HOMETOWN HERO DAVE RICKELS SET FOR ACTION AGAINST MELVIN GUILLARD IN CO-HEADLINER

סאַנטאַ מאָניקאַ, קאַליף. (יוני 1, 2016) – Bellator MMA returns to Kansas with a pivotal matchup between undefeated phenom, דאַרריאָן "דער וואלף" קאָלדוועל (9-0) און Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1) to determine the No. 1 contender for the Bantamweight Title in the main event of "בעללאַטאָר 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” אויף יולי 22 inside Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, קאַנסאַס.

In the co-main event of the evening, local hometown hero Dave “Caveman” Rickels (17-4) וועט טרעפן מעלווין "די יונגע מערדער" גויללאַרד (32-16-2) in a lightweight matchup that will surely provide fireworks. נאָך קאַנטעס וועט זיין מודיע באַלד.

"בעללאַטאָר 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” אַירס לעבן אויף ספּייק ביי 9 פּ.ם. עט / 8 פּ.ם. קאָרט, בשעת פּרילימאַנערי באַוץ וועט טייַך לעבן אויף Bellator.com און די בעללאַטאָר מאָביל אַפּ אָנהייב בייַ 7 פּ.ם. און.

טיקקעץ פֿאַר די געשעעניש אָנהייבן בייַ נאָר $27 און גיין אויף פאַרקויף שבת, יוני 4, and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, KansasStarEventCenter.com. דאָאָרס פֿאַר די געשעעניש עפענען בייַ 5:30 פּ.ם. CT local time and the first preliminary bout will commence one hour later.

בייַ 28 יאר אַלט, “The Wolf” may very well be the brightest young star in Bellator MMA’s deep bantamweight division. The New Jersey native has begun his career with nine consecutive victories, including five blistering first round finishes. Caldwell will be tasked with the headlining role for the second consecutive time after an impressive first outing at "בעללאַטאָר 151: וואָראַן ווס. Caldwell” in which he had his way with former two-division Bellator champion דזשאָו וואָראַן, ווינינג via rear-naked choke submission. The former NC State standout wrestled to a National Championship and two All-American accolades before joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2014. The undefeated Caldwell is reinvigorated after recently re-signing a seven-fight contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. For a closer look at Caldwell’s most recent technical submission victory over Joe Warren in the main event of“Bellator 151,” click here.

A native of Yona, Guam, Taimanglo has emerged as one of the most prolific bantamweight fighters in MMA. Having gone 13-2 over his last 15 bouts dating back to 2009, it’s difficult to find a fighter more consistent than “The Juggernaut.” Since signing with Bellator in 2013, Taimanglo has accumulated a 5-2 record including a current string of three consecutive victories. Standing at 5’4,” Taimanglo will once again be squaring off against a much taller opponent in the 5’10’’ Caldwell. דריקט דאָ to see exclusive footage of Taimanglo’s unanimous decision win over סירוואַן קאַקאַי בייַ “Bellator 151.”

As is usually the case when Bellator rolls through Kansas, Rickels will be the center of attention when he fights Guillard on July 22. “The Caveman” delivered the proverbial “Fight of the Night” back in February with a first-round knockout of באַבי קופּער during the co-main event of "בעללאַטאָר 150: קאָנגאָ ווס. Spartan.” A native of Derby, קאַנסאַס, Rickels will be making his 17^טה appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, a promotion with which he has accrued 11 victories over the course of a six-year period. The 27-year-old recently re-signed with the Scott Coker-led promotion, ensuring his exciting fighting style will be seen exclusively in the Bellator cage for years to come.

מיט 52 career fights under his belt, 33-year-old Melvin Guillard will have a lot to prove when he takes on “The Caveman.” Guillard seems to have made a full recovery from his brutally broken hand that occurred during his Bellator MMA debut last year. Throughout his MMA tenure, “The Young Assassin” has displayed a knack for ending fights early, מיט 23 פון זיין 32 professional victories coming before reaching the judges’ scorecards. יולי 22 the New Orleans native will have an opportunity to take down another experienced lightweight in Rickels and reassert himself as a top 155-pounder.

דערהייַנטיקט “בעללאַטאָר 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: דאַרריאָן קאָלדוועל (9-0) ווס. Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: דייוו ריקקעלס (17-4, 1 נק) ווס. מעלווין גויללאַרד (32-16-2, 2 נק)

פּרעלימינאַרי קאַרד:

בעללאַטאָר ממאַ מידדלעוועיגהט פּרעלימינאַרי באָוט: Manny Meraz (8-2) ווס. Trey Ogden (4-1)

בעללאַטאָר ממאַ וועלטערווייט פּרעלימינאַרי באָוט: Chris Harris (6-0) ווס. Matt Foster (6-8)