CODY WALKER STEPS UP ON SHORT NOTICE TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED A.J. MCKEE, WHILE GEORGI KARAKHANYAN-BUBBA JENKINS MOVED TO SPIKE-TELEVISED CARD
سانتا مونيكا, CALIF (أغسطس 16, 2016) – Just nine days before the highly anticipated "Bellator 160: هندرسون مقابل. Pitbull” الحدث على أغسطس 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, كاليفورنيا., injuries sustained by main card fighters هنري كوراليس و لينا أوفشينيكوفا have shaken things up a bit. وزن الريشة مهزوم A.J. ماكي (4-0) سوف تواجه الآن Cody Walker (7-2), في حين بوبا جنكينز (11-2) و جورجي Karakhanyan (24-6-1) find themselves in a featherweight feature fight during the SPIKE-televised main card.
The fights join a main card that spotlights a super fight at 155-pounds between بنسون هندرسون (23-6) و باتريك "بيتبول" (25-3), as the two will duke it out for a shot at Michael Chandler’s championship belt. بالإضافة, an explosive lightweight contest pitting كنت عوض (19-7) ضد ديريك أندرسون (13-2) will serve as the evening’s co-main event.
In preliminary action, welterweights Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. و Joey Davis will make their professional debuts, في حين تشينزو ماتشيدا (3-2) will compete for the first time under the Bellator MMA banner.
Tickets for the event start at $30 and can be purchased now on Ticketmaster and at Honda Center Box Office. الأبواب مفتوحة في 4:45 عصرا. PT local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com و وBellator موبايل التطبيق — يبدأ في 5:00 عصرا. PT.
After beginning his career 7-1 كهاو, the 21-year-old “Mercenary” has made a splash on the professional circuit, recording a perfect 4-0 mark through his first four bouts. McKee has fought under the Bellator MMA banner ever since he made his professional debut in 2015, finishing all of his contests in the opening frame, including three knockouts and a rear-naked choke submission. McKee’s most recent victory came at the expense of Italian Danilo Belluardo during the mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first-ever event overseas, "Bellator 152: Freire vs. Souza.” The Long Beach, كاليفورنيا. native will now take his flashy personality to the Honda Center, where he will have the chance to put his unique skill set on full display in front of his hometown fans.
Agreeing to take a professional mixed martial arts contest on short notice is no easy task, doing so against an undefeated fighter the caliber of McKee is even more daunting. But that’s exactly the scenario Walker finds himself in now ahead of next Friday’s حدث. A two-time competitor for Bellator, “The Crow” will look to move above .500 within the promotion when he enters the cage at Honda Center. The 28-year-old Texan has ended all seven of his professional victories via TKO or KO, including four in the first round.
A longtime veteran of Bellator MMA, Karakhanyan will look to get back on track after dropping two closely contested decision losses against Jenkins, who he handily defeated nearly two years ago via guillotine submission. Known to many mixed martial arts fans as “Insane,” the 31-year-old has finished 18 من له 24 فاز كلاعب محترف, earning himself multiple titles in regional promotions along the way. Following multiple setbacks to his knee, the Russian fighter is finally healthy and now looks to climb the 145-pound ladder in a competitive division that he once sat atop as the No. 1 المنافس.
Just a few years ago, Bubba Jenkins was widely regarded as the top MMA prospect in all of the sport, though the title became tainted following the aforementioned loss to Karakhanyan at “Bellator 132.” The former NCAA National Champion wrestler with Arizona State University now has three consecutive wins under his belt, and is looking for redemption. Heading into his 11th fight under the Scot Coker-led promotion, the 28-year-old “Highlight Kid” looks to put on a standout performance in Bellator’s incredibly deep featherweight division. الاستماع أغسطس 26 to see if the Corona, كاليفورنيا., native can return the favor and finish Karakhanyan in front of his local supporters.
الكامل "Bellator 160: هندرسون مقابل. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:
Lightweight No. 1 Contender Main Event: بنسون هندرسون (23-6) مقابل. باتريسيو "بيتبول" فريري (25-3)
المشارك الرئيسي خفيفة الوزن الحدث: كنت عوض (19-7) مقابل. ديريك أندرسون (13-2)
نوبة ميزة وزن الريشة: A.J. ماكي (4-0) مقابل. Cody Walker (7-2)
نوبة ميزة وزن الريشة: بوبا جنكينز (11-2) مقابل. جورجي Karakhanyan (24-6-1)
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
المباراة التمهيدية لوزن الريشة: تشينزو ماتشيدا (3-2) مقابل. Mario Navarro (4-4)
وزن الوسط الأولية بوت: Joey Davis (الموالية لاول مرة) مقابل. Keith Cutrone (1-0)
وزن الوسط الأولية بوت: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (الموالية لاول مرة) مقابل. Jon Tomasian (الموالية لاول مرة)
خفيفة الوزن الأولي بوت: Gabriel Green (2-0) مقابل. Alex Trinidad (1-0)
نوبة وزن الذبابة الأولية: ستيف راميريز (4-1) مقابل. Ron Henderson (4-2)
نوبة وزن الذبابة الأولية: Kyle Estrada (3-2) مقابل. David Duran (3-4)
خفيفة الوزن الأولي بوت: Mike Segura (4-3) مقابل. Jacob Rosales (3-2)
وزن الوسط الأولية بوت: Jonny Cisneros (9-4) مقابل. Andy Murad (12-2)
خفيفة الوزن الأولي بوت: جيك روبرتس (6-0) مقابل. ستيفن مارتينيز (11-4)