Alexander Shlemenko completes 185-pound tourney field, meets Matt Major at Bellator 16

Russian star Alexander Shlemenko is the final member of Bellator Fighting Championships’ middleweight tournament field, organization officials today announced.

The fighter, who owns a stellar 27-4 record, now meets Matt Major this week at Bellator 16 at the Kansas City Power & Light District entertainment complex in Missouri.

Sources close to the promotion told MMAjunkie.com that Bellator officials have been working on contract and visa issues for more than a month to land Shlemenko – and held off on naming a replacement because they wanted him in the tourney so badly.


Russian star Alexander Shlemenko is the final member of Bellator Fighting Championships’ middleweight tournament field, organization officials today announced.

The fighter, who owns a stellar 27-4 record, now meets Matt Major this week at Bellator 16 at the Kansas City Power & Light District entertainment complex in Missouri.

Sources close to the promotion told MMAjunkie.com that Bellator officials have been working on contract and visa issues for more than a month to land Shlemenko – and held off on naming a replacement because they wanted him in the tourney so badly.