Bellator 110 lineup set with 12 bouts, Martinez vs. Yamauchi as featured prelim
The 12-bout lineup for next month’s Bellator MMA Season 10 debut event is now set, and five fights will air on the Spike TV-broadcast main card, including three of the evening’s four featherweight tournament opening-round contests.
A fourth tournament bout featuring Will Martinez vs. Goiti Yamauchi will serve as the featured contest of a seven-bout preliminary card that streams on Spike TV.
The Feb. 28 event, “Bellator 110: Rampage vs. M’Pumbu,†takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and sees MMA superstar Quinton “Rampage†Jackson face Christian M’Pumbu in a light-heavyweight tournament semifinal bout in the evening’s headliner.
Following the first opening-round featherweight tourney bout, Egidijus Valavicius (25-10) and Atanas Djambazov (18-3) face off in a light heavyweight bout. Valavicius, who hails from Lithuania, is 7-1 in his past eight outings and this past May notched a decision over Dan McGlasson. Djambazov, a Bulgaria-based fighter, looks for redemption in Bellator after stumbling in the opening round of the Season 8 tourney opposite Emanuel Newton.
In a featherweight bout, Andrew Fisher (12-5-1) looks to rebound after a loss to Joe Taimanglo in the Season 9 145-pound tourney. He faces Saul Almeida (13-5), who was knocked out by Season 10 tournament participant Yamauchi and needs a win after a 1-4 run.
Although spotty on the regional circuit, lightweight Ryan Quinn (8-4-1) has won all five of his Bellator appearances and looks to earn a tournament spot in a bout against Andrew Calandrelli (6-3), who’s won back-to-back Bellator bouts.
Despite suffering his first pro loss in his most recent outing, heavyweight Chris Birchler (5-1) makes his Bellator debut opposite vet Josh Diekmann (14-5), who’s won his past two contests, including a first-round TKO over Parker Porter at this past September’s Bellator 98.
Bantamweight Jake Smith (0-0) makes his pro debut against Team Sityodtong’s Rico DiSciullo (1-0), who knocked out Glenn Allaire at this past September’s Bellator 98.
At light-heavyweight, “The Ultimate Fighter 7″ veteran Pat Schultz (8-2-1) squares off with longtime training partner Dave Roberts (5-8), who returns to the cage after a four-year hiatus. In his previous bout, he snapped a six-fight skid with a first-round submission victory.
The latest Bellator 110 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Spike TV):
Quinton Jackson vs. Christian M’Pumbu – light heavyweight tournament semifinal
Muhammed Lawal vs. Mikhail Zayats – light heavyweight tournament semifinal
Diego Nunes vs. Matt Bessette – featherweight tournament opening round
Mike Richman vs. Desmond Green – featherweight tournament opening round
Daniel Weichel vs. Scott Cleve – featherweight tournament opening round
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com):
Goiti Yamauchi vs. Will Martinez – featherweight tournament opening round
Egidijus Valavicius vs. Atanas Djambazov
Andrew Fisher vs. Saul Almeida
Ryan Quinn vs. Andrew Calandrelli
Chris Birchler vs. Josh Diekmann
Jake Smith vs. Rico DiSciullo
Patrick Schultz vs. David Roberts
