Bellator returns to France in May
A Middleweight title eliminator will headline Bellator Paris.
The 185 pound showdown will see former champion Gegard “The Dream Catcher” Mousasi against number two ranked Fabian “The Assassin” Edwards. A pro since 2003, Mousasi has held titles around the world including in Dream, Strikeforce, and twice ruling as Bellator Middleweight champion. Edwards is one of the divisions rising stars. In his last two fights the “Assassin” has knocked out Lyoto Machida and beat Charlie Ward by decision.
The co-main event is a Lightweight Grand Prix quarterfinal. American Sidney Outlaw will head into enemy territory to square off with Paris’s own Mansour Barnaoui. Outlaw is 3-1 in Bellator with wins over Roger Huerta, Adam Piccolotti, and Myles Jury. Barnaoui came to Bellator already having won titles in BAMMA, M-1, & Road FC on an 8-fight win streak.
Bellator Paris is May 12 at the Accor Arena.
BELLATOR PARIS: MOUSASI VS. EDWARDS MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME
May 12 — 10 p.m. CEST/9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Middleweight Main Event: #1-Gegard Mousasi (49-8-2) vs. #2-Fabian Edwards (11-2)
Lightweight World Grand Prix Co-Main Event: 5-Sidney Outlaw (16-5) vs. Mansour Barnaoui (20-4)
BELLATOR PARIS: MOUSASI VS. EDWARDS PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | BBC iPlayer (U.K.) | Pluto TV
6 p.m. CEST/5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT
Lightweight Bout: Saul Rogers (15-5) vs. Davy Gallon (21-8-2)
Lightweight Bout: Thibault Gouti (16-6) vs. Kane Mousah (14-4)
The Grand Prix has become a highlight of Bellator’s yearly schedule. While 2023 is scheduled to see the conclusion of the Bantamweight tournament it will be the launching point for the Lightweights race to seven figures.
The winner of each Bellator Grand Prix is interim or champion, gets a Grand Prix championship belt, and $1 million dollar check.
The quarterfinals begin with two fights at Bellator 209 March 10th at the SAP Center in San Jose California.
That night unbeaten champion Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) makes his first defense against former WEC & UFC champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson (30-11). Nurmagomedov has lived up to the billing of top prospect in the sport running rough shot over the promotion. He’s 5-0 with three first round finishes. The term prodigy gets thrown around it the 24-year made dethroning Patricky Freire look almost effortless. Henderson had quite the career resurgence in 2022. After a four fight skid had many questioning what he had left in the tank. Henderson scored decision wins over Islam Mamedov & Peter Queally to get in title contention.
The other querfinal will see Tofiq Musayev (20-4) facing Alexander Shabliy (22-3). Musayev is 16-1 over his last 17-fights. The native of Azerbaijan holds a de ion win over Patricky Freire in Rizin and knocked out Sidney Outlaw in 27 seconds at Bellator 283. Shabily is on a 7-fight win streak. The Russian is 3-0 coming off a second round knockout of Bret Primus.
The rest of the fails for the Gran Prix was filled out by former champion Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (24-11), former Featherweight champion AJ “The Mercenary” McKee (20-1), former BAMMA, M-1, & Road FC champion Mansour Baraoui (20-4), & talented finisher Sidney “Da Gun” Outlaw (16-5)
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