KARA, FORMER TITLEHOLDER JULIA BUDD RETURNS TO ACTION AGAINST JESSY MIELE IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT
Los Angeles– On Friday, August 21, Bellator’s “FightSphere” atMohegan Sun Arena a Uncasville, Conn. will host a light heavyweight world title main event bout featuring two-division Bellator champRyan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) defending his 205-pound championship against Russia’sVadim Nemkov (11-2).
The evening’s co-main event sees fomer world championJulia Budd (13-3) take on Connecticut’sJessy Miele (9-3) in a featherweight clash.
Bellator 244: Bader vs.. Nemkovairs live onParamount hanyar sadarwa da kumaDAZN Jumma'a, Agusta 21 a 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Preliminary action will stream onBellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming days.
A winner of seven out of eight contests at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, Bellator’s double champ Ryan Bader will make his first light heavyweight title defense since defeating “King Mo” Lawal, Matt Mitrione da kumaFedor Emelianenkoen route to winning Bellator’s 2018 Heavyweight World Grand Prix and becoming world heavyweight champ. Fighting out of Chandler, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler out of Arizona State University began his professional career by winning season eight ofA Ultimate mai fada. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including career wins overPhil Davis(x2), Linton Vassell, “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante and Ovince Saint Preux. Mafi kwanan nan, Bader fought heavyweightCheick Kongo to a no contest following an accidental eye poke.
The 28-year-old Russian powerhouse Vadim Nemkov, who is undefeated over his last six fights and a perfect 4-0 in Bellator since signing in 2017, will enter his first-ever title shot in MMA fresh off a submission win against former middleweight world championRafael Carvalho. With that victory, Nemkov has defeated some of the best athletes Bellator has to offer, including three former champions consecutively in Carvalho, Phil Davis da kumaLiam McGeary. A three-time Russian national sambo champion, Nemkov trains alongside the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in Stary Oskol, Russia for the standout Team Fedor.
Former Bellator featherweight world champion Julia Budd has won 11 of her last 12 iyakar, including seven victories since signing with Bellator in 2015. After defeating Dutch legend Marloes Coenen for the inaugural Bellator women’s featherweight world title atBellator 174, the Gibson MMA-product and Port Moody, British Columbia native has gone on to collect victories over top contendersOlga Rubin, Arlene Blencowe da kumaTalita Nogueira. With seven of her 13 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, “The Jewel” will look to jump back into title contention with a statement win on August 21.
With an impressive career mark of 9-3, Jessy Miele will look to parlay her most recent win over former Bellator title contenderTalita Nogueirawhen she competes atBellator 244.Hailing from Waterbury, Conn. the 35-year-old is currently in the midst of a four-fight unbeaten streak and was slated to compete againstLeslie Smith aBellator 241before it was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Fighting professionally since 2014, and competing against the likes of Nogueira and Charmaine Tweet along the way, “The Widowmaker” will undoubtedly face the stiffest test of her nearly six year-career when she meets Budd on August. 21.
UpdatedBellator 244: Bader vs.. NemkovBabban Card:
Paramount Network and DAZN
10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC) vs.Vadim Nemkov(11-2)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Julia Budd(13-3) vs.Jessy Miele(9-3)
Heavyweight Feature Bout: Roy Nelson(23-19) vs.Valentin Moldavsky(9-1)
Kaddamar da Katin Farko:
Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel
Wasan Farko na Tsakiya: John Salter(17-4) vs.Andrew Kapel(15-6)
Wasan Firamare mai nauyi: Adamu Piccolot(12-3) vs.Sidney Outlaw(14-4)
Wasan Farko na Bantamweight: Erik Perez(19-7) vs.Joshua Hill(19-3)
Wasan Farko na Fim mai nauyi: Lucas Brennan (2-0) vs.Will Smith (3-1)
Wasan Firamare mai nauyi: Vladimir Tokov(7-0) vs.Chris Gonzalez(4-0)
Wasan Firamare mai nauyi: Lance Gibson Jr.(3-0) vs.Shane Kruchten(12-5)
*Katin batun canzawa.
ZiyarciBellator.com don ƙarin bayani.
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