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Check out these photos from Bellator 281 which took place at SSE Arena in London.
Check out these photos from Bellator 281 which took place at SEE Arena in London. (Photos courtesy of Bellator MMA)
Charlie Ward will get an opportunity to move up the rankings when he faces short-notice replacement Fabian Edwards.
[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] will get an opportunity to move up the rankings when he faces short-notice replacement [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag].
[autotag]Norbert Novenyi Jr.[/autotag] has been forced out of Bellator 270, and Ward (9-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) now takes on Edwards (9-0 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) on Nov. 5 at Dublin’s 3Arena, promotion officials announced Tuesday.
Novenyi took to Instagram to share that a torn ACL has forced him out of the bout.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsf5R4K8QX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“Probably not the most ideal birthday post but unfortunately I will have to pull out from my fight against charlie ward as I have torn my ACL during a wrestling exchange. I tried to carry on and push through it however it hasn’t gotten better. It’s heartbreaking as I have not had a fight in over a year now and I really felt like I was in the best shape I have ever been in. This means that I might be out for up to 9-12 months before I can get back to training properly. Fighting is my job, my passion and all I have. Haven’t seen my dad and that side of the family in almost over 2 years now, and probably see my family in England once every 2 months. I spend every single day at the gym working my butt off and not being able to do what I love is very upsetting. Regardless, I’ll get through this and will be back on my way to becoming a champion.
Ya boy,
Norbs.”
Since joining the Bellator roster in 2017, SBG Ireland’s Ward has won six of his past seven, with five of those wins coming by finish. He was last seen in action in October 2020 when he picked up a unanimous decision over Andy Manzolo at Bellator Europe 9.
Meanwhile, Edwards will look to snap his first-career losing skid. After kicking off his professional MMA career at 9-0, Edwards has dropped back-to-back bouts to Costello van Steenis and most recently Austin Vanderford at Bellator 259 in May.
The Bellator 270 lineup currently includes:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 5 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 1:30 p.m. ET)
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Check out the results from the official Bellator Europe 9 fighter weigh-ins.
The weigh-ins are in the books for Saturday’s Bellator Europe 9 event in Italy, and all 24 fighters hit their contracted weights as they took to the scale on Friday morning in Milan.
The bantamweight headline bout between [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] (136 pounds) and [autotag]Cal Ellenor[/autotag] (135.2) is now official, and hopes are high that the matchup will finally go ahead at the fourth time of asking after three previous attempts to hold the fight fell through as a result of medical paperwork issues, injury and, most recently, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The middleweight co-main event between [autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag] (184.4) and [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (186) is also official, as is the 160-pound contract weight bout between Ireland’s [autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag] (159) and England’s [autotag]Charlie Leary[/autotag] (159.2), which kicks off the event’s three-fight main card lineup.
Bellator Europe 9 takes place Saturday at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. The card streams on MMA Junkie and Bellator’s YouTube channel.
The full Bellator Europe 9 weigh-in results included:
MAIN CARD (MMA Junkie, 5 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 12:45 p.m. ET)
With its Saturday event in London postponed, Bellator has released a highlight reel featuring classic finishes from past London events.
Under normal circumstances, MMA fans in London would be getting themselves ready for a packed card of fights at the SSE Arena, Wembley for Bellator Europe 8 on Saturday. But as we all know, right now we don’t live under normal circumstances.
The continued restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic mean U.K.-based MMA fans will have to sit tight and wait a little longer to get their live dose of Bellator action. But in the meantime, the promotion has offered a small taster of what fans can expect when Bellator’s European Series events get back up and running later this year by releasing a highlight reel featuring a fistful of fight finishes from previous events in London.
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Playing a starring role, as usual, is London’s own [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag], whose one-punch KO of Gianni Melillo was one of the highlights of the night at Bellator Europe 6 in November 2019. Also on that card, former kickboxing ace [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] showcased her evolving grappling game with an Americana finish of Sabriye Sengul, while rising English lightweight prospect [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag] showed off some slick submission skills of his own as he finished Tim Barnett via D’Arce choke.
Also featured on the video showcase is Irish middleweight fan-favorite [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag], who highlighted his “Relentless” ground and pound style to defeat Justin Moore at Bellator 223 in London in June 2019. And there was also a highlight-reel moment from “Mr. Wonderful” as former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] scored a spectacular high-kick knockout of the U.K.’s own Linton Vassell at Bellator 200.
Check out Bellator’s highlight-reel montage in the video above.
In the Hesburgh Regional Final we see the ’93 Florida State game meet up with what most people consider Brian Kelly’s biggest win to date at Notre Dame, the 2012 win at Oklahoma.
We have reached the Elite Eight in determining the greatest Notre Dame football game since 1986. As we said upon selection, there were some great ones that didn’t end in Notre Dame’s favor, no doubt. We did decide make the requirement that Notre Dame did in fact need to win in order to garner consideration for a tournament berth.
In the Hesburgh Region we have our third of four 1 vs. 2 match-ups to decide who goes to the Final Four. In it we get the last time Notre Dame knocked off number one, 1993’s Game of the Century that saw the Irish beat Florida State in a thriller.
In the Hesburgh Regional Final we see the ’93 Florida State game meet up with what most people consider Brian Kelly’s biggest win to date at Notre Dame, the 2012 win at Oklahoma.
Tale of the Tape:
1993 Notre Dame got off to a hot start upsetting a top-five Michigan team in September but a large chunk of the nation didn’t buy in that they could compete with Florida State’s team-speed by the time November rolled around. Not only did they compete, they physically dominated the Seminoles for the majority of the afternoon until eventual Heisman Trophy Winner Charlie Ward led Florida State on a late run that got them deep into Notre Dame territory before Shawn Wooden batted Ward’s final pass attempt away as time expired for a 31-24 win over Florida State, vaulting the Irish to number one.
2012 saw Notre Dame complete a 12-0 regular season but most of the nation still wasn’t sold on them as being anything special when they rolled into Norman, Oklahoma with a 7-0 mark in late October. The Irish entered as a 10 point underdog but quickly proved they belonged on the same field as Oklahoma with Cierre Wood breaking free for an early score. Tied at 13 in the final frame, Everett Golson found Chris Brown for huge yards to set up the go-ahead score before a Dan Fox deflection wound up intercepted by Manti Te’o to set up a 15 yard touchdown run by Theo Riddick to essentially end things and show that Notre Dame was deserving of a top-five ranking.
So who moves on? It’s up to you…
[polldaddy poll=10528036]
Also vote in the other regional final match-ups if you haven’t already:
Basilica Region: ’88 Miami vs. ’91 Florida
Grotto Region: ’89 Colorado vs. ’92 Penn State
Voting will close Monday evening at 10 p.m. ET so get it done now and share with your friends until then.
Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7, which took place Saturday in Dublin.
Bellator closed out a very busy weekend of fights on Saturday with the split-event showcase that was Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7, which took place at 3Arena in Dublin.
There were a few noteworthy results to stem from the lineup, someone of which had historical significance. For more details, check below for 30 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7.
* * * *
Betting favorites went 7-1 on the main card.
Betting favorites improved to 3-0 in Bellator main events this year.
Total fight time for the eight main card matchups was 1:26:54.
[autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has earned eight of his 10 career victories by stoppage.
Primus’ eight victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Michael Chandler (14) and Patricky Freire (14).
Primus’ six stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Chandler (nine) and Freire (nine).
[autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by submission.
[autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
[autotag]Iamik Furtado[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Bec Rawlings[/autotag] (8-9 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped her five-fight losing skid for her first victory since March 2016.
Rawlings improved to 1-3 since she returned to the women’s flyweight division in November 2017.
[autotag]Elina Kallionidou[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-4 BMMA) remained winless in four career Bellator appearances.
Kallionidou has suffered all four of her career losses by decision.
[autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has earned nine of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.
[autotag]Lewis Long[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has suffered all six of his career losses by stoppage.
[autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) failed to finish her opponent for the first time in her Bellator career.
[autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] (6-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered four of her five career losses by decision.
[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) improved to 5-1 since he returned to the middleweight division in November 2017. He’s 7-1 overall in his career at the weight class.
Ward’s five stoppage victories in Bellator middleweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Alexander Shlemenko (eight) and John Salter (six).
Ward’s five knockout victories in Bellator middleweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Shlemenko (six).
[autotag]Kyle Kurtz[/autotag] (10-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has suffered seven of his eight career losses by stoppage. He’s been finished by knockout in six of those defeats.
[autotag]Austin Clem[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) earned the first decision victory of his career.
[autotag]Aaron Chalmers[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Richard Kiely[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.
[autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] (29-10-1 MMA, 7-8 BMMA) was successful in his Bellator lightweight debut.
Karakhanyan improved to 1-2 since he returned to Bellator for a third stint in March 2019.
[autotag]Paul Redmond[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) fell to 5-3 since he was released from the UFC in July 2015.
Redmond has suffered seven of his nine career losses by stoppage.
Redmond suffered his first submission loss since Dec. 31, 2013 – a span of 2,244 days (more than six years) and 12 fights.
[autotag]Richie Smullen[/autotag] (5-2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Justin Moore[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) has suffered all five of his career losses by stoppage.
Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt battled all the way to the scorecards with Judith Ruis to score her third straight win in Dublin.
Northern Ireland’s [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] had to work for it, but the Belfast native scored an emotional victory over Germany’s [autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] at Bellator Europe 7.
After three hard-fought rounds at Dublin’s 3Arena, McCourt (4-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) took a unanimous decision on scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.
Early on, McCourt looked to find her range with leg kicks and push kicks to the body of the shorter Ruis (6-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), who tried in vain to step into punching range and head-hunt.
But when the pair locked up against the fence, it was McCourt whose size, strength and grappling advantage proved decisive, as she won the majority of the exchanges against the cage and bossed the action on the mat.
In all three rounds, McCourt utilized judo trips to take her opponent to the canvas, as she dominated from top position on the ground. If anything, her keenness to find a better situation cost her solid positioning at times, as she returned to her feet and reassessed before going back to the mat again.
Ruis doggedly battled off her back, and midway through the opening round looked close to locking up an armbar on the former IMMAF world amateur champion. But with the crowd anxiously reacting to the sight, McCourt stayed calm and maneuvered her way out of the hold to finish the round in mount.
The pair traded shots at the start of Round 2 before Ruis initiated the clinch against the fence once again, but another judo toss from McCourt sent her opponent to the mat. This time, the Belfast native landed in mount, then ended up on Ruis’ back, and she locked up a body triangle and looked to work a submission on Ruis, who doggedly managed to reverse position and finish in guard.
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Despite being on her back, McCourt threatened briefly with a triangle choke, then a Kimura as she stayed active from the bottom, while Ruis looked to land strikes from top position as the round came to a close.
McCourt landed a quick takedown at the start of Round 3 as she quickly established top position on Ruis. Twice she stood back up to find a better position before going back to the mat, where she maintained top position and connected with a succession of elbows and punches. Ruis gamely scrambled her way back to her feet, but McCourt dragged her straight back to the canvas once again as she finished the fight on top.
McCourt’s victory was her third as a Bellator fighter – as well as her third win inside the 3Arena.
“She was tough,” McCourt said after the fight. “Her grappling defense and reactions were good on the ground, she getting a wee bit ahead of me when I was trying to take her down.”
She also admitted that handling the motions of the main event spotlight was a tough task during a whirlwind fight week in Dublin.
“Honestly, it’s been intense,” she said. “Every emotion under the sun. Crying one minute, happy the next, but I’m ecstatic to get in here and get the job done.”
