UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Five fighters scheduled for Bellator 253 won’t be competing Thursday after all.
On Monday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of three changes to the lineup. Two fights, [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Shane Kruchten[/autotag] and [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcus Surin[/autotag] were canceled. Additionally, [autotag]Mark Glover[/autotag] has been replaced by [autotag]Jason Markland[/autotag], who will fight [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag].
The two cancellations come after Kruchten (12-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) and Surin (6-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) did not receive clearance to compete from the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation. The change was first reported by MyMMANews.
Bellator 253 marks the second card Gibson Jr. (3-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) vs. Kruchten was scheduled to take place but was canceled. The two fighters were supposed to fight at Bellator 244 but Kruchten tested positive for COVID-19.
Glover (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was not removed by the commission, but it is unclear why Sullivan (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will now be facing Markland (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) instead.
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Bellator 253 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.
With the changes, the Bellator 253 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network/DAZN, 7 p.m. ET)
- Darrion Caldwell vs. A.J. McKee – featherweight tournament semifinal (five rounds)
- Benson Henderson vs. Jason Jackson
- Joey Davis vs. Bobby Lee
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)
- Keith Lee vs. Raufeon Stots
- Matt Bessette vs. Jeremy Kennedy
- Mark Lemminger vs. Jaleel Willis
- Sergio DeBari vs. Jay Jay Wilson
- Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Kaheem Murray
- Sullivan Cauley vs. Jason Markland
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