Santa MONICA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2016) – One week ahead of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " i Center SAP i San Jose, Calif., Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the highly anticipated professional mixed martial arts debut of Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. will come against Aaron Hamilton in a welterweight bout during the preliminary portion of the card on Nov. 19.
The contest anchors an electric preliminary card and joins a Spike-televised main card that features a lightweight world title main event pitting current champion Michael Chandler (15-3) ki Benson Henderson (24-6). I roto i te hui tahi-matua o te ahiahi, undefeated British phenom Michael whārangi "mana'o" (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) duke it out in a welterweight thriller and Arama Piccolot (8-0) e i runga i Brandon Girtz(14-4) in a lightweight clash. Te mutunga, a light heavyweight showdown pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) ki Francis Carmont (14-4) and female flyweight action pitting Keri Melendez (Tuatahi) ki Sheila Padilla (2-0) are also set for the main card.
"Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " airs LIVE and FREE at 9 p.m. AND/8 p.m. CT on Spike and completes three consecutive weeks of championship fights on the Viacom-owned network. Tickets for the event remain on sale and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.
After originally being slated to make his professional debut at both “Bellator 160” a "Bellator 162,“ “Baby Slice” will now look to showcase his fine-tuned mixed martial arts repertoire on Nov. 19. The son of the late, great “Kimbo Slice,” made a splash in the world of MMA during an amateur contest in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he delivered a brutal knockout punch just 1:23 ki te tawhio tuatahi. In what is unquestionably one of the most talked-about debuts in promotion history, Slice hopes to parlay his amateur success with a memorable performance on the professional circuit and carry on the legacy that his father let behind. Hailing from Miami, Florida, the Team Body Shop product now has his eyes set on joining teammate A.J. McKee as one of Bellator MMA’s top young prospects.
Hamilton will once again compete in his home state of California, after previous bouts against the likes of Max Griffin. “The Snake” will be making both his Bellator MMA debut and welterweight debut, as the 185-pound slugger attempts to trim down for what is surely the biggest fight of his career. Hamilton last competed in March and hopes to spoil the long-awaited debut of Slice.
Oti "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:
Lightweight World Title Main Event: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Michael Whārangi (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)
Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)
Lightweight Feature Bout: Arama Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)
Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Tuatahi) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)
Complete Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Tuatahi) vs. Aaron Hamilton (0-2)
Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: Carrington Banks (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)
Tuhinga o mua Bantamweight: Jeremiah Monaghan (9-5) vs. Vince Murdock (8-2)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Terry (17-9) vs. Justin Baesman (19-10-1)
Tuhinga o mua Bantamweight: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Steve Ramirez (5-1)
Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Tuatahi)
Taumekehiko Whakatekau Mua: Victor Jones (0-2) vs. Beau Hamilton (1-7)
Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Tuatahi)
Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumer (Tuatahi) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)
Flyweight Tuhinga o mua: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)