Bellator Fighting Championships has announced that the promotion will crown its bantamweight champion, October 14th, in Kansas City, when Ed West squares off with Zach Makovsky. Both men advanced to the finals of Bellator’s ongoing bantamweight tourney on September 23rd, when West (15-4) defeated Jose Vega by split decision and Makovsky (11-2) scored a unanimous decision win over Bryan Goldsby.
“Our Bantamweight division has been fiercely competitive from the first fight, so whether its Ed or Zach who captures this World title, they’ll have earned it every step of the way,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying in the official announcement. “Both of these guys are tremendously talented, great competitors and true sportsman. This has the makings of a really great world title fight”
West (pictured above) heads into the bout having won seven straight fights and has not been defeated since February, 2007, when he lost by decision to Savant Young while competing in the International Fight League.
“I’ve definitely had to train differently for not only Zach, the fight itself,” West said. “As the fight moves on it will become harder and harder to lock up a submission, and our endurance levels need to be taken to the next level. It’s going to be a war.”
Makovsky has won five straight bouts and has gone 3-0 under the Bellator FC banner to date.
“I’m not as concerned with Ed as I am with the length of this fight,” said Makovsky. “With that said, Ed is going to be a huge challenge, and probably the most well rounded fighter I have faced. I’m excited to see what I can do.”
