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Bellator Fighting Championship announced today that promotional newcomer Andreas Spang would step into the middleweight tournament semifinal round as a late replacement. Spang is stepping in for the undefeated Brazilian Bruno Santos, who was forced to withdraw from the semifinal bout due to a shoulder injury.

Santos defeated Giva Santana in the quarterfinal round of the season six middleweight tournament and was scheduled to face Brian Rogers at this Friday’s Bellator 66. Now with just a week’s notice, Spang gets the chance of a lifetime against the knockout article, Rogers.

“This is a life changing opportunity for me and my family.  Joining Bellator will allow me to provide for my family and chase my dream of winning a world title within a great organization.  When I moved to the USA from Sweden my dream was to be a world champion, Bellator is giving me this opportunity.  I’m very excited and ready to take full advantage,” said Andreas Spang on this opportunity.

Spang (7-1) is coming off a TKO win over Willie Parks at Strikeforce Challengers 20 after a 1-1 run with the Maximum Fighting Championship. The “Sweet Swede” will be making a huge jump up in competition when he faces Rogers but he knows what he’s getting into and what to expect from “The Predator” at Bellator 66.

“Brian is a tough fighter; most of his wins are in the 1st round.  I’ve been training for a short notice opportunity so I’m ready to go 3 rounds but I doubt it will go past the 1^st,” explained Spang.

The winner of the Rogers vs. Spang middleweight tournament bout will move to the finals and face either Vyacheslav Vasilevsky or Maiduel Falcao, who are also fighting on the stacked Bellator 66 main card.

Bellator 66 will take place from the I-X center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Picture courtesy of MFC