CODY WALKER STEPS UP ON SHORT NOTICE TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED A.J. MCKEE, WHILE GEORGI KARAKHANYAN-BUBBA JENKINS MOVED TO SPIKE-TELEVISED CARD
סאַנטאַ מאָניקאַ, קאַליף (ויגוסט 16, 2016) – Just nine days before the highly anticipated "בעללאַטאָר 160: הענדערסאָן ווס. Pitbull” געשעעניש אויף ויגוסט 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, קאַליף., injuries sustained by main card fighters הענרי קאָרראַלעס און Lena Ovchynnikova have shaken things up a bit. ונדעפעאַטעד פעאַטהערוועיגהט אַ.דזש. מאַקי (4-0) וועט איצט פּנים Cody Walker (7-2), ווייַלע באַבאַ דזשענקינס (11-2) און געאָרגי קאַראַכאַניאַן (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 בענסאָן הענדערסאָן (23-6) און Patricio “Pitbull” (25-3), as the two will duke it out for a shot at Michael Chandler’s championship belt. דערצו, an explosive lightweight contest pitting איר אַוואַד (19-7) קעגן דערעק אַנדערסאָן (13-2) will serve as the evening’s co-main event.
In preliminary action, וועלטערוועיגהץ Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. און Joey Davis will make their professional debuts, ווייַלע Chinzo Machida (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. דאָאָרס עפענען בייַ 4:45 פּ.ם. פּט local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com און די בעללאַטאָר מאָביל אַפּ — הייבט בייַ 5:00 פּ.ם. פּט.
After beginning his career 7-1 ווי אַ ליבהאָבער, 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, "בעללאַטאָר 152: Freire vs. Souza.” The Long Beach, קאַליף. 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 געשעעניש. 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 פון זיין 24 ווינס ווי אַ פאַכמאַן, 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 קאַנטענדער.
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. Tune in ויגוסט 26 to see if the Corona, קאַליף., native can return the favor and finish Karakhanyan in front of his local supporters.
גאַנץ "בעללאַטאָר 160: הענדערסאָן ווס. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:
Lightweight No. 1 Contender Main Event: בענסאָן הענדערסאָן (23-6) ווס. פּאַטריסיאָ "פּיטבולל" פרעירע (25-3)
לייטווייט קאָ-הויפּט געשעעניש: איר אַוואַד (19-7) ווס. דערעק אַנדערסאָן (13-2)
Featherweight Feature Bout: אַ.דזש. מאַקי (4-0) ווס. Cody Walker (7-2)
Featherweight Feature Bout: באַבאַ דזשענקינס (11-2) ווס. געאָרגי קאַראַכאַניאַן (24-6-1)
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chinzo Machida (3-2) ווס. Mario Navarro (4-4)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joey Davis (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Keith Cutrone (1-0)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Jon Tomasian (פּראָ דעבוט)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Gabriel Green (2-0) ווס. Alex Trinidad (1-0)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: סטיוו ראַמירעז (4-1) ווס. Ron Henderson (4-2)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Kyle Estrada (3-2) ווס. David Duran (3-4)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Segura (4-3) ווס. Jacob Rosales (3-2)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jonny Cisneros (9-4) ווס. Andy Murad (12-2)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jake Roberts (6-0) ווס. סטיווען מאַרטינעז (11-4)