Bellator 299 is set for this weekend with Johnny Eblen in the main event defending his middleweight title against Fabian Edwards. The card airs live on Showtime from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Bellator 299: Johnny Eblen Faces Tough Task In Title Defense
Johnny Eblen has quickly ascended to the top of the middleweight mountain in Bellator.
To remain there, he will need to thwart the challenge of Fabian Edwards, who goes after his championship this weekend in the main event of Bellator 299.
The card airs live on Showtime with prelims streaming on YouTube from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Along with Eblen vs. Edwards, Aaron Pico takes on Pedro Carvalho, Sinead Kavanagh fights Sara Collins, Mads Burnell goes one-on-one with Daniel Weichel and Levan Chokheli squares off with Sabah Homasai.
The prelims will see the likes of Peter Queally, Mansour Barnaoui and Charlie Ward all take to the cage.
Bellator 299: Johnny Eblen Has Had Quite The Run
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Eblen has toured the United States in running his professional mixed martial arts record to a perfect 13-0. Now, he heads overseas for the first time in hopes of making a second successful title defense.
After signing with Bellator in 2019, he promptly ran off seven wins to earn a shot at Gegard Mousasi in 2022 for the title. Eblen took advantage of his opportunity, earning a decision and the belt.
He bested Anatoly Tokovo at Bellator 290 this past February in his first title defense.
Eblen was a standout wrestler, competing for the University of Missouri after winning a high school state title. He trains with American Top Team and also won all three of his amateur fights.
Bellator 299: Other Edwards Brother Looking For Gold
Winning championships runs in the family for Edwards, as his brother, Leon Edwards, is the reigning welterweight titleholder in the UFC.
Now, the younger sibling gets his crack at gold.
The 30-year-old has rebounded nicely from back-to-back losses by decision to Costello van Steenis and Austin Vanderford, finishing Lyoto Machida back in 2022 to kick-start his run.
Edwards followed that performance in London up with a decision win over Charlie Ward in Italy that same year before earning his crack at the belt with a decision vs. Mousasi in Paris, France this past May.
Overall, he owns a mark of 12-2 with four knockout and three more submission wins to his credit. Prior to joining Bellator, Edwards went 5-0 competing for BAMMA.
