The Weekly Wrap: Feb. 13 - Feb. 19

Bellator makes moves

Bellator Fighting Championships announced new signings, its first “superfight” and a Canadian television deal for its increasingly anticipated second season that begins in April.

The promotion's lightweight champion and highest-ranked contracted talent, Eddie Alvarez, will not wait until a winner is decided in Bellator's 155-pound tournament to fight under the promotion’s banner. Alvarez will face grizzled UFC veteran Josh Neer in a May non-title bout. The fight will be contested at 160 pounds, Alvarez said during an appearance this week on HDNet’s “Inside MMA.” Alvarez will wait until the next tournament winner is decided to defend the belt, set for September. Neer told “The Fight Show with Mauro Ranallo” that he signed a three-fight deal with Bellator and is guaranteed a title shot if he beats Alvarez.

Bellator is said to be working on a similar superfight for its middleweight champion Hector Lombard, who has taken two fights elsewhere since winning the Bellator belt in June. Lombard will face Art Santore on March 12 on a non-Bellator card in Australia.

The promotion, which will air season two and three events this year live on Fox Sports Net affiliates across the United States, also announced an equally, if not more prominent television clearance in Canada. Bellator cards will air on The Score, a growing destination network for the country's sports fans. The network airs NBA and NCAA basketball, as well as WWE pro wrestling programming, and has broadcast some Strikeforce cards in the past. The time slot, or whether the fights will air live, was not yet announced. Bellator also has U.S. deals to air highlight shows late night on NBC and Spanish network Telemundo.

Bellator continued its weekly announcements of fighter signings this week. Canadian welterweight prospect Sean Pierson will compete in the 170-pound bracket along with Ben Askren, Steve Carl, Dan Hornbuckle, Jacob McClintock and Jim Wallhead. Also signed for the featherweight tournament was International Fight League veteran Shad Lierley, as well as Eric Marriott. Both join Wilson Reis, Bao Quach, Patricio Freire, Georgi Karakhanyan, William Romero and Joe Warren in the 145-pound bracket.