(Conveniently, Bellator failed to mention whether or not this is a title fight.)
Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that a main event match-up between Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler and PRIDE and UFC vet Akihiro Gono will close out its planned Bellator 67 card May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario Canada.
A crafty veteran, Gono (32-17-7) should provide a challenge for the undefeated newly crowned 155-pound BFC champ.
“I’m just excited to get back into the cage,” Chandler said of the planned bout. “I fought four times in 2011 and I’m ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me.”
While Gono, 37, holds the edge in experience, 25-year-old Chandler has an advantage in youth and well-roundedness. An All American wrestler who has worked tirelessly with former Xtreme Couture boxing coach Gil Martinez to improve his striking, Chandler also possesses a fierce submission game. Although one could argue that Gono, who is 4-6 in his last ten and 0-2 in his past two fights, is a step down in competition for the 9-0 Missouri fighter who defeated Eddie Alvarez and Patricky “Pitbull” Feire in his last two outings, it should still be an entertaining fight.
As we previously reported, the card will also feature a middleweight tilt between Cory MacDonald and Brendan Seguin, and a welterweight scrap between Ryan Ford and Luis Santos.
The event will be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. ET on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area’s top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. ET.