Bellator NYC rules the roost this coming weekend with a stacked pay-per-view card on Saturday, June 24th that’s also proceeded by a full Bellator 180 card on Spike TV, and we’ve got the full line-up below.
The pay-per-view portion of the show features a grudge match between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, who have a long history of bad blood that includes a brief brawl on the set of TUF: Brazil, so they’ll be eager to finally be able to put fist to face, three years after their originally scheduled match-up in the Octagon fell through.
In the co-main event, Russian heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko and Matt Mitrione will hopefully be able to lock horns at last, after their initial fight earlier this year was cancelled at the last minute when Mitrione h with kad to be taken to hospital suffering from kidney stones.
The stacked card also includes a welterweight title fight that will see Douglas Lima attempt to defend his belt against the debuting Lorenz Larkin, who arrives from the UFC having won four of his last five fights.
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will also be defending his title on the night against the undefeated Brent Primus.
Opening up the PPV card will be the eagerly awaited MMA debut of blue-chip prospect Aaron Pico, a former Olympic wrestling hopefuly and Golden Glove boxing state champion who will be going up against Zach Freeman who is far more experienced with an 8-2 record.
The Bellator 180 main card that airs on Spike TV before the PPV offering is also worthy of attention though, and in fact it also includes a major title fight in it’s main event as light-heavyweight champion Phil Davis as he goes up against another former UFC fighter Ryan Bader, who will be making his debut in the promotion.
Meanwhile, the 40-year-old Chinzo Machida, brother of UFC star Lyoto, will be looking to expand his four-fight winning streak against the undefeated Irishman James Gallagher.
Neiman Gracie is one of the revered martial arts family’s top prospects with a 5-0 record to date as he heads into his next fight with Dave Marfone.
Finally, women’s boxing super bantamweight champion Heather Hardy will make her MMA debut against the 4-5 Alice Yauger.
Check out the full Bellator NYC / Bellator 180 fight card below.
Bellator NYC card:
Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione
Douglas Lima vs. Lorenz Larkin
Michael Chandler vs. Brent Primus
Aaron Pico vs. Zach Freeman
Bellator 180 Main Card:
Phil Davis vs. Ryan Bader
James Gallagher vs. Chinzo Machida
Neiman Gracie vs. Dave Marfone
Heather Hardy vs. Alice Yauger
Bellator 180 Prelims:
Ryan Couture vs. Haim Gozali
Jerome Mickle vs. Anthony Giacchina
John Salgado vs. Hugh McKenna
Matt Rizzo vs. Sergio da Silva
Nate Grebb vs. Bradley Desir
