WKOLL, CONNECTICUT’S BRENNAN WARD RETURNS AGAINST FERNANDO GONZALEZ IN EXPLOSIVE MATCHUP
LOS ANGELES — Following Bellator NYC fil Madison Square Garden, Bellator MMA returns to the Empire State to make its Upstate New York debut set to invade Turning Stone ResortCasino in Verona, N.Y.. with a welterweight main event pitting former Bellator champ Andrey Koreshkov (19-2) kontra Chidi Njokuani (17-4, 1 NC) nhar il-Ġimgħa, August 25for Bellator 182.
B'żieda, a second welterweight bout will serve as the evening’s co-main showdown when Brennan Ward (14-5) jissodisfa Fernando Gonzalez (26-14) in a bout sure to produce fireworks, while featherweight A.J. McKee returns to the cage fresh off an ESPN “SportsCenter” Top-Ten finish of Dominic Mazzotta in his last outing.
Bellator 182: Koreshkov vs. Njokuani will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. U/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Biljetti għall Bellator 182 jmorru għall-bejgħ Il-ġimgħa, Ġunju 2 fi 10:00 a.m. U għall $85, $65, $47 u $37 and can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com.
Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
The 26-year-old Russian phenom Koreshkov has been ascendant since his very first professional fight, claiming 19 career victories over 21 truf, including wins in each of his first 13 kompetizzjonijiet. Fighting out of Omsk, Russja, “Spartan” will be making his 13th career appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and his first of 2017. Under the direction of Bellator MMA, Koreshkov has accrued a total of 10 victories over a four-year run, highlighted by a welterweight world title triumph over current champion Douglas Lima and a successful title defense over Benson Henderson fi Bellator 153. Since making his professional debut in 2010, Koreshkov has collected 13 finishes, Inklużi 10 knockouts, eight of which came in the first round, making him one of the most dangerous 170-pounders in the game.
Il-ġlieda kontra minn Las Vegas, Nev., Njokuani enters the cage riding momentum of an impressive streak that has seen him win eight consecutive bouts and 12 tal-aħħar tiegħu 13. Peress li tgħaqqad il-fray Bellator MMA fil 2015, the 28-year-old Njokuani has collected four victories, including a pair of knockout finishes. Aktar reċentement, “Chidi Bang Bang” defeated Melvin Guillard fi Bellator 171 f'Jannar, adding to his current run of success.
The 28-year-old Ward enters the contest as one of the most feared fighters in Bellator MMA’s stacked 170-pound class. Bil 13 finishes over his 14 rebħiet karriera, inklużi disa knockouts, “Irish” possesses the perfect combination of pure strength and fearlessness. A 14-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, the Waterford, Conn. native will look to earn his 10th win under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion. Since joining Bellator MMA in 2012, Ward has yet to see a bout enter the third frame and has finished six of his nine opponents in the opening round. Fans can expect to see fireworks when Ward is inside the Bellator cage on Awissu 25.
Hailing from Menifee, Calif., the 33-year-old Gonzalez will enter the Bellator cage for the eighth time in his 14-year professional career. Gonzalez has seen a great deal of success since joining forces with Bellator MMA; collecting six victories over a seven-fight, three-year span, highlighted by a first round knockout of Karo Parisyan.Gonzalez has come on strong as of late, tallying nine wins over his last 12 truf, including a pair of first round knockouts and a five-fight winning streak from 2014-16. Bil 16 ta 'dmirijietu 26 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, the 40-fight veteran will look to add to that total as he prepares to go toe-to-toe with one of the most unshakable talents the welterweight division has to offer.
The son of respected MMA veteran Antonio McKee, A.J. McKee spent his entire childhood in the gym soaking up every bit of knowledge and experience available to him. The 22-year-old prodigy has applied that knowledge inside the Bellator cage and has made quite a splash in his first eight fights as an MMA professional, racking up six finishes in eight outings. The Long Beach, Calif. native heads to the East Coast looking to stay undefeated with another impressive finish.
Nationally-recognized for hosting legendary, fight-of-the-year-level boxing events, rivaling venues in major cities such as Las Vegas, Miami and New York City, Turning Stone was one of the first venues in New York to host professional MMA after it was legalized by the State last year, further distinguishing it as the premier destination for live combat sports. Il Awissu 25 Bellator MMA event will mark Turning Stone’s third professional MMA event in less than a year.
Aġġornat Bellator 182: Koreshkov vs. NjokuaniMain Card:
Welterweight Main Event: Andrey Koreshkov (19-2) vs. Chidi Njokuani (17-4, 1 NC)
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Brennan Ward (14-5) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (26-14)
Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (8-0) vs. TBD