The Bellator heavyweight title will be re-unified on Saturday night when reigning champion Ryan Bader takes on interim champ Valentin Moldavsky in a champion-versus-champion bout at Bellator 273.
The two hard-hitting heavyweights will headline the event at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, with both men determined to walk away as the top dog in Bellator’s heavyweight division.
The two fighters worked out for the media on the Phoenix Suns court, with Bader, Moldavsky and Russian legend (and Moldavsky’s coach) Fedor Emelianenko taking the opportunity to take a couple of jump shots in front of the cameras.
Neither was as impressive on court as former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, however. The American looked completely at home on the court as he worked out ahead of his co-main event bout against dangerous Russian contender Islam Mamedov.
Also on the card, England’s Aiden Lee will look to make an impact in the featherweight division when he takes on 145-pound contender Henry “O.K.” Corrales, while the always-entertaining Sabah “Sleek Sheikh” Homasi will face Jaleel Willis in the main card opener.
The prelims feature plenty to enjoy, too, with former bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell scheduled to face Enrique Barzola in what could turn out to be one of the more action-packed matchups of the night.
The event will also feature the latest outing for undefeated middleweight prospect Dalton Rosta. The 5-0 fighter will look to further enhance his growing reputation when he faces off against Duane Johnson.
Bellator 273: Fight Card
Main Card
- Ryan Bader (c) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (ic)
- Benson Henderson vs. Islam Mamedov
- Henry Corrales vs. Aiden Lee
- Sabah Homasi vs. Jaleel Willis
Preliminary Card
- Darrion Caldwell vs. Enrique Barzola
- Saad Awad vs. Chris Gonzalez
- Dalton Rosta vs. Duane Johnson
- Nikita Mikhailov vs. Blaine Shutt
- Lucas Brennan vs. Ben Lugo
- Weber Almeida vs. Fabricio Franco
- Sullivan Cauley vs. Ben Parrish
