Bellator 197 has suffered a shake-up to its main event. Brent Primus is out, and Michael Chandler is now being partnered up with Brandon Girtz.
Michael Chandler’s luck has taken a turn for the worse once again. Expected to face Brent Primus in a rematch for the Bellator lightweight title at Bellator 197, plans have changed just over three weeks out from the fight. An injury to Primus, currently the 155lb champ in the promotion, has necessitated an opponent change. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani first reported the news.
Girtz for one welcomed the switch-up, and for good reason.
Fight in 3.5 weeks??!? Fucking Yep!! Let’s go @BellatorMMA
— Brandon Girtz (@brandongirtzmma) March 21, 2018
It’s another unfortunate turn of events for Chandler (17–4). The former two-time Bellator lightweight champion lost his title to Primus last year at Bellator NYC. The stoppage, however, left a bad taste in the mouth of pretty much everyone involved, coming via a doctor’s stoppage due to a leg injury. In the months that followed, Chandler pursued a rematch, only to see Primus take time off.
Eventually tiring of the wait, Chandler took a fight with Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 192 in Los Angeles earlier this year. Though he openly spoke of pursuing money fights both in and out of the 155lb weight class, ever the company man, he eventually agreed to a title fight rematch.
Brandon Girtz (15–7) is a longtime Bellator vet, joining the promotion in 2012. He recently snapped a three-fight losing streak, earning a KO win against Luka Jelcic at Bellator 190. Girtz holds notable wins over Drew Dober, Derek Campos, and Melvin Guillard.
As for champion Brent Primus, it appears a wounded knee is to blame for his withdrawal. Primus (8-0) has yet to comment on the injury. Bellator MMA has not yet announced the change, though that is expected to come shortly.
