Bryan Baker (right) (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Bellator has announced that veteran Bryan Baker will replace the injured Brent Weedman in the welterweight tournament semifinals on February 21st. The 27 year-old fighter will take on Douglas Lima at the event, which will be hosted by Utah’s Maverik Center.

“You never like to see anyone suffer an injury, especially a quarterfinal winner, but when we learned of Brent’s injury, Bryan was the first guy we had in mind, and like a true professional he jumped at the opportunity,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney noted about Weedman, who worked his way to a unanimous decision win over Marius Zaromskis in the tourney’s opening round.

Baker (18-4) hasn’t competed since last June, when he was submitted by eventual tourney winner Karl Amoussou with a first round, heel hook. Prior to the loss the former middleweight had earned a UD win over UFC vet Ben Saunders.

“When I got the call, I was ready to rock & roll,” Baker said. “I look at this opportunity as an absolute blessing. With our new child in the picture, this is an opportunity to make my family proud, show everyone what I’ve been working on, and let The Beast go at it like he always does. Douglas is a strong, powerful guy but I’m going to use my reach advantage and show my strength. This is my destiny.”

Lima (23-5) is coming off a second round, stoppage win over Michail Tsarev in the tourney quarterfinals.

The February 21st card will also feature Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders in the other welterweight tournament semifinal, as well as the featherweight tourney final between Rad Martinez and Shabulat Shamhalaev. “King Mo” Lawal will also fight Emanuel Netwon that night in a light-heavyweight tournament semifinal bout.

The card will be broadcast on SPIKE.