This is the kind of news that makes you want to slam your head on your living room wall until your neighbors repeatedly knock on your door and scream obscenities in Spanish. It looks like Bellator color commentator, Jimmy Smith, is not coming back to Bellator in 2011. The decision was not on his accord, however. According to Jimmy Smith, Bellator offered him an 'unacceptable' contract that somehow managed to be worse than his previous contract. MiddleEasy caught up with Jimmy Smith this week to see what exactly happened with the deal.

"Here's the situation right now, we had a contract through 2011 to do Bellator. They wanted us to sign with their new network deal an extension of three years, starting with this year [2011]. The contract was just unacceptable, it wasn't what we wanted so I refused to sign the extension. I thought the contract we had until 2011 was a better deal, and that was it. I haven't heard anything since late November.

"It's possible that they can come back the eleventh hour and say 'we want you back, here's the deal', but that looks increasingly unlikely is the best way I can put it."

"It's really odd, considering what I thought was a really great breakout 2010 year for Bellator and for Sean and myself as a broadcast team it feels like we had a lot of momentum and everything was going great -- and then, boom. It was almost within -- not even a week for everything to fall apart. It was really weird considering the kind of 2010 we had."

Damn. While it's not finalized just yet, nothing short of a divine intervention is the only thing that could keep Jimmy Smith with Bellator. If you still need your Jimmy Smith fix (like this guy), we suggest you find episodes of 'Fight Quest' on the Discovery Channel, and while you're at it, catch this episode of 'Mark and Olly' on the Travel Channel since it was, undeniably, the greatest show of 2009 that no one watched.

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+1 # Guest 2010-12-30 13:57

Know what's unacceptable? Guess.

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+6 # thisredengine 2010-12-30 14:00

Is it allegedly killing dogs? I bet it's allegedly killing dogs. Bjorn Rebney would know something about this since he's allegedly a dog killer.

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+7 # LayzieTheSavage 2010-12-30 13:58

I did Jimmy's Highlight to get him that job. That sucks. He's a great guy.
[youtube]http:/ /www.youtube.co m/watch?v=PHId- le41es[/youtube ]

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-3 # Guest 2010-12-30 14:48

Quoting LayzieTheSavage:

I did Jimmy's Highlight to get him that job. That sucks. He's a great guy.

Smith and Wheelock were already commentary partners for many M-1 Challenge events and an Affliction event. I highly doubt that your highlight had anything to do with it.

anyway, yea that sucks

Smith always did a really solid job and i dont recall him ever saying anything ridiculous, wonder who the new color guy will be

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-1 # LayzieTheSavage 2010-12-30 15:22

Quoting Silent:

Quoting LayzieTheSavage:

I did Jimmy's Highlight to get him that job. That sucks. He's a great guy.

Smith and Wheelock were already commentary partners for many M-1 Challenge events and an Affliction event. I highly doubt that your highlight had anything to do with it.

You really don't know shit, just spewing out hate because you're a hater.
I love it.
Fact of that matter is that I got paid to make that video, and that video was inside his press package that he was shipping out to find acting roles, commentary jobs, and shit like that.
and guess what happened?
Him and Sean got a job with Bellator about a month later.

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+1 # thisredengine 2010-12-30 15:58

And BOOM! goes the dynamite!

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+10 # aint.that.a.kick.in.the.head 2010-12-30 16:59

The comment was a kind of hater comment, but dont you think you sound a bit obnoxious saying "I did Jimmy's highlight to get him that job." Sounds a bit like "I got him the job." Me me me Im sure his talent got him the job too.

Lets revise in a more humble fashion shall we? "This sucks, I did Jimmys highlight video when he was looking for commentary jobs, it was cool to get paid for working with a talented guy, hopefully it gets worked out"

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+7 # Guest 2010-12-30 17:25

not a "hater", just found the wording of Layzie's post hilarious

now implying that his little HL actually got Smith and AND Wheelock the Bellator gig

my point was that they already had a history and chemistry together as commentators, im guessing that factor weighed in much more than a 2:30 HL

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-4 # LayzieTheSavage 2010-12-30 22:42

Quoting aint.that.a.kick.in.the.head:

The comment was a kind of hater comment, but dont you think you sound a bit obnoxious saying "I did Jimmy's highlight to get him that job." Sounds a bit like "I got him the job." Me me me Im sure his talent got him the job too.

Lets revise in a more humble fashion shall we? "This sucks, I did Jimmys highlight video when he was looking for commentary jobs, it was cool to get paid for working with a talented guy, hopefully it gets worked out"

Quoting Silent:

not a "hater", just found the wording of Layzie's post hilarious

now implying that his little HL actually got Smith and AND Wheelock the Bellator gig

my point was that they already had a history and chemistry together as commentators, im guessing that factor weighed in much more than a 2:30 HL

Someones always trying to make something out of nothing.

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+1 # aint.that.a.kick.in.the.head 2010-12-31 07:12

Report: Pot calls kettle black

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+7 # Maggie Con 2010-12-30 14:04

This is wildly disappointing, Jimmy Smith is such an underrated commentator. I'm going to miss hearing him next season.

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+2 # Guest 2010-12-30 14:30

jimmy smith was pretty good, only person who is an acceptable replacement IMO is michael schiavello

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+5 # goatdaddy77 2010-12-30 14:39

Jimmy Smith is one tough SOB and a good commentator. Pull you head out of your ass, Bjorn, make this deal.

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+1 # Sambro 2010-12-30 15:14

Yeah. I really liked him on L.A. Law.

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0 # horseface 2010-12-30 15:15

Quote:

catch this episode of 'Mark and Olly' on the Travel Channel since it was, undeniably, the greatest show of 2009 that no one watched.

that dude was fucking tripping balls, where can i get some?

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0 # Miaou 2010-12-30 15:27

What a shame.

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0 # Guest 2010-12-30 19:55

do they realize this guy had the unfortunate job of attempting to justify North American judging on many occasion? (i.e takedowns > full catches/near submissions)

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0 # merlin 2010-12-30 23:36

that is unfortunate but bellator just doesn't have the kind of money to throw around like zuffa does. He does deserve an increase in pay (if thats what he was asking for) but maybe they just couldn't afford it

And I'm not supporting bellator by any means, just spitballing

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0 # juice lee 2010-12-31 05:17

well maybe they'll get his buddy from fight quest doug anderson

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0 # Conebone69 2010-12-31 05:20

I "rustled" with my emotions after I heard this bit of news.

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0 # Guest 2011-01-01 04:09

Aw man. Jimmy Smith is awesome, that's just awful. Fans need to start complaining about this. It's not too late to make a difference.

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0 # Guest 2011-01-01 13:22

Bjorn Rebney is a joke and he's nothing but a slimy boxing promoter tryin to F up MMA. He has no idea what he's doing... Just watch:)

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0 # Guest 2011-01-01 17:24

I'd be willing to bet they go with a fighter. That is the mistake I'd bet they make. A real Bill Goldberg type.

write it down. Somebody with no experience who might intimidate their new 11-15 yr old audience.

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0 # Guest 2011-01-02 23:33

nike shox shoes

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