Tag: Matheus Mattos

Bellator 254: Make your predictions for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Juliana Velasquez

We want your predictions for Thursday’s Bellator 254 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Thursday’s Bellator 254 event in Connecticut.

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 Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 254 event staff predictions we release Wednesday ahead of the event. Bellator 254 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the four main card fights below.

Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez lineup finalized after additional fight included

Bellator 254 has been finalized with an 11-fight card.

The final Bellator lineup of 2020 is complete, barring any unforeseen circumstances in the coming days.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday, Dec. 10, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Thursday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of a preliminary card fight between [autotag]Robson Gracie Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Goff[/autotag], which will take place at welterweight.

Gracie (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) and Goff (2-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) have been paired up three times in 2020. The first two pairings, Bellator 241 in March and Bellator 246 in September, never materialized due to a COVID-19 pandemic event cancellation and Gracie pulling out due to injury.

The 11-fight card is headlined by Bellator women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) against undefeated challenger [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA).

Also on the card, former ACB standouts [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag] (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) square off.

With that addition, the Bellator 254 lineup is finalized and includes:

MAIN CARD (CBS Sports Network/DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Juliana Velasquez – for Bellator women’s flyweight title
  • Magomed Magomedov vs. Matheus Mattos
  • Nate Andrews vs. Goiti Yamauchi
  • Ronny Markes vs. Linton Vassell

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7:15 p.m. ET)

  • Romero Cotton vs. Justin Sumter
  • Maurice Jackson vs. Grant Neal
  • Kemran Lachinov vs. Shamil Nikaev
  • Davion Franklin vs. Anthony Garrett
  • Kenny Champion vs. Cody Law
  • Fabio Aguiar vs. Mike Jasper
  • Billy Goff vs. Robson Gracie Jr.

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Bellator 254 adds Magomed Magomedov debut vs. Pitbull Brothers’ Matheus Mattos

Magomed Magomedov, the only man to beat UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan, has his Bellator debut booked.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Former ACB bantamweight champion [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag] has a date, opponent, and location for his Bellator debut.

At Bellator 254 on Dec. 10, Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his first promotional appearance against a fellow former ACB title challenger, [autotag]Matheus Mattos[/autotag]. The main-card fight will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Additionally, a featherweight fight between [autotag]Marina Mokhnatkina[/autotag] (4-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jessica Borga[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has been added to the card.

A promotion official confirmed the bookings to MMA Junkie on Tuesday after initial reports by Russian news agency TASS.

Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is the only man to hold a win over current UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan. The two Russians have fought twice, with each emerging victorious once.

After beating Yan by split decision at ACB 32 in March 2016, Magomedov lost a rematch by split decision at ACB 57 in April 2017.

Since his rematch loss, Magomedov, 28, has only competed three times, winning all three fights. Of 16 pro victories, Magomedov has finished 11.

Mattos (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a member of the Pitbull Brothers’ gym and has competed for the ACB bantamweight championship. Like Magomedov, his only professional loss came at the hands of Petr Yan. Ten of Mattos’ pro victories have come inside the distance.

With the additions, the Bellator 254 lineup includes:

  • Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Juliana Velasquez – for Bellator flyweight title
  • Magomed Magomedov vs. Matheus Mattos
  • Jessica Borga vs. Marina Mokhnatkina

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