(In case you forgot who Joe Soto is, here’s his beatdown of Yahir Reyes from the featherweight finals at Bellator 10.)

Not counting their impending battle in a court of law, Bellator’s third season will be packed with compelling matchups. The tournament-based fight club announced today that season 2 featherweight winner Joe Warren will challenge for Joe Soto‘s belt at Bellator 27 (September 2nd at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio). Soto ran through Bellator’s inaugural 145-pound tourney last year, and most recently scored a TKO over Diego Saraiva in a non-title bout at Bellator 19, bringing his unblemished record to 9-0.

For its upcoming season, Bellator is focusing on big men, tiny women, and exiled UFC talent. Here’s a rundown of the notable matches that have been reportedly booked so far…


Bellator 24: August 12, 2010; Hollywood, Florida
– Hector Lombard vs. Herbert Goodman (MW, non-title fight)
– Eddie Sanchez vs. Neil Grove (HW tourney, opening round)
– Megumi Fujii vs. Angela Magana (women’s 115-pound tourney, opening round)
– Jessica Aguilar vs. Lynn Alvarez (women’s 115-pound tourney, opening round)
– Yves Edwards vs. Luis Palomino (LW, non-tourney)

Bellator 25: August 19, 2010; Chicago, Illinois
– Damian Grabowski vs. Scott Barrett (HW tourney, opening round)
– Cole Konrad vs. Rogent Lloret (HW tourney, opening round)
– Jessica Pene vs. Zoila Frausto (women’s 115-pound tourney, opening round)
– Brad Blackburn vs. Dan Hornbuckle (WW, non-tourney)
– Shonie Carter vs. Torrance Taylor (WW, non-tourney)
– Brian Gassaway vs. Kevin Knabjian(WW, non-tourney)

Bellator 26: August 26, 2010; Kansas City, Missouri
– Mike Hayes vs. Hae Joon Yang (HW tourney, opening round)
– Aisling Daly vs. Lisa Ward (women’s 115-pound tourney, opening round)

Bellator 27: September 2, 2010; San Antonio, Texas
– Joe Soto vs. Joe Warren (for FW championship)

Bellator 28: September 9, 2010; New Orleans, Louisiana
– Rich Clementi vs. Carey Vanier (WW, non-tourney)
– Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Alvin Robinson (FW, non-tourney)

Bellator 29: September 16, 2010; Location TBA
No matches scheduled yet.

Bellator 30: September 23, 2010; Location TBA
– Jeremy Horn vs. Bryan Baker (MW, non-tourney)