Tag: Bellator 259

Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford targeted for Bellator 259

A key middleweight matchup is in the works for May 21.

A key middleweight matchup is in the works for May 21.

MMA Junkie confirmed with a person with knowledge of the plans that [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] is currently targeted for Bellator 259, which takes place on that date at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The person asked to remain anonymous since Bellator officials have yet to formally announce the contest, which currently features verbal agreements in place but does not have a signed bout agreement.

Vanderford (10-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is currently ranked No. 3 in Bellator’s official rankings, while Edwards (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) checks in just behind at No. 4.

Vanderford took to Instagram to offer an angle for the matchup, joking that it featured Paige VanZant’s husband vs. Leon Edwards’ brother.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNTXRkxJdem/?igshid=19dah151ztejl

Vanderford looks to keep his perfect professional record intact in the contest. ‘The Gentleman” fought most recently in November, scoring a decision win over Vinicius de Jesus at Bellator 251. It was Vanderford’s lone 2020 appearance after going 3-0 in 2019 to kick off his Bellator run.

Meanwhile, Edwards looks to rebound from the first setback of his career, a split-decision loss to Costello van Steenis – who is currently ranked No. 5 in Bellator’s rankings – at Bellator Europe 8 this past September. Prior to the loss, Edwards had rattled off nine consecutive wins to open his professional career.

With the targeted addition to the card, the Bellator 259 lineup now includes:

  • Champ Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith – for women’s featherweight title
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Adam Piccolotti
  • Brett Johns vs. Matheus Mattos
  • Christian Edwards vs. Ben Parrish

Cris Cyborg headlines Bellator 259 in rematch with Leslie Smith

One of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history will return this spring in a rematch.

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One of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history will return this spring in a rematch.

[autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will put her women’s featherweight title on the line against [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (12-8-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in the Bellator 259 main event. The promotion announced the headliner during Friday’s Bellator 255 broadcast, which was its debut on Showtime.

Bellator 259 is set for May 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card for that event will air on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. In addition, [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will fight [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a light heavyweight bout on the card, and [autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] (30-11-1 MMA, 8-9 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Adam Piccolotti[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) has been booked at lightweight.

Cyborg and Smith first fought at UFC 198 in May 2016 in a 140-pound catchweight bout. That fight, in Cyborg’s home country of Brazil, was her UFC debut after signing as Invicta’s featherweight champion. She took Smith out with a TKO just 81 seconds into the fight.

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After she lost the UFC women’s featherweight title to current two-division champion Amanda Nunes in late 2018 – her first loss since her May 2005 pro debut – Cyborg had one more win in the UFC, then signed with Bellator.

In her promotional debut in January 2020, she took out longtime champion Julia Budd with a fourth-round TKO to win the belt. This past October, she had her first title defense and submitted Arlene Blencowe in the second round.

Smith signed a new deal with Bellator ahead of her shot at Cyborg’s title. It will be Smith’s first title bout in seven and a half years. She lost a fight for Invicta FC’s flyweight title to Barb Honchak in December 2013.

After that, Smith moved back to bantamweight in the UFC, where she went 4-3 in seven fights from 2014-2017. Her relationship with the UFC was a rocky one toward the end when it came to contract issues and, she has said, because of her involvement with Project Spearhead, an organization that wants to unionize MMA fighters.

Smith signed with Bellator and has gone 2-1 with decisions wins against Sinead Kavanagh and Amanda Bell sandwiched around a decision loss to Arlene Blencowe.

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