Bellator 182 main event: Andrey Koreshkov vs Chidi ‘Bang Bang’ Njokuani to headline Spike TV event

Bellator 182 “Koreshkov vs. Njokuani” comes to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. on Aug. 25, 2017 with a main event to keep the race for No. 1 contender status in the Welterweight division as tight as ever.

Russian MMA star “Spartan” Andrey Koreshkov (19-2) had mowed down six straight competitors and successfully defended the title against Benson Henderson before he ran into the bruising hard hands of former champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 last November. To date only one other man has finished him in a fight — “Funky” Ben Askren.

With a nickname like “Bang Bang” though it’s clear Chidi Njokuani (17-4, 1 NC) aims to deliver, and his streak is even longer than Koreshkov’s as he remains unbeaten in nine fights dating back to 2013. 58% of his wins (10 out of 17) have come by knockout, including a brutal jab that put down Andre Fialho at Bellator 167 in just 21 seconds.

The only knock on Njokuani’s title aspirations is that he’s come in over the limit on several of his important fights. It won’t be enough to beat the former champion in Bellator 182’s main event — he’ll need to beat the scale the day before.

Supporting the card will be an equally exciting 170 lb. co-main event as “Irish Bad Boy” Brennan Ward (14-5) takes on perennial contender Fernando Gonzalez (26-14), while a third fight slates “Mercenary” A.J. McKee (8-0) against a yet to be determined Featherweight foe.

To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.

Bellator 182 “Koreshkov vs. Njokuani” comes to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. on Aug. 25, 2017 with a main event to keep the race for No. 1 contender status in the Welterweight division as tight as ever.

Russian MMA star “Spartan” Andrey Koreshkov (19-2) had mowed down six straight competitors and successfully defended the title against Benson Henderson before he ran into the bruising hard hands of former champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 last November. To date only one other man has finished him in a fight — “Funky” Ben Askren.

With a nickname like “Bang Bang” though it’s clear Chidi Njokuani (17-4, 1 NC) aims to deliver, and his streak is even longer than Koreshkov’s as he remains unbeaten in nine fights dating back to 2013. 58% of his wins (10 out of 17) have come by knockout, including a brutal jab that put down Andre Fialho at Bellator 167 in just 21 seconds.

The only knock on Njokuani’s title aspirations is that he’s come in over the limit on several of his important fights. It won’t be enough to beat the former champion in Bellator 182’s main event — he’ll need to beat the scale the day before.

Supporting the card will be an equally exciting 170 lb. co-main event as “Irish Bad Boy” Brennan Ward (14-5) takes on perennial contender Fernando Gonzalez (26-14), while a third fight slates “Mercenary” A.J. McKee (8-0) against a yet to be determined Featherweight foe.

To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.