The complete card is set for one of the deepest events in Bellator history.
With two title fights, the end of two tournaments, the start of one, and a noteworthy debut, Bellator’s card on July 31 at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a suburb of Albuquerque, is in place. Bellator announced the the full roster Tuesday.
In the title fights, the man considered by many Bellator’s top pound-for-pound fighter, undefeated lightweight champion Michael Chandler, meets “Caveman” David Rickels. Welterweight champ Ben Askren, meanwhile, puts his unbeaten record and title on the line against Andrey Koreshkov.
In a pair of summer series tournament finals, “King Mo” Lawal takes on Jacob Noe at light heavyweight, and heavyweights Vitaly Minakov and Ryan Martinez will square off.
The show will also feature the start of Bellator’s bantamweight summer tourney, as Rafael Silva meets Rodrigo Lima and Anthony Leone takes on Frank Baca.
The undercard will feature the Bellator debut of highly touted NCAA wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins, who meets local fighter Mike Barreras.
Main card:
Bellator lightweight title: Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. David Rickels (14-1)
Bellator welterweight title: Ben Askren (11-0) vs. Andrey Koreschkov (13-0)
Bellator light heavyweight tournament final: King Mo (10-2) vs. Jacob Noe (12-2)
Bellator heavyweight tournament final: Ryan Martinez (10-2) vs. Vitaly Minakov (11-0)
Featherweight: Rob Emerson (12-10) vs. Patricio Pitbull (17-2)
Preliminary card:
Lightweight: Cris Leyva (9-5) vs. Will Brooks (9-1)
Bantamweight tournament semifinals: Rafael Silva (19-3) vs. Rodrigo Lima (11-1)
Bantamweight tournament semifinals: Anthony Leone (12-5) vs. Frank Baca (16-2)
Lightweight: Mike Barreras (5-6) vs. Bubba Jenkins (3-0)
Bantamweight: Javier Palacios (1-0) vs. Richard Jacques (1-0)
Middleweight: Jeremy Kimball (9-3) vs. Keith Berry (15-10)
Bantamweight: Adrian Cruz (4-0) vs. Felipe Chavez (5-3)
Bantamweight: Steve Garcia (1-0) vs. Shawn Bunch (1-0)
Featherweight: Cliff Wright Jr. (7-4) vs. Donald Sanchez (28-13)