Tag: Bellator 251

Title shot? Melvin Manhoef’s only concerns are Corey Anderson at Bellator 251, farewell fight after

MMA Junkie catches up with Melvin Manhoef ahead of his Bellator 251 headliner against Corey Anderson.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Ahead of Bellator 251, Melvin Manhoef spoke to MMA Junkie on Tuesday.

Manhoef (32-14-1 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) discussed his headlining fight against Corey Anderson, how he’s not surprised by the matchup, what he hopes for from his farewell fight afterward, post-retirement plans, and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

Bellator 251 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena with a main card that airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

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With Chris Curtis out of Bellator 251, Austin Vanderford now meets Vinicius de Jesus

Thursday’s Bellator 251 card has encountered three lineup changes.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] has a new opponent for Thursday’s Bellator 251 card at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Originally expected to fight [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag], Vanderford (9-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) now faces former LFA welterweight title challenger and current CES MMA welterweight champion [autotag]Vinicius de Jesus[/autotag] in a middleweight bout.

A promotion official informed MMA Junkie of the booking Monday but did not give a reason for Curtis’ withdrawal. MyMMANews recently reported Curtis withdrew from the fight due to a positive COVID-19 test.

De Jesus (9-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) has four of his most recent five fights. Six of his nine pro wins have come by knockout.

Curtis isn’t the only fighter to have withdrawn from Bellator 251. A promotion official also informed MMA Junkie that [autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] is out of his prelim fight against [autotag]Piankhi Zimmerman[/autotag] (5-4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and is replaced by [autotag]Ali Zebian[/autotag] (4-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

Additionally, the light heavyweight fight between [autotag]Terrance Jean-Jacques[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Gustavo Trujillo[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has been canceled for unknown reasons, per a promotion official.

With the changes, the Bellator 251 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network/DAZN, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Corey Anderson vs. Melvin Manhoef
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Said Sowma
  • Vinicius de Jesus vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Derek Anderson vs. Killys Mota

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, TBA)

  • Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Bryce Logan
  • Julius Anglickas vs. Alex Polizzi
  • Janay Harding vs. Jessy Miele
  • Ali Zebian vs. Piankhi Zimmerman
  • Jaylon Bates vs. Joe Supino
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Jessica Ruiz

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Bellator 251: Make your predictions for Melvin Manhoef vs. Corey Anderson

We want your predictions for Thursday’s Bellator 251 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Thursday’s Bellator 251 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 251 event staff predictions we release Wednesday ahead of the event. Bellator 251 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all four main card fights below.

Bellator 251 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Said Sowma co-main event, Derek Anderson vs. Killys Mota

Two fights have been added to the growing Bellator 251 lineup, including its co-headliner.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A heavyweight tilt is on tap for the Bellator 251 co-main event.

On Nov. 5, former NCAA Division II wrestling champion [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] will take on recently signed Titan FC heavyweight champion [autotag]Said Sowma[/autotag].

Also added to the card is a welterweight fight between [autotag]Derek Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Killys Mota[/autotag].

A promotion official informed MMA Junkie of both bookings Monday.

In what will be his third appearance of 2020, Fortune (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) is still seeking his first win of the year. After suffering an upset loss to Timothy Johnson in February, Fortune fought to a no contest against Jack May in September. The fight was stopped after Fortune landed an accidental low blow, and May could not continue.

Sowma (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) hasn’t lost since his professional debut – a TKO defeat to current Bellator heavyweight Steve Mowry. Over the span of his past six fights, Sowma has gone undefeated with four finishes. At Titan FC 64 in September, Sowma defeated Bobby Brents by third-round TKO to earn the vacant title.

Anderson (16-3 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) was scheduled to headline Bellator 241 in October. However, his opponent, Paul Daley, was forced out of the fight one day prior to the event because of his weight cut.

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Mota (12-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will look to make his second promotional appearance after a successful Bellator debut in October 2019. Taking on Tristar Gym fighter Mandel Nallo, Mota won via leg kicks in Round 3.

Bellator 251 takes place Thursday, Nov. 5 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

With the addition, the Bellator 251 lineup includes:

  • Corey Anderson vs. Melvin Manhoef
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Said Sowma
  • Derek Anderson vs. Killys Mota
  • Jaylon Bates vs. Joe Supino
  • Chris Curtis vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Nainoa Dung vs. Piankhi Zimmerman

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