Two pivotal fights are set to headline San Jose’s Bellator 154 on May 14th.
A pivotal light heavyweight matchup between former UFC contender Phil Davis and Muhammed Lawal has been booked as the main event of a tent-pole Bellator MMA event in May. Also added to the card is a highly anticipated lightweight clash between former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler and Josh Thomson.
The news was announced during Friday evening’s Bellator 149 broadcast on Spike TV.
Davis (15-3, 1 NC) made his Bellator MMA debut last year at Bellator 142: Dynamite in a 205-pound tournament, and picked up back-to-back stoppage victories over former titleholder Emanuel Newton and Francis Carmont. His last loss came to the hands of Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 14 last year.
Lawal (19-4, 1 NC) was recently apart of a eight-man, one night heavyweight tournament at Rizin FF’s debut event last December — and took home the tournament championship with three-straight wins. King Mo is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak, which also includes decisions over Linton Vassell and Cheick Kongo. He was supposed to face Davis in the Bellator: Dynamite! LHW tournament but had to withdraw due to injury, prompting Carmont to replace him at the last minute.
Chandler (14-3) is back on track after losing his 155-pound belt to Will Brooks and losing in a rematch, with two-straight TKO victories. In his last outing, he finished David Rickels in the second round at Bellator 145 last November.
Thomson (22-8, 1 NC) made his Bellator MMA debut at September’s Dynamite! event against Mike Bronzoulis, and won by submission. The former Strikeforce lightweight champion and UFC contender followed up his successful debut with an impressive TKO victory over Pablo Villaseca in December.
Bellator 154 takes place live from SAP Center in San Jose, CA on May 14, and it should be noted that UFC 198 in Brazil is scheduled for the same night.