Bellator 139’s Bubba Jenkins: Losing Fights Can Be Beneficial

Bubba Jenkins joined Bellator as one of the top prospects in MMA. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

In January, Bubba Jenkins was perhaps one victory away from fulfilling the hype that accompanied his signing with Bellator MMA in 2013.

Having shaken off the disappointment of an upset loss to the lightly regarded LaRue Burley in just his second promotional appearance, Jenkins entered his Bellator 132 showdown with Georgi Karakhanyan on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. A win over Karakhanyan, a former World Series of Fighting titlist, would put Jenkins on the fast track to title contention.

Instead, Karakhanyan showed that the 2011 NCAA national champion wrestler is still very much a…