SPIKE TV ANNOUNCES CAST OF “FIGHT MASTER: BELLATOR MMA”

32 Welterweights Battle for a Spot in the Bellator MMA Tournament and $100,000 Prize Under the Tutelage of Fight Legends Randy Couture, Greg Jackson, Frank Shamrock, and Joe Warren

Series Premieres Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT

New York, NY, May 6, 2013 – The inaugural season of Spike TV’s “Fight Master: Bellator MMA” brings together 32 of the best welterweight (170 lbs) fighters on the planet to compete for a spot in the Bellator MMA Tournament, the toughest tournament in sports, and a $100,000 prize. The series premieres on Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT, featuring legends of the sport, Randy Couture, Greg Jackson, Frank Shamrock, and Joe Warren, as coaches.

From Salvador, Brazil to Newcastle, United Kingdom to Great Falls, MT, the 32 fighters have traveled from all corners of the globe to the bayou of New Orleans, and will live and train together in four camps led by the aforementioned legendary coaches. This series is much more than just a tournament, as it will capture the reality of the competitors and the grueling training regimen it takes to become a world-class MMA fighter.

The concept of “Fight Master: Bellator MMA” is unprecedented in that the fighters control their own destiny. They will choose which camp to train with and which opponent they want to fight next. The 32 fighters will partake in qualifying bouts over the first three episodes of the series. The finale will be telecast live on Spike with the winner moving on to an upcoming tournament. Bellator announcer Jimmy Smith will serve as host.

The inaugural “Fight Master: Bellator MMA” cast is comprised of the following:

Marcus Aurelio Age: 26 Record: 6-2-0 Vancouver, British Columbia Twitter: @barraozinho

Nick Barnes Age: 22 Record: 5-0-0 San Diego, CA Twitter: @Nick_phoenix170

Eric Bradley Age: 31 Record: 5-1-0 Las Vegas, NV Twitter: @ericbradleymma

Mike Bronzoulis Age: 34 Record: 15-5-1 Houston, TX Twitter: @thegreekmikeb

Frank Carrillo Age: 29 Record: 6-3-0 Miami, FL Twitter: @CarrilloMMA

Darryl Cobb Age: 32 Record: 6-6-0 East St. Louis, IL Twitter: @devistatdarryl

Christopher Curtis Age: 25 Record: 7-2-0 Cincinnati, OH Twitter: @TheActionman513

Evan Cutts Age: 22 Record: 5-1-0 Dallas, TX Twitter: @TheButcherCutts

Mike Dubois Age: 30 Record: 3-0-0 Thomasville, GA Twitter: @zombiemikemma

Tom Gallicchio Age: 26 Record: 16-8-0 Howell, NJ Twitter: @TomDaTank5

Ismael Gonzalez Age: 32 Record: 11-10-0 Los Angeles, CA Twitter: @Ismael_mma

Gareth Joseph Age: 28 Record: 9-5-0 San Diego, CA Twitter: @garethjoseph

Chris Lozano Age: 30 Record: 9-3-0 Cleveland, OH Twitter: @CLE_assassin

AJ Matthews Age: 24 Record: 5-2-0 Carlsbad, CA Twitter: @AJ_MMA

Rob Mills Age: 35 Record: 8-2-0 Newcastle, United Kingdom Twitter: @robmillsmma

Steve Montgomery Age: 22 Record: 3-1-0 Florence, SC Twitter: @WeaselSteve

Chip Moraza-Pollard Age: 24 Record: 7-4-0 Plymouth, MA Twitter: @chipthesurgeon

Brett Nakamura Age: 30 Record: 6-1-0 Maui, HI

Jason Norwood Age: 28 Record: 12-3-0 Fort Hood, TX Twitter: @rightfight170

Dom O’Grady Age: 31 Record: 15-5-1 Detroit, MI Twitter: @Dom_OGrady

Jacob Ortiz Age: 31 Record: 8-4-0 San Manuel, AZ Twitter: @KobeTheStunna

Josh Quayhagen Age: 26 Record: 6-1-0 Lake Charles, LA Twitter: @JoshQuayhagen

Joe Riggs Age: 30 Record: 39-14-0 Phoenix, AZ Twitter: @DIESELRIGGSMMA

Eric Scallan Age: 27 Record: 11-4-0 Lafayette, LA Twitter: @EricScallan

Cristiano Souza Age: 30 Record: 5-0-0 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Twitter: @SouzaSoldierBoy

Brendan Tierney Age: 37 Record: 10-5-0 Queens, NY Twitter: @Tiny_Shorts

Bryan Travers Age: 29 Record: 13-3-0 Bakersfield, CA Twitter: @BryanTravers

Andy Uhrich Age: 27 Record: 8-3-0 Gering, NE Twitter: @stunneruhrich

Tim Welch Age: 22 Record: 8-4-0 Great Falls, MT Twitter: @TimWelchMT

Cole Williams Age: 30 Record: 5-1-0 Darian, WI Twitter: @havocole

Joe Williams Age: 27 Record: 7-1-0 Tustin, CA Twitter: @jawmma

Artenas Young Age: 32 Record: 9-5-0 Houston, TX Twitter: @MachineGunYoung

The series will delve into the fighters’ personal stories for a glimpse into the often arduous journey that led them to “Fight Master.” Viewers will get to know the man behind the fighter, and follow them on their quest for victory. Despite their wide variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds, these fighters all share the same goal – to learn from the sport’s finest trainers and earn a spot in the Bellator tournament.

Spike TV will telecast 10 one-hour episodes of “Fight Master: BellatorMMA.” Production begins in early February in Louisiana. Two of television’s most acclaimed producers, eight-time Emmy® Award-winner Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri of Profiles Television Productions, the visionaries behind “The Amazing Race,” serve as Executive Producers. Andrea Richter serves as Executive Producer as well and Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Spike TV, Tim Duffy, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Spike TV, and Christopher Martello, Vice President, Sports and Specials, Spike TV, will oversee the project for the network.