Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Participants Revealed

The participants for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix are now known.

During a press conference announcing Bellator’s move to Showtime, the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix fighters were revealed. This will be an eight-man tournament. Included are Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov, Anthony Johnson, Yoel Romero, Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, Lyoto Machida, Corey Anderson, and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

The quarter-final matchups were also announced. Peep those matches and their dates below.

Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Finals

Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (April 9)

Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida (April 9)

Anthony Johnson vs. Yoel Romero (April 16)

Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis (April 16)

Yagshimuradov will be making his Bellator debut against Anderson. This is set to be Anderson’s second fight under the Bellator banner. That bout will happen on April 9. The rematch between Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida will serve as the main event on that night. Bader and Machida fought under the UFC banner back in August 2012 with “The Dragon” scoring a second-round knockout win.

Anthony Johnson and Yoel Romero will both be making their Bellator debuts. Both men have found success in the UFC but never captured gold. They will get another chance with this tournament on April 16. Nemkov vs. Davis II will be the headliner on that evening. Nemkov defeated Davis via split decision back in November 2018.