Former UFC title contenders will go to war at 205 pounds when Yoel Romero makes the transition to light heavyweight to collide with fellow hulking power puncher Anthony Johnson as part of the Bellator MMA Grand Prix on April 16 inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The number crunchers over at BetOnline.ag have dropped the betting lines for their action-packed affair and it’s about even, with Romero clocking in at -120 against -110 for Johnson. “Soldier of God” (13-5) is 43 and coming off three straight losses while the 36 year-old “Rumble” (22-6) hasn’t competed in nearly four years.
“When the fight is there, you have to do it,” Coker said during yesterday’s press conference (watch it here). “If we waited and put these guys on opposite sides of the bracket, somebody gets hurt. Somebody can’t fight. Things happen in this sport. Things change quickly. I said, ‘Hey, let’s put them first.’ Because when a fight is there, in this sport, you’ve got to take it. This is a fight the fans want to see. It’s going to be huge and it’s going to be a great way to launch our tournament in the first round.”
The 205-pound tourney will also feature Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida 2, as well as Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. One week prior, Vadim Nemkov and Phil Davis run it back for the light heavyweight strap. The Russian is a -280 favorite over “Mr. Wonderful,” having already captured a victory in their first fight at Bellator 209 in late 2018.
For much more on Bellator’s return to action this April click here.