CRIS CYBORG SET TO DEFEND WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST LESLIE SMITH IN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH
לאס אנדזשעלעס– BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card forBELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2דעםפרייַטיק, מייַ 21 ביי מאָהעגאַן זון אַרענאַ. The event caps off an exciting month of action for BELLATOR, and airs LIVE on SHOWTIME at9 פּ.ם. עט / 6 פּ.ם. פּט.
With plans to continue her dominance over the women’s featherweight division, Cris Cyborg(23-2, 1 נק) will put her world championship on the line against No. 4 ראַנגקט פעאַטהערוועיגהטLeslie Smith(12-8-1) in a rematch to crown the world’s top 145-pound female athlete.
די BELLATOR MMA 259 main card on SHOWTIME is loaded from top to bottom, including former bantamweight championDarion Caldwell(15-4)rematchingצי ניט. 6 ranked bantamweightלעאַנדראָ היגאָ (20-5) in a 135-pound contest, a top-five middleweight clash between the undefeated No. 3 ראַנגקט Austin Vanderford(10-0) און ניט קיין. 4 ראַנגקט Fabian Edwards(9-1), and a welterweight matchup that will see the streakingJaleel Willis(14-2) face off against former LFA championMaycon 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 heavyweightChristian Edwards(4-0) challenging Mississippi’sBen 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 און ווייַטער פון, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 פּ.ם. עט / 6 פּ.ם. 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 ראַנגקטGrant Neal(5-0)און ניט קיין. 8 ראַנגקטTyree 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. מער, the charismatic No. 8 ranked women’s flyweightValerie Loureda (3-0), the always-excitingאיר אַוואַד(23-13, 1 נק), און ניט קיין. 6 ranked Australian featherweightJanay Harding (6-4), who takes on No. 7 ranked Irish sensationLeah McCourt(4-1). לעסאָף, צי ניט. 9 ranked lightweightAlfie Davis (14-3) makes his sixth promotional appearance against BELLATOR newcomerAlexander Shabliy (19-3).
All prelims will stream live at5:30 פּ.ם. ET/2:30 פּ.ם. פּטon the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Full bout listings are below:
BELLATOR MMA 259AIRS LIVE ON FRIDAY, קען 21 FROM MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
לאס אנדזשעלעס– BELLATOR MMA and SHOWTIME Sports today announcedBELLATOR MMA 259 אויף פרייטאג, מייַ 21, will be headlined by a featherweight championship rematch pitting current 145-pound titleholder and the top-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighterCris “Cyborg”(23-2, 1 נק) against Northern California’sLeslie Smith (12-8-1). The event airs live exclusively on SHOWTIMEבייַ 9 פּ.ם. עט / 6 פּ.ם. פּטand emanates from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, קאַן.
In addition to the main event, two matchups are confirmed, as No. 7 לייטווייטAdam “The Bomb” Piccolotti(12-4) takes on No. 10 Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan (30-11-1, 1 נק), while the undefeated No. 7Christian “Pain” Edwards (4-0) מיץBen “Big Tuna” Parrish(4-1) in a light heavyweight contest. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.
“I believe in five years she’s going to be a better fighter. More training, more working and fighting. More experience. The first fight was very fast, so I think this one is going to be a longer fight. She’s a warrior. She likes to fight and it’s going to be nice to fight somebody like this,"said Cyborg, who appeared on tonight’sBELLATOR 255broadcast to confirm the event.
“Of course, I want this fight. Everyone’s goal is to get a title in the premiere organization, which this is. This is the best organization for my weight class, and the best possible place I can be. I can guarantee it will be an entertaining fight,” added Smith.
Just the second BELLATOR woman’s featherweight champion in the company’s history, Cris “Cyborg” is coming off the first defense of her BELLATOR title, a victory againstאַרלין בלענקאָווע, that also marked the first submission win of her illustrious career. An MMA legend at 35-years-old, “Cyborg” will be looking to further her legacy as the greatest woman’s mixed martial artist of all-time when she faces Leslie Smith for the second time on May 21. After winning BELLATOR gold in the 12th title fight of her career, the native of Curitiba, Brazil made history by becoming a world champion in her fourth major promotion, previously holding belts in both the UFC and Strikeforce. With a pro record of 23-2, 1 NC, אַרייַנגערעכנט 19 wins by finish, the Brazilian-born fighter who now calls Southern California home, holds victories over tough competition, אַרייַנגערעכנטדזשוליאַ באַד, כאַלי האָלם, Marloes Coenen and Gina Carano.
Known for an exciting in-your-face striking style, Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith will enter the BELLATOR cage on May 21 for the fifth time in her nearly 11-year MMA career. She gets a second shot at defeating “Cyborg,” following their first meeting at UFC 198 in Brazil on May 14, 2016. זינט אַז באַוט, Smith has won four out of five fights with victories over Irene Aldana andSinead Kavanaghamong them. A teammate of fellow BELLATOR athleteKeri Taylor Melendez, Smith trains out of El Nino Training Center in San Francisco.
די פּרילימאַנערי קאָרט פֿאַרBELLATOR MMA 259: Cyborg vs. סמיט2 וועט לופטLIVE in all U.S. markets on the BELLATOR and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channels, as well as Pluto TV.
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 און ווייַטער פון, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 פּ.ם. עט / 6 פּ.ם. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.