Bellator’s busy November continues this week with Bellator 234, which takes place Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel, but won’t air until Friday on Paramount via tape-delay.
A heavyweight matchup serves as the main event of the card. [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) will look to inch close to getting a fight for Bellator gold, while [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) looks to get his first win since moving up to the heavyweight division earlier this year.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 16 pre-event facts about Bellator 234.
* * * *
Main event
[vertical-gallery id=436059]
Kharitonov is 11-1 (with two no contests) in his past 14 fights dating back to September 2011.
Kharitonov’s five-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at heavyweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Cheick Kongo (nine) and Tyrell Fortune (eight).
Kharitonov has earned 27 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.
Kharitonov vs. Matt Mitrione at Bellator 215 marked the third shortest no contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (6 seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.
[vertical-gallery id=392854]
Vassell’s three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2017.
Vassell was unsuccessful in his heavyweight debut when he lost a decision to Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 218 in March.
Vassell’s seven victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Liam McGeary (nine), Phil Davis (eight) and Emanuel Newton (eight).
Vassell’s three submission victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied with four other fighters for most in divisional history.
Co-main event
[vertical-gallery id=312925]
[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-11-1 MMA, 1-4 BMMA) is 0-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in April 2018. He hasn’t earned a victory with the promotion since April 2010.
Huerta is 4-10 in his past 14 fights dating back to August 2008.
Remaining main card
[vertical-gallery id=422081]
[autotag]Olga Rubin[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) competes in her sixth Bellator women’s featherweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Arlene Blencowe (nine) and Julia Budd (seven).
[autotag]Sinead Kavanagh[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 2-4 BMMA) is 1-3 since she moved up to the Bellator women’s featherweight division.
[autotag]Grachik Bozinyan[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is the youngest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.
Bozinyan has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished seven of those wins in Round 1.
[autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag]’s (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) 11-second submission win at Bellator 225 stands as the fastest in company history.
Gozali, at 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a bellator win at Bellator 209 in November 2018.