Joe Warren ruled ineligible to compete at Bellator 98 by Mohegan Sun athletic commission

According to a news release by Bellator MMA, Joe Warren, former Bellator featherweight champion and coach of Spike TV's 'Fight Master', was ruled ineligible to compete at Bellator 98 on Saturday by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation. Warren, now a bantamweight, was set to face Nick Kirk in a season 9 bantamweight tournament semi-finals bout, but that fight has been pulled from the card and will be "delayed until further notice."

While the release does not mention the cause of Warren's removal specifically, the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation deemed Warren unfit to compete after "reviewing the medical documentation submitted."

"I've been fortunate to work with one of the best commissioners in the sport in Mike Mazzulli, and after carefully reviewing Joe's medical documents, everyone agreed to err on the side of caution with the goal of ensuring our fighters safety," said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney in a statement provided to the media.

"It was determined Joe would be unable to compete this Saturday at Mohegan Sun. Joe's been with us since the beginning and as is the case with every fighter here, it's incumbent on me to ensure Joe is 100% healthy and medically cleared to fight before he steps into the Bellator cage."

In place of Warren vs. Kirk, Derek Anderson vs. Patricky Freire will be moved to the Spike TV main card.

Warren last competed at Bellator 80 in November of 2012 where he defeated Owen Evinger by unanimous decision. Prior to that fight, however, Warren was brutally knocked out by Pat Curran in March of 2012 when Warren lost the Bellator featherweight title.

Bellator 98 takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Saturday. The main card will air on Spike TV.