Hector Lombard to headline Bellator middleweight tournament on April 17

Newly established mixed martial arts promotion Bellator Fighting Championships recently announced the brackets for its 185-pound middleweight tournament, which is set to take place at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., on April 17.

This is the the third installment of a 12-part series that will begin to air weekly on ESPN Deportes on April 3.

Cuban-born judo specialist Hector Lombard -- who will be making his long awaited debut on U.S. soil after several previously rumored bouts falling through -- is the biggest name to be included in the tournament. Mexican natives Virgil Lozano and Edwin Aguilar, team Lion's Den member Alex Andrade, undefeated Jared Hess, Spanish-born fighter Daniel Tamera, one-fight Elite XC veteran Yosmany Cabezas and James Damien Stelly are also slated for competition.

Kerry Vera -- the wife of UFC light heavyweight Brandon "The Truth" Vera -- is also expected to make her professional mixed martial arts MMA debut in a non tournament bout. In addition, ex-UFC champion Dave Menne will battle Norman Paraisy in a first round welterweight tournament bout on the card with the winner facing either Omar De La Cruz or Victor Meza in the next round.

Here's the rumored lineup for the Bellator Fighting Championships on April 17:

185 lbs.: Hector "Shango" Lombard (18-2-1) vs. Virgil "The Mexican Machine" Lozano (6-1-1)
185 lbs.: Alex "El Toro" Andrade (8-4) vs. Damien Stelly (8-2)
185 lbs.: Daniel Tabera (12-1-3) vs. Jared Hess (6-0-1)
185 lbs.: Yosmany Cabezas (7-1) vs. Edwin Aguilar (20-11)
170 lbs.: Dave Menne (42-15-2) vs. Norman Paraisy (5-0)
Kerry Vera (0-0) vs. TBA

The winner of the Lombard and Lozano fight will face the winner between Andrade and Stelly, while the victor out of Tabera and Hess will square off with either Cabezas or Aguilar.

The 10-fight debut event for the organization, featuring three first round fights from both the lightweight and featherweight tournaments, will be held on April 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Week two is set for the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., on April 10, showcasing three of the first round match-ups from the welterweight tournament, as well as each of the remaining first round bouts from the lightweight and featherweight tournaments.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on the Bellator Fighting Championship events as they are announced.