Talking Bellator With Commentator Manny Rodriguez

Written by Cameron Gidari

Bellator Fighting Championships has only produced two shows thus far, but the company is making waves in the MMA community. Former fighter and Bellator commentator Manny Rodriguez joined Ground & Pound Radio to discuss the organization and its growing popularity.

“I think it’s the first time since the beginning of MMA that a tournament structure has been confined to such a short period of time,” Rodriguez said. “These guys are fighting three fights, 12 weeks; the purse is $175,000 for the winner.”

While many of the fighters featured in the tournament are not household names, Rodriguez thinks it has less to do with merits and more to do with marketing.

“The beauty of the Bellator organization is that they’re giving guys that wouldn’t normally get a chance to fight at that high level, they’re giving them a chance,” Rodriguez said. “They’re on the cusp of being known, and this organization is giving them a shot.”

Rodriguez thinks that the talent pool of fighters that Bellator draws from is good, but the fighters don’t have the criteria that certain companies might look for.

“[Companies like Bellator and Strikeforce] give guys that don’t normally have that look, that style that the UFC looks for a chance,” Rodriguez said. “But they’re guys that are great fighters, they put on great fights.”

Bellator III will take place on Friday, April 17, and airs on ESPN Deportes on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m.

Ground & Pound Radio broadcasts live every Tuesday at 9:30 pm EST (6:30 pm PST). The show is hosted by MMAMadness.com’s Hector Castro and Fight! Magazine’s Johnny Dunn. For more information, or to download previous episodes, go to here.