CRIS CYBORG SET TO DEFEND WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST LESLIE SMITH IN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH
Los Angeles– BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card forBELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2teneiRāmere, Kia 21 i Mohegan Sun Arena. The event caps off an exciting month of action for BELLATOR, and airs LIVE on SHOWTIME at9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
With plans to continue her dominance over the women’s featherweight division, Cris Cyborg(23-2, 1 NC) will put her world championship on the line against No. 4 rima tekau mā whitu rungaLeslie Smith(12-8-1) in a rematch to crown the world’s top 145-pound female athlete.
Te BELLATOR MMA 259 main card on SHOWTIME is loaded from top to bottom, including former bantamweight champion Darion Caldwell (15-4) rematching Kaua e. 6 ranked bantamweight Leandro Higo (20-5) in a 135-pound contest, a top-five middleweight clash between the undefeated No. 3 runga Austin Vanderford (10-0) a No. 4 runga Fabian Edwards (9-1), and a welterweight matchup that will see the streaking Jaleel Willis (14-2) face off against former LFA champion Maycon Mendonca (11-4), who’ll be making his promotional debut. Capping off the main card action will be the undefeated Jackson Wink-product and No. 9 ranked light heavyweight Karaitiana Edwards (4-0) challenging Mississippi’s Ben Parrish (4-1).
As part of the launch of BELLATOR MMA on SHOWTIME, the network is offering viewers who are new to the SHOWTIME streaming service a 30-day free trial, Whai muri i te utu mo te utu ohaurunga mo te $ 4.99 / marama mo nga marama e ono e whai ake nei. Ka taea e nga kaitoro te haina kiSHO.com/BellatorMMA. Ka tukuna nga kaiohauru kia rua nga huihuinga BELLATOR MMA pirimia ia marama puta noa 2021 a tera taha, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.
The nine-fight preliminary card has no shortage of action-packed bouts, featuring a top-10 light heavyweight matchup between No. 7 rungaGrant Neal(5-0) a No. 8 rungaTyree Fortune(5-0) and the return of Israeli lightweight superstarAviv Gozali (5-0), as he looks to add to his five first round finishes and record breaking 11-second submission win. Ētahi atu, the charismatic No. 8 ranked women’s flyweightValerie Loureda (3-0), the always-excitingKoe Awad(23-13, 1 NC), a No. 6 ranked Australian featherweightJanay Harding (6-4), who takes on No. 7 ranked Irish sensationLeah McCourt(4-1). Heoi, Kaua e. 9 ranked lightweightAlfie Davis (14-3) makes his sixth promotional appearance against BELLATOR newcomerAlexander Shabliy (19-3).
All prelims will stream live at5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Full bout listings are below:
BELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2Kāri Main:
SHOWTIME
9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Featherweight World Title Main Event: c-Cris Cyborg(23-2, 1 NC) vs. #4-Leslie Smith(12-8-1)
Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (15-4) vs. #6-Leandro Higo(20-5)
Whitu a'ee: #3-Austin Vanderford (10-0) vs. #4-Fabian Edwards (9-1)
Welterweight a'ee: Jaleel Willis (14-2) vs.Maycon Mendonca (11-4)
Light taumahamaha a'ee: #9-Karaitiana Edwards (4-0) vs.Ben Parrish (4-1)
Kāri hukihuki:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pouaka Pouaka Whakaata
5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT
Kōmāmā a'ee: Koe Awad (23-13, 1 NC) vs.Nate Andrews (16-3)
Light taumahamaha a'ee: #7-Grant Neal (5-0) vs. #8-Tyree Fortune (5-0)
mā a'ee: Sumiko Inaba (1-0) vs.Kristina Katsikis(1-1)
Kōmāmā a'ee: Aviv Gozali (5-0) vs.Sean Felton (5-2-1)
mā a'ee: #8-Valerie Loureda (3-0) vs.Hannah Guy(2-1)
Taumahamaha a'ee: Davion Franklin (2-0) vs.Tyler King (12-9)
Mā whitu a'ee: #6-Janay Harding(6-4) vs. #7-Leah McCourt (4-1)
Kōmāmā a'ee: #9-Alfie Davis(14-3) vs.Alexander Shabliy(19-3)
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