RYAN BADER DEFENDS HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST NO. 2 RANKED CHEICK KONGO IN MAIN EVENT REMATCH IN PARIS
MELVIN MANHOEF’S FAREWELL BOUT DELAYED AFTER THE DUTCHMAN WITHDRAWS DUE TO INJURY, YOEL ROMERO NOW MEETS NO. 7 RANKED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ALEX POLIZZI IN CO-MAIN EVENT
PARIS –A massive night of championship-level MMA guaranteed to bring fireworks is set for this Friday, Tej zaum 6 from the Accor Arena in Paris and airs live at a special time of4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME.
Anchoring the card will be a heated rematch between BELLATOR Heavyweight World ChampionRyan Bader (29-7, 1 NC) against French combat sports legend and No. 2-ranked heavyweightCheick Kongo (31-11-2, 1 NC). Both Bader and Kongo will be looking for closure when they run it back inside the BELLATOR cage, following a controversial no-contest stemming from a disputed eye-poke during their first meeting in 2019.
In an equally action-packed co-feature event, Yoel Romero (13-6) who was originally slated to take on Melvin Manhoef at 205-pounds, has agreed to meet No. 7 ranked-Alex Polizzi(10-1) on less than a week’s notice. Polizzi has won three consecutive contests en route to his opportunity in Paris against one of the sport’s most popular athletes.
Newly announced, No.6-ranked middleweightLorenz Larkin(23-7, 1 NC) will now faceKyle Stewart(15-5) during theBellator 280main card. France’sDavy Gallon(20-7-2) will go to battle in front of his fellow countrymen and women when he faces Switzerland’sBenjamin Brander(13-8) at lightweight. Opening theBellator 280televised card, English middleweightMike Shipman(14-3) will clash with proud ParisianGregory Babene(21-11, 1 NC).
Nine titillating preliminary matchups have been announced, including a smash between former featherweight title challengerPedro Carvalho(12-5) thiab newly signed Polish standoutPiotr Niedzielski(16-4), plus a 160-pound contract weight clash between “The True Viking”Søren Bak(15-1) and England’sCharlie Leary(17-12-1).
The preliminary bouts will stream live three and a half hours earlier at12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV.
Limited tickets for the fight remain on sale ataccorarena.com thiabbellator.fr. Follow Bellator France on Instagram @BellatorFrance and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/BellatorFrance/
BELLATOR 280: BADER VS. KONGO 2MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME (U.S.) / RMC SPORT (FRANCE) / BBC Three & BBC iPlayer (U.K.) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
Hnub vas Xuv, Tej zaum 6, 10 p.m. CEST/9 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Heavyweight World Title Main Event: C-Ryan Bader (29-7, 1 NC) vs. #2-Cheick Kongo(31-11-2, 1 NC)
Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Yoel Romero (13-6) vs. #7-Alex Polizzi(10-1)
Lightweight Bout: Davy Gallon(20-7-2) vs.Benjamin Brander(13-8)
Middleweight Bout: #6-Lorenz Larkin(23-7, 1 NC) vs.Kyle Stewart (15-5)
Middleweight Bout: Mike Shipman(14-3) vs.Gregory Babene(21-11, 1 NC)
BELLATOR 280: BADER VS. KONGO 2PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
6:30 p.m. CEST/12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT
Featherweight Bout: Pedro Carvalho(12-5) vs.Piotr Niedzielski(16-4)
Welterweight Bout: Lewis Long(19-6) vs.Thibault Gouti(14-5)
Featherweight Bout: Fabacary Diatta(8-0) vs.Jordan Barton(6-2-1)
160-lb Contract Weight Bout Søren Bak(15-1) vs.Charlie Leary(17-12-1)
Lightweight Bout: Yves Landu (16-9) vs.Gavin Hughes (10-2)
Welterweight Bout: Nicolò Solli(3-1, 1 NC) vs.Levy Carriel(3-0)
Flyweight Bout: Lucie Bertaud(3-3) vs.Katarzyna Sadura(5-4)
Middleweight Bout: Youcef Ouabbas(2-0) vs.Matthieu Duclos(2-1)
Welterweight Bout: Victor Verchere(5-1) vs.Bourama Camara(4-1)
*Card subject to change.
Please visitBellator.com for additional information.
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Updated schedule of BELLATOR events
Fri. Tej zaum 6 // BELLATOR 280: Bader vs. Kongo 2 // Accor Arena // Paris, FRA
Fri. Tej zaum 13 // BELLATOR 281: MVP vs. Storley // The OVO Arena Wembley // London
Fri. Rau hli ntuj 24 // BELLATOR 282: Mousasi vs. Eblen// Mohegan Sun Arena // Uncasville, I
Fri. Sep. 23 // BELLATOR DUBLIN// 3Arena // Dublin
About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries by an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Paramount, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
AboutSHOWTIME
Showtime tes hauj lwm Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI ciaj uas muag thiab qhov nws distributes kev ua si thiab cov txheej xwm lom ze rau exhibition rau subscribers tus puav pay-per-view txog SHOWTIME PPV®. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, mus tomwww.SHO.com.