RYAN BADER MAKES FIRST LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST LINTON VASSELL IN MAIN EVENT
מער, FORMER STANDOUT NITTANY LIONS PHIL DAVIS AND ED RUTH SET TO COMPETE
לאס אנדזשעלעס – Bellator is set to make its debut at Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in University Park, פּאַ. אויף פרייַטיק, נאָוועמבער 3 פֿאַר בעללאַטאָר 186: Bader vs. וואַססעלל.
אין די הויפּט געשעעניש פון בעללאַטאָר 186, newly crowned light heavyweight champion Ryan “Darth” Bader (23-5) will make his first title defense against British sensation Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (18-5, 1 נק).
דערצו, two Bellator competitors who spent their college years as members of the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team, פיל דייוויס(17-4, 1 נק) און און רות (3-0), will return to their alma mater to compete in MMA for the first time in their careers. Their opponents are yet to be determined.
בעללאַטאָר 186: Bader vs. וואַססעלל will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 פּ.ם. און/8 פּ.ם. קאָרט, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets start at just $25 and will be available at the Bryce Jordan Center Box Office and Ticketmaster. A Bellator Nation presale takes place מיטוואָך, ויגוסט 30 – Thursday, ויגוסט 31, while public on-sale begins Friday, סעפּטעמבער 1 בייַ 10 אַ.ם. און. Additional bouts will be announcing in the coming weeks.
Bader returns to the cage for the first time since dethroning former Penn State wrestling standout פיל דייוויס as light heavyweight champion in June at בעללאַטאָר 180. Fighting out of Tempe, אַריז., Bader began his professional career on an impressive run, steamrolling the competition en route to a 12-fight winning streak and winning one of the most competitive seasons of The Ultimate Fighter in franchise history on Spike in 2008. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting wins over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including victories over former world champions Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, as well as a previous win over פיל דייוויס. Currently riding a three-fight winning streak with victories in eight of his past nine bouts, the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University will look to protect his belt on נאָוועמבער 3.
Currently training at Combat Club in South Florida alongside מאַט מיטריאָנע, מיכאל טשאַנדלער and Robbie Lawler, Vassell has once again put himself in position to fight for Bellator’s 205-pound title. After making his professional debut in 2008, the Milton Keynes, England native has tallied 18 וויקטאָריעס, אַרייַנגערעכנט 14 finishes and 10 coming inside the first round, as well as seven wins over nine bouts in just four years with Bellator. Following three consecutive victories over two former champs in ליאַם מקגעאַרי and Emanuel Newton, as well as Francis Carmont, the 34-year-old Vassell will attempt to become the second-ever Bellator light heavyweight champion who hails from the United Kingdom.
A native of Harrisburg, פּאַ., Phil “Mr. Wonderful” attended Harrisburg High School and would go on to an extremely successful wrestling career at Penn State University. After transitioning to the sport MMA, Davis made his pro debut in 2008 and went on to win his first nine bouts. He’s established himself as one of the best light heavyweights in all of MMA, winning the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix and Bellator 205-pound title. The San Diego-based fighter now boasts career wins over ליאַם מקגעאַרי,אַלעקסאַנדער גוסטאַפססאָן, Lyoto Machida,"מלך מאָ" לאַוואַל, גלאָווער טעיקסעיראַ, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Francis Carmont.
One of the most celebrated wrestlers in Penn State University history, Ed Ruth has followed in the footsteps of פיל דייוויס by pursuing a career in MMA. The 3x NCAA D1 champion, who now trains out of Fresno, קאַליף., makes his fourth appearance inside the Bellator cage looking to keep his undefeated streak intact. With three consecutive KO finishes, Ruth has established himself as a new threat in the middleweight division. Born in Harrisburg, פּאַ., Ruth returns to familiar territory for this upcoming bout with plans to put on another exciting bout for his hometown fans.
דערהייַנטיקט בעללאַטאָר 186: Bader vs. וואַססעלל Fight Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship Main Event: רייאַן באַדער (23-5) ווס. לינטאָן וואַססעלל (18-5, 1 נק)
Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: פיל דייוויס (17-4, 1 נק) ווס. טבאַ
Middleweight Feature Bout: און רות (3-0) ווס. טבאַ
