Kemal
24-12-2012, 08:13
It only took a few months for Zach Makovsky to go from bantamweight champion to being out of the organization.
Makovsky, 30, acknowledged he was released by Bellator in a Twitter message, saying, "Yes, released...but as every door closes, new ones (maybe better ones) open!"
Makovsky (14-4) dropped a split decision to Anthony Leone at Bellator 83, on Dec. 7, in Atlantic City, N.J. in a good back-and-forth fight. This came on the heels of his losing his championship to current division king Eduardo Dantas, on April 13, also in Atlantic City, with an arm triangle submission at 3:26 of the second round.
The former captain of the Drexel University wrestling team debuted in Bellator on June 10, 2010, beating Eric Ryan to quality for the season three tournament that would crown the company's first bantamweight champion. Over a seven-week period, he scored wins over Nick Mamalis, Bryan Goldsby and finally scored a unanimous decision win over Ed West on Oct. 14, 2010 in Kansas City to become champion.
Since that time he had finished Chad Robichaux and Ryan Roberts in non-title matches on Bellator broadcasts before his loss to Dantas.
The release would have to be considered a major surprise, since he had a series of exciting fights on Bellator television over two plus years and the Dantas fight was the only one he wasn't in until the end. While not a huge name, he would have at least had name recognition for the Bellator base audience and usually having entertaining fights and being a former champion would seem to be the kind of a fighter they'd want on their roster heading into the new era on Spike TV that starts in January.
Makovsky, 30, acknowledged he was released by Bellator in a Twitter message, saying, "Yes, released...but as every door closes, new ones (maybe better ones) open!"
Makovsky (14-4) dropped a split decision to Anthony Leone at Bellator 83, on Dec. 7, in Atlantic City, N.J. in a good back-and-forth fight. This came on the heels of his losing his championship to current division king Eduardo Dantas, on April 13, also in Atlantic City, with an arm triangle submission at 3:26 of the second round.
The former captain of the Drexel University wrestling team debuted in Bellator on June 10, 2010, beating Eric Ryan to quality for the season three tournament that would crown the company's first bantamweight champion. Over a seven-week period, he scored wins over Nick Mamalis, Bryan Goldsby and finally scored a unanimous decision win over Ed West on Oct. 14, 2010 in Kansas City to become champion.
Since that time he had finished Chad Robichaux and Ryan Roberts in non-title matches on Bellator broadcasts before his loss to Dantas.
The release would have to be considered a major surprise, since he had a series of exciting fights on Bellator television over two plus years and the Dantas fight was the only one he wasn't in until the end. While not a huge name, he would have at least had name recognition for the Bellator base audience and usually having entertaining fights and being a former champion would seem to be the kind of a fighter they'd want on their roster heading into the new era on Spike TV that starts in January.