Middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko faces Brennan Ward at Bellator 114
Bellator MMA middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko (49-7 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) puts his title on the line against Season 9 tournament winner Brennan Ward (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) in the main event of Bellator 114.
Additionally, Edson Berto (17-11-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) meets Rad Martinez (14-3 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) in a featherweight matchup in a bout Martinez says will be his last.
Bellator officials today announced the bookings for Bellator 114, which takes place on March 28 at Maverik Center in West Valley, Utah. As with all of Bellator’s Season 10 events, the night’s main card airs on Spike TV following prelims that stream on Spike.com.
With a 12-fight winning streak to his name, Shlemenko seeks his 50th career win. Currently ranked No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings, Shlemenko claimed the vacant title in February 2013 with a win over Maiquel Falcao and has since defended it twice with wins over Brett Cooper and Doug Marshall.
“I saw Brennan Ward in the last tournament, he was impressive,†Shlemenko stated. “But he is a young fighter, while I have experience on my side. My experience will be my strongest weapon in this fight.â€
Meanwhile, Ward earned his shot at the belt with a Season 9 tourney win that included second-round wins over Mikkel Parlo, Joe Pacheco and Justin Torrey. “The Irish Bad Boy†has remained busy in the past two calendar years, working in nine of his 1- career fights in that 24-month span.
“Simply put, I’m looking forward to bringing the heat and taking the belt away, Cold War style,†Ward stated.
The inspirational Martinez, who was famously featured in an ESPN “Outside The Lines†piece, plans to retire from competition after the event.
“I like to think I’ve had a pretty good career, and as I’m getting older – I’ve got a beautiful wife and a daughter on the way – the time is right to walk away and focus on being a husband and a father,†Martinez stated. “The time was right to walk away while I still have my health and to be a fantastic father and husband. It means so much to me that Bellator would give me my last fight in Utah so I can have a sendoff in front of all my friends and family. Bellator has treated me so well through my career, and I’m incredibly proud to have my last fight in the Bellator cage.â€
