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 2qhov noHnub vas Xuv, Tej zaum 21 at 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 ranked featherweightLeslie Smith(12-8-1) in a rematch to crown the world’s top 145-pound female athlete.
Tus BELLATOR MMA 259 main card on SHOWTIME is loaded from top to bottom, including former bantamweight champion Darion Caldwell (15-4) rematching Tsis yog. 6 ranked bantamweight Leandro Higo (20-5) in a 135-pound contest, a top-five middleweight clash between the undefeated No. 3 ranked Austin Vanderford (10-0) and No. 4 ranked 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 Christian 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, followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months. Viewers can sign up atSHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers will be delivered two premier BELLATOR MMA events per month throughout 2021 and beyond, 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 rankedGrant Neal(5-0) and No. 8 rankedTyree 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. Ntxiv, the charismatic No. 8 ranked women’s flyweightValerie Loureda (3-0), the always-excitingSaad Awad(23-13, 1 NC), and No. 6 ranked Australian featherweightJanay Harding (6-4), who takes on No. 7 ranked Irish sensationLeah McCourt(4-1). Finally, Tsis yog. 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 2Main Card:
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)
Middleweight Bout: #3-Austin Vanderford (10-0) vs. #4-Fabian Edwards (9-1)
Welterweight Bout: Jaleel Willis (14-2) vs.Maycon Mendonca (11-4)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #9-Christian Edwards (4-0) vs.Ben Parrish (4-1)
Preliminary Card:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV
5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT
Lightweight Bout: Saad Awad (23-13, 1 NC) vs.Nate Andrews (16-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #7-Grant Neal (5-0) vs. #8-Tyree Fortune (5-0)
Flyweight Bout: Sumiko Inaba (1-0) vs.Kristina Katsikis(1-1)
Lightweight Bout: Aviv Gozali (5-0) vs.Sean Felton (5-2-1)
Flyweight Bout: #8-Valerie Loureda (3-0) vs.Hannah Guy(2-1)
Heavyweight Bout: Davion Franklin (2-0) vs.Tyler King (12-9)
Featherweight Bout: #6-Janay Harding(6-4) vs. #7-Leah McCourt (4-1)
Lightweight Bout: #9-Alfie Davis(14-3) vs.Alexander Shabliy(19-3)
*Card subject to change.
Please visitBellator.com for additional information.