Immediately, BELLATOR officers introduced {that a} pivotal heavyweight bout between No. 7-ranked Marcelo Golm (10-3) and No. 8-ranked Daniel James (14-6-1) has been booked to headline the promotion’s Friday, March 31 return to Pechanga Resort On line casino in Temecula, Calif. for Bellator 293.
Within the card’s co-main occasion, San Diego’s top-ranked Cat Zingano (13-4) returns to featherweight motion towards the No. 4-ranked Leah McCourt (7-2) of Eire. Moreover, a middleweight contest between No. 4-ranked John Salter (18-6) and No. 6-ranked Aaron Jeffrey (13-3) is official for the primary card, in addition to a 170-pound tilt showcasing No. 10-ranked Jaleel Willis (16-4) towards 13-fight UFC veteran Rustam Khabilov (24-4), who can be making his BELLATOR MMA debut.
The principle card of BELLATOR 293: Golm vs. James can be broadcast dwell within the U.S. on Friday, March 31 on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The preliminary card can be taking form, with the addition of a marquee conflict between two undefeated 155-pounders, when Archie Colgan (6-0) takes on Justin Montalvo (5-0). Additionally, at light-weight, “Magic” Mike Hamel (9-5) faces “Nyquil” Nick Browne (13-2) and Jay-Jay Wilson (9-1) fights Mandel Nallo (9-2, 1 NC). These together with extra quickly to be introduced bouts will air dwell at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, the SHOWTIME Sports activities YouTube channel, and Pluto TV.
Brazil’s Marcelo Golm sports activities a well-earned popularity amongst combat followers as a punishing finisher, boasting a exceptional 100% stoppage charge replete with seven knockouts and three submissions. He has demonstrated that fight-ending means in spades since becoming a member of BELLATOR, scoring a first-round knockout of Billy Swanson in his promotional debut earlier than submitting Davion Franklin with a rear-naked choke within the third spherical of their thrilling BELLATOR 283 scrap. The win over Franklin catapulted the 30-year-old into title rivalry, and at BELLATOR 293, Golm will look to solidify his standing as a high contender within the division with an emphatic victory over fellow behemoth Daniel James.
Nicknamed “The American Predator,” Daniel James surprised the MMA world at BELLATOR 288 with a thunderous, come-from-behind knockout of then-No. 5-ranked Tyrell Fortune within the second spherical of their heavyweight conflict. The hulking James, 41, continues to show that age is only a quantity; the win over Fortune was James’ fourth straight victory, all 4 of which got here by the use of knockout. Proudly representing Chicago, James will get the chance to show that the results of his first BELLATOR combat in eight years was no fluke and assert himself as a veritable title contender when the cage door closes behind him and Golm in Temecula on March 31.
“Alpha” Cat Zingano is one in every of blended martial arts’ pioneering feminine fighters, however she has no plans on closing the e book on her spectacular résumé simply but. Zingano, 40, grew to become a standout in wrestling earlier than transitioning to MMA; she was a multi-time All-American wrestler on the NCAA Division III stage, the place she additionally grew to become a nationwide champion. The jiu-jitsu black belt has continued attaining success since becoming a member of BELLATOR in 2020, rattling off three straight wins in dominant style over Gabrielle Holloway, Olivia Parker, and Pam Sorenson. Ranked first within the girls’s featherweight division and as BELLATOR’s No. 4 pound-for-pound feminine expertise, Zingano will look to arrange a showdown with champion Cris Cyborg with a highlight-reel victory over McCourt this March.
Considered one of BELLATOR’s fastest-rising stars, Eire’s Leah “The Curse” McCourt will face her hardest take a look at so far on this compelling old skool vs. new faculty matchup between high featherweight contenders. McCourt, a former novice world champion and a judo black belt, has received seven of her final eight fights together with a unanimous determination over Dayana Silva in entrance of a raucous Dublin crowd at BELLATOR 285. The 30-year-old is the No. 4-ranked contender within the division over which she at some point hopes to reign, and she’s going to look to maneuver up from her place at eighth within the girls’s pound-for-pound rankings by defeating a dwelling legend in Zingano.
In a conflict of top-five middleweight contenders, Canadian star Aaron Jeffery will look to proceed his spectacular begin to his BELLATOR tenure towards perennial contender John Salter. The mullet-donning 30-year-old has scored two emphatic knockouts in his first two BELLATOR outings, together with a first-round end of former title challenger Austin Vanderford. In the meantime, Salter goals to return to the win column after developing simply brief to champion Johnny Eblen and ex-titlist Gegard Mousasi in successive outings.
Contemporary off of an exhilarating defeat of standout wrestler Kyle Crutchmer, Memphis’ Jaleel “The Realest” Willis will look to proceed his upward momentum within the welterweight division by welcoming Russia’s Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov to the BELLATOR cage. Willis, 30, has received three of his 5 BELLATOR fights and regarded much-improved towards Crutchmer due to his time coaching at Kill Cliff FC. Dagestan’s Khabilov has completely different plans for his promotional debut, and he goals to ascertain himself as a direct contender for the title with a dominant efficiency towards Willis. The well-credentialed and well-rounded 36-year-old has been there and performed then, sporting victories over Jorge Masvidal, Yancy Medeiros, and Chris Wade amongst his admirable resumé.
BELLATOR 293: GOLM VS. JAMES MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME
Friday, March 31 — 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Heavyweight Principal Occasion: #7-Marcelo Golm (10-3) vs. #8-Daniel James (14-6-1)
Featherweight Co-Principal Occasion: #1-Cat Zingano (13-4) vs. #4-Leah McCourt (7-2)
Middleweight Bout: #4-John Salter (18-6) vs. #6-Aaron Jeffrey (13-3)
Welterweight Bout: #10-Jaleel Willis (16-4) vs. Rustam Khabilov (24-4)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports activities YouTube channel | Pluto TV
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Light-weight Bout: Archie Colgan (6-0) vs. Justin Montalvo (5-0)
Light-weight Bout: Mike Hamel (9-5) vs. Nick Browne (13-2)
Light-weight Bout: Jay-Jay Wilson (9-1) vs. Mandel Nallo (9-2, 1 NC)
*Card topic to alter
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