KARIM MAYFIELD NOW A FREE AGENT

SAN FRANCISCO (April 29, 2014) - Jr. Welterweight contender, Karim "Hard Hitta" Mayfield (18-1-1, 11 KOs) is now a free agent.  His promotional agreement with Top Rank has ended. 

After suffering his first loss as a professional, a close unanimous decision defeat to Thomas Dulorme (21-1, 14 KOs), Mayfield will look to make a quick return to the ring as he plans to fight in his hometown of San Francisco in mid June.  Still a relevant name in the Jr. Welterweight division, Mayfield seeks to fight other contenders in his weight class and is open to working with everyone.

 "Now that I'm a free agent, I feel I have more options to compete against other fighters in the top ten of my division," said Mayfield. "One loss is not going to stop me from trying to accomplish my goal of becoming a world champion.  If all goes well, I'll be fighting in San Francisco at Kezar Pavilion in June.  I still have a lot of fight left in me and I'm open to working with other promoters in the future."

 

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Bellator Releases Ben Askren

Undefeated Welterweight Is Now Unrestricted Free Agent

Newport Beach, CA. (November 14, 2013) – Ben Askren is now an unrestricted free agent after Bellator released the undefeated welterweight.  The Bellator Welterweight World Title will be vacant until Douglas Lima faces the winner of the Season 9 Welterweight Tournament later this winter when the new Bellator Welterweight Champion will be crowned.

“I’ve said it many times, Ben’s a completely one-dimensional fighter who is utterly dominant in that dimension,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “I had a number of discussions with Ben and it became clear it was time for both parties to move in different directions.  We’ve relinquished any right to match here and Ben can sign with whoever he chooses to sign with. Ben’s been at Bellator since the start of his career, I respect him and what he’s accomplished and wish him the best wherever he goes.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/BellatorMMA