TWO Belfast fighters will headline the first of the new Bellator Champions Series events in their home city at The SSE Arena next month.
The Bellator Champions Series kicks off with Bellator 302, headlined by a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship between Belfast’s own Karl Moore (12-2) and Corey “Overtime” Anderson (17-6, 1 NC), while Belfast’s Leah McCourt (8-3) faces Sinead Kavanagh (9-6) in a re-match of a 2022 bout.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) made a recent acquisition of Bellator and the Bellator Champions Series events will take place in top MMA growth markets around the world, featuring world title fights and world ranked fighters on each card.
The reimagined Bellator Champions Series is part of the landmark agreement between PFL and DAZN. Beginning with Bellator 302 on Friday March 22 on DAZN fans will be able to watch Bellator Champions Series events at prime times in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, France and other European markets.
“The PFL is excited to kick off the new Bellator Champions Series this March in Belfast,” said James Frewin, SVP International at PFL. “Along with our great partner DAZN we look forward to giving MMA fans a premium experience through the PFL’s eight Bellator Champions Series events.”
Tickets for Bellator Champions Series in Belfast will be available via special pre-sale beginning Wednesday, February 6, with a general on-sale of Thursday, February 7 at ticketmaster.ie. Doors for Bellator 302 open at 4pm, with the first preliminary bout taking place one hour later at 5 pm.
Picture: Brian Lawless/PA
A nine-fight Bellator veteran, Leah McCourt makes her return to Bellator in a highly anticipated Women’s Featherweight clash against Sinead Kavanagh. Kavanagh has built a reputation around her knockout power and relentless style of fighting.
The pair of featherweights first encountered each other in 2022 at Bellator 275 in Dublin where Kavanagh emerged victorious. The two will look to prove who is the division’s top contender.
Karl Moore is 4-0 under the Bellator banner, with finishes in seven of 12 appearances as a professional. Facing him will be Corey Anderson, who signed with Bellator in 2020 and made an immediate impact on the 205-pound division.
The American most recently defeated former champion Phil Davis and now will enter his matchup at Bellator 302 with his sights set on capturing the thus far elusive Light Heavyweight Championship.
“After the landmark acquisition of Bellator, the Professional Fighters League is excited to officially announce a new era of MMA with the launch of the ‘Bellator Champions Series’ global franchise” said PFL CEO Peter Murray.
“The Bellator Champions Series” will feature reigning Bellator Champion fighters defending their titles against the best fighters in the world from the start studded Bellator roster. Fans will have access to the best competition and the most innovate formats in MMA distributed by leaders in sport including DAZN.”