In the night’s co-main event, [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] used his physical strength to bully America’s [autotag]Kyle Kurtz[/autotag] before eventually bludgeoning his way to a TKO victory at 4:24 of the third round.
After taking his time to eye up his opponent, Ward (8-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) stepped across the cage and shoved Kurtz (10-8 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) against the fence. The barrel-chested Dubliner weighed heavy on the American and connected with some solid punches from the clinch, then dragged his man to the mat and landed in guard. With his opponent’s shoulders pinned to the mat, Ward postured up and landed a succession of piston-like left hands.
It was a case of rinse and repeat in Round 2 as Ward once again closed distance on his opponent, then dragged him down to the mat and connected with ground strikes. Kurtz managed to battle his way back to his feet, but Ward stayed stuck to him like glue and soon had “The Hurtz” back down on the mat once again, where he administered another dose of heavy-handed ground and pound.
Kurtz went for broke at the start of the third round. First he swung for the fences, then launched a flying knee in Ward’s direction. But the SBG fighter easily evaded it and wrapped up the American against the fence before taking him down the canvas once more.
“Relentless” served up another portion of ground and pound. Then, after Kurtz fought his way back to his feet, he continued his attack with a plethora of left hands from the clinch as he maintained control and bloodied his opponent’s face with repeated left hands that eventually forced referee Leon Roberts to pause the action to allow the doctor to check the American’s wounds.
The physician gave Kurtz the thumbs-up to continue, but it was only a temporary reprieve, as Ward resumed his barrage from the clinch as he kept his main pinned to the fence and hammered him with heavy lefts until Roberts mercifully waved off the fight with 36 seconds remaining.
[autotag]Aaron Chalmers[/autotag]’ MMA education continued under the bright lights of the Bellator cage as he suffered a lopsided decision defeat to debuting American grappler [autotag]Austin Clem[/autotag].
Chalmers (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) had success with his strikes, particularly his leg kicks, early on. But in each of the three rounds Clem (4-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) was able to close the distance and drag the Englishman to the mat.
Once Clem had his man down on the canvas, Chalmers was unable to fight his way back to his feet as “The King” maintained top position with relative ease, including two long spells in full mount in Rounds 2 and 3. The Missouri native looked comfortable in top position, but never seriously threatened with a submission attempt or a concerted effort to finish the fight with strikes.
Clem’s conservative approach from the top, coupled with Chalmers’ inability to work his way back to his feet, meant the bout descended into a slow-paced matchup that left the Dublin crowd frustrated as Clem rode out the three rounds to earn a landslide decision win with scores of 30-27, 30-27, 30-26.
Official Bellator Dublin results include:
BELLATOR EUROPE 7 MAIN CARD
BELLATOR EUROPE 7 PRELIMINARY CARD
BELLATOR 240 (Paramount, DAZN, 10 p.m. ET via tape delay)
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Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator Europe 7 and Bellator 240 cards in Dublin.
| McCourt vs. Ruis |
Kurtz vs. Ward |
Chalmers vs. Clem |
Primus vs. Bungard |
Crosbie vs. Furtado |
Kallionidou vs. Rawlings |
Bandejas vs. Mlambo |
Enkamp vs. Long |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 16-10 |
 McCourt (93%) |
 Ward (82%) |
 Chalmers (78%) |
 Primus (92%) |
 Crosbie (70%) |
 Rawlings (63%) |
 Bandejas (77%) |
 Enkamp (53%) |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 20-6 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 20-6  2017 Champion |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 19-7 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
 Kalliondou |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 19-7 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Kalliondou |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 19-7 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 19-7 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Kalliondou |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 19-7 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Kalliondou |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 19-7 2014 Champion |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Kalliondou |
Bandejas |
 Long |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 18-8 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Long |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 18-8 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 18-8 2019 Champion* |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Long |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 17-9 2018 Champion |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Enkamp |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 16-10 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
Bandejas |
Long |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 12-14 |
McCourt |
Ward |
Chalmers |
Primus |
Crosbie |
Rawlings |
 Mlambo |
Long |
The second of Bellator’s back-to-back events this week sees the promotion return to Dublin for a card loaded with European talent.
Bellator 240 and Bellator Europe 7 take place Saturday at 3Arena in Dublin. The Bellator Europe 7 card streams on MMA Junkie. The Bellator 240 portion airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN via tape delay.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the Bellator Europe 7 main event, [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s featherweight fight. McCourt, from nearby Northern Ireland, is one of five unanimous picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers. She’s got a 14-0 shutout.
In the co-main event at Bellator Europe 7, Dublin-based [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) is a unanimous pick against [autotag]Kyle Kurtz[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) in their middleweight bout.
And former reality TV star [autotag]Aaron Chalmers[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) is a 14-0 pick from our staff members against [autotag]Austin Clem[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in their welterweight bout.
On the Bellator 240 portion of the card, former lightweight champ [autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) is a 14-0 pick against [autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). And Kiefer Crosbie (7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is our fifth unanimous pick in his 160-pound contract weight bout against Iamik Furtado (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).
[autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) nearly made it a sixth unanimous nod in his bantamweight bout against [autotag]Frans Mlambo[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), but had to settle for 13-1 in the picks.
Our only truly contentious fights in the picks come in the way of [autotag]Bec Rawlings[/autotag] (7-9 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in her women’s flyweight bout against [autotag]Elina Kallionidou[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-3 BMMA). Rawlings, looking to snap a five-fight skid, has a 9-5 edge in the picks.
And to open the Bellator 240 portion of the event, [autotag]Oliver Enkamp[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) also has a 9-5 picks lead in his welterweight fight against [autotag]Lewis Long[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, McCourt (93 percent), Ward (82 percent), Chalmers (78 percent), Primus (92 percent), Crosbie (70 percent), Rawlings (63 percent), Bandejas (77 percent) and Enkamp (53 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
Check out the key facts and figures about Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7, which takes place Saturday in Dublin.
Bellator continues a busy weekend on Saturday with a split event showcase at 3Arena in Dublin featuring Bellator 240 and Bellator Europe 7.
The Bellator 240 portion of the card is headlined by former lightweight champion [autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), while the Bellator Europe 7 portion sees Northern Ireland’s [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) fight [autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s featherweight affair.
For more on the numbers behind all the festivities, check below for 15 pre-event facts about Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7.
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Primus’ five stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Michael Chandler (nine) and Patricky Freire (nine).
Primus is the only fighter in Bellator history to earn a submission victory by omoplata choke. He accomplished the feat at Bellator Europe 1.
Bungard has earned both of his Bellator victories by first-round submission. He finished both fights by rear-naked choke.
[autotag]Bec Rawlings[/autotag]’ (7-9 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) five-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since March 2016.
Rawlings is 0-3 since she returned to the women’s flyweight division in November 2017.
[autotag]Elina Kallionidou[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-3 BMMA), 21, is the youngest of the 16 fighters scheduled for the Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7 main cards.
[autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has earned both of his Bellator victories by first-round knockout.
McCourt has earned both of her Bellator victories by first-round stoppage.
Ruis, 35, is the oldest of the 16 fighters scheduled for the Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7 main cards.
Ruis has earned five of her six career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) is 4-1 since he returned to the middleweight division in November 2017. He’s 6-1 overall in his career at the weight class.
Ward’s four knockout victories in Bellator middleweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Alexander Shlemenko (six).
[autotag]Kyle Kurtz[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) returns to Bellator for the first time since June 2015. He went 6-7 between stints with the organization.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s Bellator Europe 7/Bellator 240 event in Dublin.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s Bellator Europe 7/Bellator 240 event in Dublin.
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 Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator Europe 7/Bellator 240 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. Bellator 240 and Bellator Europe 7 take place Saturday at 3Arena in Dublin. The Bellator Europe 7 card streams on MMA Junkie. The Bellator 240 portion airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN via tape delay.
