TOP FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDERS CAT ZINGANO AND PAM SORENSON WILL BATTLE ON PRELIMINARY CARD, ALONG WITH PIVOTAL WELTERWEIGHT CLASH BETWEEN DEREK ANDERSON VS. GOITI YAMAUCHI
TOP PROSPECTS ROMERO COTTON, CODY LAW, ROMAN FARALDO ALSO SET FOR ACTION
LOS ANGELES – A plethora of fantastic fighters armed with world-title aspirations have joined the stackedBELLATOR MMA 276: Borics vs. Burnellcard on Saturday, March 12. SHOWTIME will televise the mammoth main card live from inside the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo., at9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Former title challenger and No. 2 zibalwa-John Salter (18-5), as well as undefeated BELLATOR MMA No. 3-zibalwaJohnny Eblen(10-0), and women’s No. 2 featherweightCat Zingano(12-4) hope to take the next step toward BELLATOR MMA gold as they join the four co-headline brawlers currently ranked among the upper echelon of their respective divisions.
Featured among the magnificent MMA melees will be three of the top-ten middleweights, five undefeated and one unblemished amateur, four top-two contenders, and ten fighters ranked along with BELLATOR MMA’s elite.
In the umcimbi main of the kusihlwa, Adam Borics (17-1) futhiMads Burnell(16-3), two featherweights currently tied at No. 2 in the official BELLATOR MMA rankings, will square off for a future shot at the BELLATOR 145-pound world title. In the iziqubu co-iyavela, former BELLATOR Light Heavyweight Champion, 13-time BELLATOR veteran, futhi No. 2-zibalwaPhil Davis (23-6, 1 NC) will open his 2022 campaign against No. 4 Julius Anglickas(10-2), who most recently challenged for the 205-pound title. Ukwengeza, the main card will spotlight an international lightweight extravaganza as undefeated New Alliance Jiu-Jitsu team memberJay-Jay Wilson (8-0) of Auckland, E-New Zealand, moves up in weight to meet Dagestan, WaseRussiaGadzhi Rabadanov(16-4-2), who is coming off a first-round knockout in his promotional debut atBELLATOR MMA 263 in July 2021.
Prior to the consequential co-featured contests, a pair of top middleweights will round out the main card as Salter and Eblen square off for a shot at the winner of the upcoming world title bout pitting 185-pound Champion Gegard Mousasi against No. 1-zibalwa Austin Vanderford at BELLATOR MMA 275 later this month in Dublin, Ireland.
Armed with an 8-2 BELLATOR record, Salter, a 15-year pro MMA veteran out of Nashville, Tenn., holds the promotional record for most submissions in BELLATOR MMA middleweight history, and has stopped 17 of yakhe 23 izimbangi. Nicknamed “Diamond Hands” due to his love for crypto currency and willingness to hold onto his investments, Eblen is coming off a 71-second annihilation of Collin Huckbody atBELLATOR MMA 272ngoDisemba 2021. The six-time BELLATOR MMA veteran and American Top-Team product, who recently signed a six-fight BELLATOR contract extension, has secured six opening-round stoppages, including two of his three 2021 izimbangi.
In addition to the magnificent main card, a veritable cornucopia of pulsating preliminary punch ups will commence the preeminent night of action, including a Minnesota midwestern melee pitting former UFC title challenger and Winona, From., native Zingano against No.7-ranked lightweightPam Sorenson(9-4) of Blaine, Ibhayisikobho.
Set to make her third straight BELLATOR MMA appearance with aspirations of challenging BELLATOR MMA Women’s Welterweight World ChampionCris Cyborg, Zingano has had a decorated fighting career. The former NCAA Division III All-American wrestler became the first mother to compete in the UFC and initial woman to capture the company’s “Fight of the Night” award, counting victories over Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes, Marion Reneau, and Gabrielle Holloway. Muva, “Alpha” was featured in the series “Double Duty” that chronicled the attempts to maintain a balance between the daily responsibilities of parenthood and earning a living as a pro athlete.
A former Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion, Sorenson started kickboxing after the passing of her best friend. After vacating her crown and requesting a release from Invicta in July 2021, the Minneapolis mauler signed a multi-fight deal with BELLATOR MMA in mid-2021. Soon after joining the pioneering company, the 35-year-old recorded a hard-fought split decision over Roberta Samad atBELLATOR MMA 264 in Uncasville, Conn.
