Bellator Announces Interim Heavyweight Title Fight Between Tim Johnson & Valentin Moldavsky

Bellator is moving forward with an interim Heavyweight Title fight.

Ryan Bader is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion but he’s currently in the light heavyweight grand prix. As a result, Bellator has decided to create an interim championship. Tim Johnson and Valentin Moldavsky will be competing for the gold on June 25.

Here is part of a press release sent out by Bellator.

“As current BELLATOR MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader continues his pursuit of re-claiming his light heavyweight championship in the ongoing Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix, BELLATOR MMA has officially introduced an interim title for the heavyweight division.

“On Friday, June 25, No. 1 ranked heavyweight Tim Johnson (15-6) and No. 3 ranked heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky (10-1) will vie for the interim title in the main event of BELLATOR MMA 261. The event will be available live on SHOWTIME, with the main card set to kickoff at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, emanating from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The winner of the interim title will become Bader’s mandatory challenger when he returns to the heavyweight division or will be elevated to full champion in the event that Bader chooses to stay at light heavyweight following the culmination of the current Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix.”

In his last outing, Johnson defeated Cheick Kongo via split decision. Moldavsky defeated Roy Nelson via unanimous decision in his most recent bout. Johnson vs. Moldavsky will headline Bellator 261.