Tofiq Musayev vs. Alfie Davis matchup headed to Bellator’s Champions Series event in Belfast

The lineup Bellator first solo event under its new PFL ownership continues to build with a lightweight matchup for Northern Ireland.

The lineup for the first standalone Bellator event under its new PFL ownership continues to build with a lightweight matchup for Northern Ireland.

[autotag]Tofiq Musayev[/autotag] (21-5) is set to take on [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] (16-4-1) at Bellator 302 next month. The event will be the first in Bellator’s Champions Series and is set for March 22 at SSE Arena in Belfast. A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Monday and spoke on anonymity since the promotion has not yet made an official announcement.

The 34-year-old Musayev, from Azerbaijan, had back-to-back wins under the Rizin banner in 2023 after a stretch that saw him drop two of three fights, including one in the opening round of Bellator’s lightweight grand prix to Alexandr Shabliy. His fight against Davis will come a year to the weekend from his loss to Shabliy that gave him an early exit from the $1 million tournament.

England’s Davis, who trains with the famed London Shootfighters team, has had plenty of success for Bellator over the years with a 7-1-1 record. Coincidentally, his only Bellator loss came to Shabliy, as well, though he went the distance with him and Musayev was knocked out in the third round. After that setback and a draw with Tim Wilde, Davis has consecutive decision wins over Thibault Gouti and Aalon Cruz.

The latest Bellator 302 lineup includes:

  • Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore – for vacant light heavyweight title
  • Leah McCourt vs. Sinead Kavanagh
  • James Gallagher vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Aaron Jeffery
  • Alfie Davis vs. Tofiq Musayev

Fabian Edwards vs. Aaron Jeffery targeted for Bellator 302 in Belfast

A matchup between top-ranked middleweights Fabian Edwards and Aaron Jeffery is in the works for Bellator 302.

A matchup between top-ranked middleweights is in the works for Bellator 302.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aaron Jeffery[/autotag] is expected to take place at Bellator 302 March 22 in Belfast in Northern Ireland at SSE Arena. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from John Morgan.

Edwards (12-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) will look to rebound from his knockout loss to middleweight champion Johnny Eblen at Bellator 299 in September. Prior to that, Edwards was on a three-fight winning streak – including a win over former champ Gegard Mousasi.

Jeffery (14-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is coming off a unanimous decision win over formerly unbeaten Dalton Rosta at Bellator 298. The former CFFC champion has won four of his past five.

The latest Bellator 302 lineup includes:

  • Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore – for vacant light heavyweight title
  • Leah McCourt vs. Sinead Kavanagh
  • James Gallagher vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Aaron Jeffery

James Gallagher vs. Jeremy Kennedy joins Bellator 302 lineup in Belfast

James Gallagher will return on home soil.

[autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] will return on home soil.

Gallagher (12-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) meets [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) in a featherweight bout at Bellator 302 March 22 in Belfast in Northern Ireland at SSE Arena.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following an initial report from Severe MMA.

Gallagher returned for the first time since a November 2021 loss to current bantamweight champion Patchy Mix when he edged out James Gonzalez this past August at Bellator 298 – his first win since October 2020. He has won five of his past six.

Canada’s Kennedy is on a three-fight winning streak. The 31-year-old UFC alum most recently defeated Pedro Carvalho by unanimous decision at Bellator 291.

The latest Bellator 302 lineup includes:

  • Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore – for vacant light heavyweight title
  • Leah McCourt vs. Sinead Kavanagh
  • James Gallagher vs. Jeremy Kennedy

PFL launches new Bellator Champions Series with Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore title fight set for Belfast

PFL has launched Bellator Champions Series which will consist of eight global events.

The PFL has made official the Bellator Champions Series, which will consist of eight global events.

The Bellator Champions Series cards each will feature title fights. The offshoot comes on the heels of the PFL’s purchase of Bellator. The first event will take place March 22 in Belfast in Northern Ireland at SSE Arena. PFL officials announced the new series Monday.

Bellator 302 will be headlined by a vacant light heavyweight title bout between Corey Anderson (17-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) and Karl Moore (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA).

“After the landmark acquisition of Bellator, the Professional Fighters League is excited to officially announce a new era of MMA with the launch of the Bellator Champions Series global franchise,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a news release.

“‘The Bellator Champions Series will feature reigning Bellator champion fighters defending their titles against the best fighters in the world from the star-studded Bellator roster. Fans will have access to the best competition and the most innovate formats in MMA distributed by leaders in sport, including DAZN.”

Bellator 302 will be co-headlined by a women’s featherweight matchup between Belfast’s own Leah McCourt (8-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) and Sinead Kavanagh (9-6 MMA, 6-6 BMMA). The pair already fought once before – McCourt lost a unanimous decision to Kavanagh at Bellator 275 in February 2022.

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