Also featured will be a bruising brawl pitting two hard-hitting heavyweights with seven career stoppages apiece as No. 8-zibalwaAlex “Eazy” Polizzi (9-1) of Madison, Wisc., clashes with Team Pitbull’sJose “Guru” Augusto (7-3, 1 NC). Ukwengeza, San Diego, Calif. bomdabu, 11-time BELLATOR MMA veteran, futhi No. 6-zibalwa“Barbaric” Derek Anderson(17-4, 1 NC) will mix it up with submission specialist, BELLATOR Brazilian bruiser, and Japanese-bornGoiti Yamaguchi (26-5), in a worldwide welterweight war.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, added toBELLATOR MMA 276: Borics vs. Burnellis a memorable middleweight match pitting undefeated, Ungenzi. 6-ranked 185-pounder and owner of three consecutive stoppagesRomero Cotton (5-0) of Hutchinson, Kansas, who will bravely battle the horrors of“The Boogeyman” Lance Wright (5-2). Ngaphezu kwalokho, former Division II All-American wrestler and fantastic featherweightCody Law(5-0), fresh off his third opening-round finish, strives to avoid being scared off by“Phantom” Johnny Soto (5-2) of Escondido, Calif.
Continuing the unforgettable night of amazing action, undefeated welterweight and American Top-Team memberRoman Faraldo (6-0) will make his fourth consecutive promotional appearance when he challenges BELLATOR MMA rookieKelvin Rayford (5-3), while local combatantJordan Howard (10-5) of Jefferson City hopes to thrill the Missouri faithful against Athens, Illinois’ ownTrevor Ward(5-5). Two flyweights will test their skills as well, niniDiana Avsaragova(4-0) of Russia welcomesAshley Deen (5-6) to BELLATOR. Lastly, a Show-Me State lightweight showdown between BELLATOR beginnerDan Busch (4-1) makes his sixth straight Missouri appearance by confronting St. Louis’Josh Augustine (5-2).
The thrilling preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
Amathikithi forBELLATOR MMA 276: Borics vs. Burnellare on sale now at bothTicketmaster.com futhiBellator.com
BELLATOR MMA 276: Borics vs. Burnell Main Card:
Saturday, March 12 – live on ISIKHATHI SOMBUKISO
9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Featherweight Main Event: #2-Adam Borics (17-1) vs. #2-Mads Burnell (16-3)
Light wesibhakela Co-Main Indawo: #2-Phil Davis (23-6, 1 NC) vs. #4-Julius Anglickas (10-2)
Middleweight Bout: #2-John Salter (18-5) vs. #3-Johnny Eblen (10-0)
Bout Esilula: Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0) vs.Gadzhi Rabadanov (16-4-2)
IKHADI Preliminary:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Featherweight Bout: #2-Cat Zingano (12-4) vs. #7-Pam Sorenson (9-4)
Light wesibhakela Bout: #8-Alex Polizzi (9-1) vs.Jose Augusto (7-3, 1 NC)
Welterweight Bout: #6-Derek Anderson (17-4-1) vs.Goiti Yamaguchi (26-5)
Middleweight Bout: #6-Romero Cotton (5-0) vs.Lance Wright(5-2)
Flyweight Bout: Diana Avsaragova (4-0) vs.Ashley Deen (5-6)
Featherweight Bout: Cody Law (5-0) vs. Johnny Soto (4-2)
Welterweight Bout: Roman Faraldo (6-0) vs.Kelvin Rayford (5-3)
Bantamweight Bout: Jordan Howard (10-5) vs.Trevor Ward (5-5)
Bout Esilula: Dan Busch (4-1) vs.Josh Augustine (5-2)
*Card subject to change.
Updated schedule of BELLATOR events
Sat., Feb. 19 / / BELLATOR MMA 274: Gracie vs. Storley // Mohegan Sun Arena // Uncasville, Conn.
Free. Feb. 25 // BELLATOR MMA 275: Mousasi vs. Vanderford // 3Arena // Dublin, IRE
Sat. March 12 // BELLATOR MMA 276: Borics vs. Burnell //The Family Arena // St. Louis
Free. May 6 // BELLATOR PARIS: Bader vs. Kongo 2 // Accor Arena // Paris, FRA
Free. May 13 // BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP // The SSE Arena, Wembley // London
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About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa esingumakadebona impi umgqugquzeli Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to 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 umcimbi orchestration, ukuthuthukiswa fighter / ubudlelwano, kwempahla kwenkundla yokudlalela, Indalo uxhaso / ukuthuthukiswa, kwamalayisensi international, marketing, ukukhangisa, emphakathini kanye nobudlelwane ikhomishana. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, ekhaya UNdunankulu ukuzijabulisa brand zezwe ukuxhuma izilaleli kokuqukethwe esicindezelayo yonkana ithelevishini, motion picture, intanethi and mobile.