MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT PITTING JOHN SALTER AGAINST CLAUDIO ANNICCHIARICO ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF BELLATOR MMA’S RETURN TO ITALY
Σάντα Μόνικα, CALIF (Νοέμβριος 1, 2016) – A light heavyweight bout pitting Φιλίπ Lins (10-1) κατά Pietro Cappelli (2-1) and a middleweight fight between John Salter (12-3) και Claudio Annicchiarico (1-4) have been added to "Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2, " which will feature both Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing brands emanating from the Mandela Forum in Florence on Dec. 10.
The evening is highlighted by a main event middleweight world title rematch pitting Rafael Carvalho (13-1) κατά Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC). Εξάλλου, Italy’s own Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) και Joey «Ο Μεξικουσιαστής» Beltran (17-13, 1 NC) will duke it out in a light heavyweight feature fight. "Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2 " will air on SPIKE at 4μ.μ. ET/PT.
A native of Florence, Ιταλία, Cappelli has made an immediate splash in MMA, earning consecutive victories following his professional debut in 2015. Cappelli’s first career win came at the expense of Andrzej Kulik, when the 32-year-old delivered a brutal first round knockout. He then parlayed the emphatic victory with another first round finish, displaying his noteworthy ground game with a keylock submission just one minute and one second into the bout. With a noticeable message reading “unscarred” across his stomach, the Italian competitor prepares to dive in head first with a challenging matchup against the veteran Lins in his Bellator MMA debut.
The 31-year-old Lins will enter the cage for the 12th time in his career and fifth since making his Bellator MMA debut in 2014. Κάλεσμα στο δρόμο από τη Βραζιλία, Lins began his professional career on a nine-fight winning streak, finishing opponents in seven of the victories. “Monstro” has recorded a trio of significant victories since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion, including two first round finishes and his most recent knockout win over fellow Brazilian competitor William Viana στο "Bellator 159: Caldwell εναντίον. Taimanglo.” Lins hopes to build off of his big win and silence a crowd that will be heavily in favor of his Italian opponent Cappelli.
Fresh off of his first career victory, a first round knockout over Ilyrian Hoxhay, the 32-year-old Annicchiarico looks to continue his success when he enters the cage for the first time under the direction of Bellator MMA. The Italian middleweight will face a difficult first test in Salter, a 15-fight veteran that hasn’t been defeated since 2012. With a pair of submission defeats to Salter’s name, look for Annicchiarico to take the fight to the ground and grind it out there.
The former Strikeforce competitor Salter will make his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, after recording victories in his first two bouts with the promotion. He is riding a recent string of success, having won four consecutive contests and seven of his past eight. Over his seven-year career, the 31-year-old Nashville, Tenn., native has collected a dozen professional victories, recording finishes in all. With nine of his 12 career wins coming in the opening round of action, Salter is known to be one of the quickest strikers in the division and most recently finished former middleweight champion Brandon Halsey.
Πλήρης "Bellator 168: Carvalho vs. Κάρτα Manhoef 2 ”:
Middleweight Παγκόσμιο Τίτλο Μπουτ: Rafael Carvalho (13-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1, 2 NC)
Ελαφρύ βαρέων βαρών Χαρακτηριστικό πάλης: Alessio Sakara (18-11, 2 NC) vs. Joey Beltran (17-13, 1 NC)
Ελαφρύ βαρέων βαρών Χαρακτηριστικό πάλης: Φιλίπ Lins (10-1) vs. Pietro Cappelli (2-1)
Καταπολέμηση μεσαίου βάρους: John Salter (12-3) vs. Claudio Annicchiarico (1-4)