Bellator’s card for its return to Ireland is beginning to take shape.
Former UFC champion and Bellator title challenger [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] is now set to face [autotag]Peter Queally[/autotag] in a lightweight matchup. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup following an initial report from The Irish Sun.
Bellator Dublin is scheduled to take place on Sept. 23 at 3Arena. The contest will serve as Henderson’s first fight under his new multi-fight contract with the promotion, and the first confirmed bout on the card. Queally, along with Sinead Kavanagh, were previously announced to participate on the card, but their opponents were not yet determined.
Henderson (29-11 MMA, 6-6 BMMA), 38, will enter the matchup against Queally on the heels of a massive upset victory over Islam Mamedov via split decision at Bellator 273. The win snapped a three-fight skid for the former UFC lightweight champion, who won four-straight prior to the rough stint.
[lawrence-related id=2051081,2533155]
Queally (13-6-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), 33, challenged Patricky Freire for the vacant lightweight title in his last outing at Bellator 270, although things did not go his way. The fight was an immediate rematch from their first meeting at Bellator 258, where Queally won due to second-round doctor’s stoppage. Prior to the back-to-back fights with Freire, Queally finished Ryan Scope in the second round at Bellator 227.
With the addition, the Bellator Dublin card includes:
- Benson Henderson vs. Peter Queally
- Sinead Kavanagh vs. opponent TBA
[vertical-gallery id=311914]