Bellator Announces First Round of Welterweight Grand Prix

(Via: Bellator)

On Monday, Bellator announced the opening match-ups of their welterweight grand prix, which kicks off on Sept 29. Bellator 206, the promotion’s first exclusive card in a new streaming deal with UK’s DAZN, will feature former champs (29-7) Douglas Lima and (21-2) Andrey Koreshkov squaring off.

This marks the third installment of Koreshkov-Lima, with Koreshkov winning a decision at Bellator 140 in July 2015 over a badly injured Lima. The rematch took place at Bellator 164 in November 2016, and Lima was able to claim the belt with a vicious left hook knockout.

The other four welterweight fights announced will take place at a later date. This includes an alternate fight, and match-ups are as follows:

• (40-16-2) Paul Daley vs. (13-0) Michael “Venom” Page
• (8-0) Neiman Gracie vs. (6-0) Ed Ruth
• (20-4) Rory MacDonald vs. (31-7-1, 1 NC) Jon Fitch
• Alternate: (19-7, 1 NC) Lorenz Larkin vs. (20-0) Yaroslav Amosov

It should be noted that welterweight champion Rory MacDonald will be fighting for the middleweight belt against (44-6-2) Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 206. This card also features (37-13) Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and (35-13) Wandelei Silva 4, taking place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

Bellator has made waves this summer, signing a seven-figure deal with DAZN, announcing the welterweight grand prix, inking Lyoto Machida and 24 European fighters, despite a noticeable decrease in ratings.