As mentioned in a previous article, Grand Prix tournaments in all major weight classes were announced to be taking place within the Brutaal MMA promotion and partner promotions, with the winner receiving a Strikeforce contract.

What I didn’t realize was that one of these tournaments was already under way in the lightweight division. The Crucible tournament started in September 2009 with eight local fighters: Mike Richman, Gabe Wallbridge, John Case, Derek Getzel, Dustan Petron, Dane Smith, Brandon Bergeron and Dan Copp.

The four semi-finalists were Dustan Petron (who defeated Dane Smith by 1st round guillotine),  Brandon Bergeron (who defeated Dan Copp by 2nd round TKO/RSC ref stoppage), Johnny Case (who defeated Gabe Wallbridge by TKO) and Mike Richman (who defeated Derek Getzel by 1st round submission).

In a peculiar turn of events, Mike Richman pulled out of the tournament. His manager, Jeremy Bjornberg, said that this is because Ambition MMA pressured him to sign a bad contract without management in the room. Bjornberg stated that he did not even see a copy of the contract until weeks later, well after Richman pulled out of the tournament. The most problematic part about the contract was that it did not allow Richman to have any sponsors except for Ambition MMA.

Mike Reilly of Ambition MMA disputes this claim, stating that the contract specifically allows two advertising spots once the fighter goes to Strikeforce. “None of the fighters in the tournament were asked to wear Ambition, Plasma, Zerba or any of the tournament sponsors,” Reilly said.

In any case, Richman pulling out of the tournament gave Derek Getzel a chance to redeem himself, and he defeated Dustan Petron by 1st round TKO. Meanwhile, Johnny Case scored a TKO victory in his bout against Brandon Bergeron, thus leaving Case and Bergeron in the semi-finals… thus paving the way for Getzel vs. Case. Underdog Derek Getzel walked away with the contract. Watch for yourself.