Heavyweight Final Rematch Eric Prindle Vs. Thiago Santos Slated For Bellator 61

Bellator Fighting Championships announced the second show of its upcoming sixth season.

Promotion officials have targeted March 16th at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana for Bellator 61. The event will be headlined by a rematch of season five's heavyweight tournament finals between Eric Prindle (7-1,1 NC) and Thiago Santos (10-1, 1 NC).

"Louisiana's been an amazing home to Bellator," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in a press release. "Our last two Louisiana events were spectacular sell-outs, so bringing Bellator to Bossier City was an easy decision to make. This Prindle-Santos fight has war written all over it, and both of these guys have taken this huge fight very personally. March 16 should be a great night."

Prindle and Santos initially met at Bellator 59, however action was cut short when Santos swung a kick directly into Prindle's groin. Ultimately, the American was unable to continue and the fight ended in a ‘no contest.'

The winner of the upcoming rematch will earn $100,000 in bonus money and a guaranteed shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad later this year.

Additionally, Bellator 61 is set to feature the opening round of season six's eight-man middleweight tournament. Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy, Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell, and Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos highlight the quartet of match-ups.

Bellator 61 is expected to air on MTV2 and Spike.com. High definition broadcasts will be available on EPIX.

Bellator 61 fight card:

Heavyweight Finals Rematch: Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
Middleweight Quarterfinals: Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy
Middleweight Quarterfinals: Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna
Middleweight Quarterfinals: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell
Middleweight Quarterfinals: Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos