Saul Rogers, Rob Whiteford set for featherweight ‘Battle of Britain’ at Bellator London

A featherweight “Battle of Britain” between England’s Saul Rogers and Scotland’s Rob Whiteford heads a list of preliminary matchups added to the fight card for Bellator Europe 8 in London.

A battle between two of the U.K.’s most familiar featherweight names has been added to the preliminary card for Bellator Europe 8 in London.

Former contender from “The Ultimate Fighter 22,” England’s [autotag]Saul Rogers[/autotag], will go head-to-head with Scottish former UFC featherweight [autotag]Rob Whiteford[/autotag] in a 145-pound preliminary bout at SSE Arena, Wembley on May 16.

Rogers (13-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is looking to bounce back to winning ways after his decision loss to German contender Daniel Weichel in the first round of the Bellator featherweight grand prix, while Whiteford (16-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will be keen to claim back-to-back victories for his new promotion following his dramatic last-gasp knockout of Sam Sicilia with just six seconds of the fight remaining at Bellator Europe 6 last November.

Also added to the preliminary slate is a lightweight bout between rising English prospects [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]. Davis (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) picked up a hat-trick of decision victories under the Bellator banner in 2019, and will be looking to kick off his 2020 campaign with an impressive win over Wilde (13-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), who rebounded from his gogoplata loss to Brent Primus in his debut by outpointing fellow Brit [autotag]Charlie Leary[/autotag] at Bellator Europe 8.

Leary (16-11-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) is also scheduled for action in London, and will face rising lightweight prospect [autotag]Akonne Wanless[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), while English light heavyweight [autotag]Luke Trainer[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his Bellator debut after earning a contract with the organization by winning three fights in one night at last October’s Euro Fight Night tournament. He will take on fellow newcomer [autotag]Alex O’Toole[/autotag] (4-3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who returns to action for the first time in two-and-a-half years to make his Bellator debut.

Also confirmed for the prelims in London is a featherweight bout between [autotag]Aiden Lee[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag] (13-8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), and a middleweight matchup between [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

Bellator Europe 8 will be streamed live on Bellator’s official YouTube channel.

Confirmed fights for Bellator Europe 8 include:

MAIN CARD

  • James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
  • James Haskell vs. TBA
  • Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Alfie Davis vs. Tim Wilde
  • Saul Rogers vs. Robert Whiteford
  • Aiden Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
  • Alex O’Toole vs. Luke Trainer
  • Charlie Leary vs. Akonne Wanliss
  • Andy Manzolo vs. George Tokkos

Bellator Europe 6 medical suspensions: Josie Blaber gets 180 days, others out indefinitely

Check out the full list of medical suspensions from Bellator Europe 6 in London.

Bellator finished closed out its 2019 European series schedule Saturday in London with Bellator Europe 6, which took place at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

In the main event, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] ran through Italian newcomer [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag] by picking up another first-round knockout. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] edge out a split decision win against [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie received medical suspensions from Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Regulation president Mike Mazzulli, who oversaw regulation of the event. Among those facing lengthy suspensions is [autotag]Sam Sicilia[/autotag]. The Washington-based fighter was knocked out by fellow UFC veteran Robert Whiteford and will need neurological clearance to return. Whiteford was suspended indefinitely for a potential ankle/foot injury.

After his win over [autotag]Terry Brazier[/autotag], [autotag]Soren Bak[/autotag] was suspended indefinitely until his right knee is cleared by a physician.

Additionally, [autotag]Josie Blaber[/autotag] was suspended 180 days or until cleared by a doctor. Blaber was on the receiving end of brutal, dragged-out attack by [autotag]Charlotte McIntyre[/autotag] in the card’s curtain jerker.

Check out the full Bellator Europe 7 medical suspensions below:

  • Josie Blaber: Suspended 180 days on until X-ray of face is cleared by physician; also suspended 45 days
  • Charlotte McIntyre: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Raphael Uchegbu[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Shane Campbell[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Tim Barnett[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for knock down
  • [autotag]Akonne Wanliss[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Harry Hardwick[/autotag]: Suspended 45 for deep laceration
  • [autotag]Nathan Rose[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on right ankle injury; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Tom Means[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Jeremy Petley[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Auden Lee[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Damian Frankiewicz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Kevin Fryer[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Alessandro Botti[/autotag]:
  • [autotag]Alfie Davis[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Andy Manzolo[/autotag]: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants clearance on left leg X-ray; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Benjamin Brander[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Lew Long[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Walter Gahadza[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • Sam Sicilia: Suspended 60 days for knockout, needs neurological clearance from physician
  • Robert Whiteford: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants ortho clearance on left ankle/foot; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Charley Leary[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for laceration
  • [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Sabine Sengal[/autotag]: Suspended 45 laceration
  • Terry Brazier: Suspended 45 laceration
  • Soren Bak: Suspended indefinitely until physician grants orthopedic clearance on right knee injury; also suspended 30 days
  • [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: Suspended seven days
  • [autotag]Giovanni Melilla[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days

[vertical-gallery id=465578]