The primary card for Bellator’s ‘Street To Dubai: Champions Collection’ occasion has been confirmed. The present is scheduled to happen on the Coca-Cola Enviornment in Dubai on January twenty fifth, 2025 and the line-up has a robust ‘Eire vs. Dagestan’ really feel to it.
Street to Dubai Primary Occasion
An enormous title combat tops the cardboard in Street to Dubai as present Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) seems to be to defend his belt in opposition to Irish sensation Paul Hughes (13-1). Nurmagomedov, a cousin of former UFC light-weight champion Khabib, gained the title when he beat Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 288 in November of 2022. He has since defended the belt efficiently in opposition to Benson Henderson, Brent Primus and Alexander Shabily, though the Primus victory has since been overturned to a ‘no contest’ attributable to a failed drug take a look at for the reigning champion.
Paul Hughes has had a meteoric rise to stardom since signing inside PFL/Bellator earlier this 12 months. “Massive Information”, a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, was victorious in his Bellator debut when he completed Bobby King on the Champions Collection occasion in Dublin, Eire final summer time.
This earned him a excessive profile combat in opposition to A.J. McKee on the PFL’s “Battle of the Giants” pay-per-view occasion in October. The Derry native went into that gala occasion as an enormous underdog however he adopted by on his promise to “shock the world” by dominating McKee en path to victory, and in flip capturing his personal inventory by the roof.
Conflict Of The Giants Serves as Street to Dubai Co-Primary Occasion
Vadim Nemkov (18-2) and Corey Anderson (18-6) will meet for the third time in a heavyweight contest within the Street to Dubai co-main occasion. The pair clashed twice in 2022 when Nemkov was the reigning champion at 205 lbs.
Their first encounter led to a no-contest after a conflict of heads and after they met later that 12 months, Nemkov emerged victorious after 5 rounds. He later vacated the belt to maneuver as much as heavyweight.
Corey Anderson claimed that vacant title by beating Karl Moore in Belfast, Eire earlier this 12 months and can now observe Nemkov as much as heavyweight in a bid to even the rating between the pair.
Fireworks At Featherweight Throughout Street to Dubai
Two extended successful streaks shall be in danger when Dagestan’s Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) takes on Eire’s Nathan Kelly (11-2) in an thrilling featherweight matchup.
Magomedsharipov has gained all 5 of his fights beneath the Bellator banner, choosing up some spectacular finishes over Rafael Hudson, Piotr Niedzielski and Johnathan Quiroz alongside the way in which.
Nathan Kelly has bounced again after dropping the primary two fights of his skilled profession and has now gained eleven straight. The 27-year-old Dubliner has rattled off three successive first-round finishes previously twelve months and can really feel greater than prepared for this step up in competitors.
Additionally within the featherweight division, Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) will put his unbeaten report on the road when he faces Eire’s Kenny Mokhonoana (5-1).
Ibragimov has regarded spectacular since signing with the PFL earlier this 12 months, submitting Josh Reed after simply 50 seconds in his debut then choosing up a call victory over Nacho Campos on the “Battle of the Giants” undercard in Saudi Arabia in October.
Mokhonoana was final seen in motion in September 2023 when he suffered the primary lack of his skilled profession by the hands of Josh O’Connor. Previous to that, “Black Diamond” had completed each opponent he had confronted, with 4 of these finishes coming contained in the opening spherical.
Bellator ‘Street To Dubai: Champions Collection’ Primary Card:
Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) vs. Paul Hughes (13-1) Bellator MMA Light-weight Championship
Vadim Nemkov (18-2) vs. Corey Anderson (18-6) Heavyweight
Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) vs. Nathan Kelly (11-2) Featherweight
Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (5-1) Featherweight
Renat Khavalov (8-0) vs. Cleiver Fernandes (9-1) Bantamweight
