Matyushenko vs. M’pumbu & Featherweight Semi Finals at Bellator 99
The Bellator debut of Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko (26-7) will come in the main event of Bellator 99 against former Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu (18-5-1). Also taking place on September 12 at the Pechanga Resort and casino will be the season 9 Featherweight tournament Semifinals.
The semifinal match-up will see Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (17-2) vs. Diego “The Gun” Nunes (18-4), Shahbulat “Assassin” Shamhalaev (12-2-1) vs. Akop Stepanyan (13-5), Fabricio Silva (17-2) vs. Desmond Green, and Joe “The Juggernaut” Taimanglo (18-4-1) vs. Andrew Fisher (12-4-1).
Matyshenko makes his Bellator debut looking to end a 2 fight losing streak, in which the Janitor was defeated by Alexander Gustafsson (TKO) and Ryan Bader (SUB). “The Janitor” last had his hand raised in victory at UFC 129 with a KO of Jason Brilz. M’Pumbu is also looking to bounce back from his own losing skid, having dropped consecutive decisions to Travis Wiuff and Attila Vegh.
“Pitbull” last competed at Bellator 85 losing a split decision to Pat Curran in a failed attempt to become Bellator Featherweight champion. Bellator 99 will not be the first time back in the cage since the loss as Freire is scheduled to face Jared Downing at Bellator 97. For Nunes this will be his promotional debut after beig relaesed from the UFC. Nunes is -3-3 in his last 6 with wins over Mike Brown, Manny Gamburyan, and Bart Palaszewski; while tasting defeat at the hands of Kenny Florian, Dennis Siver, and Nik Lentz.
Season 7 Tournament winner Shahbulat Shamhalaev returns to the Bellator cage after seeing his 6 fight winning streak ended by being submitted in his title shot at Pat Curran’s Bellator Featherweight title. Stepanyan is coming off a TKO win over Chris Saunders that ended a two fight losing streak. Combined these two men have 15 stoppage wins with 13 KO/TKO’s.
Silva, was most recently was submitted at Bellator 88 by Magomedrasul Khasbulaev, ending a 5 fight win streak in which Silva has 3 submission and 2 TKO wins. Green has won consecutive bouts over Gemiyale Adkins (UD) and Henry Martinez (TKO).
Taimanglo is riding a 9 fight winning streak and most recently at Bellator 94 used a north-south choke to take care of Ronnie Rogers. Fisher is undefeated in his last 7 contests including 4 consecutive wins. The most recent won coming by TKO over Shay Walsh.
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