and although Lierley left the fight with the first blemish of his career, the fight became one of the more memorable ones in IFL history.
"Shad Lierley has been part of some great fights. If you ever want to see an awesome highlight reel watch his fight with Chris Horodecki, which Shad took at 155 even though he's a legit 145 fighter," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "He is another solid addition to our featherweight tournament."
Featherweight Tournament Participants:
Georgi Karakhanyan
Joe Warren
Patricio Pitbull
Bao Quach
William Romero
Wilson Reis
Shad Lierley
With the Lierley announcement, there is only one competitor left to be announced for the upcoming Bellator 145-pound tournament.
Lierley, who has a Division III wrestling background out of NYU, holds a 5-2 record with all five of his wins as a featherweight and both his two losses as a lightweight. Further, his losses were against solid competition in Chris Horodecki and top-ranked Wagnney Fabiano. Last May, he won a decision over Nathan Murdock at Bellator's stop in Monroe, La.
The Alaska-born Lierley made his MMA debut with the IFL promotion in 2007 and won his first fight in 44 seconds by TKO. Lierley met former IFL star Horodecki in Lierley's third career fight, and although Lierley left the fight with the first blemish of his career, the fight became one of the more memorable ones in IFL history.
"Shad Lierley has been part of some great fights. If you ever want to see an awesome highlight reel watch his fight with Chris Horodecki, which Shad took at 155 even though he's a legit 145 fighter," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "He is another solid addition to our featherweight tournament."
Featherweight Tournament Participants:
Georgi Karakhanyan
Joe Warren
Patricio Pitbull
Bao Quach
William Romero
Wilson Reis
Shad Lierley