Bellator 222 Full Card Announced
On Monday evening, Bellator announced the full card for their return to Madison Square Garden this Friday night, as Rory MacDonald and Neiman Gracie headline in the semi-finals of the Bellator welterweight world grand prix.
The two men will not only battle for a spot in the Grand Prix finals and a shot at $1 million, but for MacDonald’s welterweight title, which he defended earlier this year in a draw against Jon Fitch.
Co-headlining the card is a light heavyweight clash between Lyoto Machida and Chael Sonnen, two men who nearly fought a decade ago in the UFC, finally face off for Bellator.
Opening the main card is a rematch from RIZIN and Bellator’s first talent exchange earlier this year, as Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell defends against Kyoji Horiguchi.
For the full card, including Heather Hardy’s return to the Bellator cage, look below.
Bellator 222 Main Card:
Welterweight World Grand Prix Semifinal Title Bout: Rory MacDonald (20-5-1) vs. Neiman Gracie (9-0)
Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event Bout: Lyoto Machida (25-8) vs. Chael Sonnen (31-16-1)
175-Pound Catchweight Bout: Dillon Danis (1-0) vs. Max Humphrey (3-2)
Bantamweight Bout: Ricky Bandejas (11-2) vs. Patrick Mix (10-0)
Featherweight Bout: Eduardo Dantas (21-6) vs. Juan Archuleta (22-1)
Bantamweight World Title Bout: Darrion Caldwell (13-2) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (27-2)Undercard:
Featherweight Bout: Aaron Pico (4-2) vs. Adam Borics (12-0)
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Heather Hardy (2-1) vs. Taylor Turner (3-5)
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Valerie Loureda (1-0) vs. Larkyn Dasch (0-1)
Welterweight Bout: Robson Gracie Jr. (1-0) vs. Oscar Vera (Pro Debut)
Bantamweight Bout: Mike Kimbel (2-1) vs. Sebastian Ruiz (2-2)
175-Pound Catchweight Bout: Haim Gozali (10-6) vs. Gustavo Wurlitzer (22-22, 1 NC)
Women’s 112-Pound Catchweight Bout: Rena Kubota (8-2) vs. Lindsay VanZandt (5-1)
Middleweight Bout: Phil Hawes (4-2) vs. Michael Wilcox (6-3)
Lightweight Bout: Marcus Surin (5-1) vs. Nekruz Mirkhojaev (4-2)
Flyweight Bout: Brandon Medina (Pro Debut) vs. Brandon Polcare (1-2)
165-Pound Catchweight Bout: Kastriot Xhema (2-3) vs. Whitney Jean Francois (2-6-1)
Featherweight Bout: John Beneduce (2-2) vs. Kenny Rivera (2-1)