Bellator is back in our lives this Thursday night with a fun card from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut that is headlined with flyweight champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane defending her belt against Juliana Velasquez.
Bellator 254’s undercard starts at 7:30 p.m ET and the main card, which has three fights, kicks off at 10 p.m. with all the fights being free on CBS Sports Network.
Macfarlane (11-0-0) is one of the greatest champs in Bellator history and will be making her first appearance since she was able to beat Kate Jackson via unanimous decision back in December of 2019 (which feels like forever ago).
Let’s look at three reasons why you should check out these fights, with all three of these bouts happening in the main card:
3. Linton Vassell vs. Ronny Markes will be a fun heavyweight bout.
Both fighters are coming off of rebound wins and will be looking to make a statement in Bellator 254. For Markes, this will be his long-awaited Bellator debut after his scheduled main event bout against Josh Barnett at Bellator 235 was a very late scratch due to Barnett coming down with an illness. Markes had previously been in the PFL, where he fought four times, and the UFC, where he fought five times. Vassell is 1-1 since making the move to heavyweight and his coming off a second round KO of Sergei Kharitonov.
2. Goiti Yamauchi is a killer.
Yamauchi, who is coming off back-to-back first-round wins by submission, loves to finish fights in style. His nine stoppage victories are tied for fifth most in Bellator history and his eight submissions victories are the most in Bellator history. He takes on Nate Andrews in a lightweight bout and I think I know how this one is going to end.
1. Flyweight champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane looks to make history.
Macfarlane, who has been the flyweight champion since 2017, will be looking to defend her title for the fifth straight time, which would be a Bellator record. Juliana Velasquez is 5-0 in her Bellator career and 10-0 overall, so one of these fighters will be handed the first loss of their professional career.