Bellator officials have finalized Saturday’s Bellator 225: Mitrione vs. Kharitonov 2 event, which airs on both Paramount Network and DAZN.
The card features a heavyweight rematch between Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It marks the first major MMA event to take place in Connecticut proper.
Mitrione (13-6) and Kharitonov (29-7) met earlier this year with the bout ending in a no-contest after Mitrione connected on an accidental low blow. Related: Bellator 225: Sergei Kharitonov “Has Feeling” Title Shot Next With Win (Exclusive)
Former Champion Vitaly Minakov Returns
The remainder of the main card features four other must-see bouts, including two additional heavyweight slugfests, as former Bellator heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov (21-1) faces Javy Ayala (11-7) in the co-main event, while undefeated heavyweight prospects Tyrell Fortune (6-0) and Rudy Schaffroth (6-0, 1 NC), who both originally hail from Portland, Ore., collide in the main card opener.
Rounding out the five-fight card on Paramount Network – the man with the most appearances inside the Bellator Cage in history, David Rickels (21-5, 2 NC), takes on the undefeated Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov (21-0) in a 175-pound catchweight bout, and former flyweight title contender Alejandra Lara (7-3) meets Taylor Turner (4-5) at bantamweight, who returns after recently upsetting Heather Hardy at Madison Square Garden earlier this summer. Related: Bellator 225: Yaroslav Amosov Targets Title Fight Soon (Exclusive)
The prelims will feature Nick Newell (15-2) making his Bellator debut against Corey Browning (5-2). Newell was born without part of one arm and is a former title contender in other promotions. Browning holds victories over both “Baby Slice” and Aaron Chalmers.
Catch A Glimpse Of Paige VanZant
Austin Vanderford, the husband of UFC fighter Paige VanZant, takes on Joseph Creer in a middleweight contest on the prelims, which also include Mike Kimbel, Khonry Gracie and Sabah Homasi.
The main card will air live on Paramount Network and DAZN beginning at 9 p.m. ET with prelims streaming live on Bellator.com, DAZN and the Bellator Mobile App starting at 5:45 p.m. ET.
Related: Bellator Putting Heavyweight Division In Spotlight
Bellator 225: Mitrione Vs. Kharitonov 2 Fight Card
MAIN CARD
Heavyweight Main Event: Matt Mitrione (13-6, 1 NC) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (29-7, 2 NC)
Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Vitaly Minakov (21-1) vs. Javy Ayala (11-7)
Bantamweight Feature Bout: Alejandra Lara (7-3) vs. Taylor Turner (4-5)
175-Pound Catchweight Feature Bout: David Rickels (21-5, 2 NC) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (21-0)
Heavyweight Feature Bout: Tyrell Fortune (6-0) vs. Rudy Schaffroth (6-0, 1 NC)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Khonry Gracie (1-1) vs. Oscar Vera (0-1)
165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Aviv Gozali (2-0) vs. Eduard Muravitskiy (9-8)
Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Grant Neal (1-0) vs. Alpha Toure (Pro Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Sabah Homasi (12-8) vs. Micah Terrill (14-7, 1 NC)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Austin Vanderford (7-0) vs. Joseph Creer (6-0-1)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tim Johnson (12-5) vs. Azunna Anyanwu (15-5)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Ricky Bandejas (11-3) vs. Ahmet Kayretli (8-3, 1 NC)
140-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Kimbel (3-1) vs. Chris Disonell (3-3)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Nick Newell (15-2) vs. Corey Browning (5-2)
165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Kastriot Xhema (3-3, 1 NC) vs. Connor Dixon (Pro Debut)
175-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Jon Manley (11-6) vs. Thiago Rela (10-7)
