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Next month’s Bellator 292 card has seen some major additions, with perhaps the biggest being a main card welterweight division attraction pitting Michael “Venom” Page against Goiti Yamauchi.
Other notables added to the card include Julius Anglickas, Enrique Barzola, Erik Perez, Islam Mamedov and more.
The promotion issued the following press release on the Bellator 292 card additions:
MVP VS. YAMAUCHI LEADS ADDITIONS TO BELLATOR 292 ON MARCH 10
LOS ANGELES – The four-fight main card for BELLATOR MMA’s massive return to the SAP Center at San Jose on Friday, March 10 is now complete with the addition of a top-ten matchup pitting former title challenger and No.2-ranked Michael “Venom” Page (20-2) against No. 5-ranked Goiti Yamauchi(28-5) during the main card of BELLATOR 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson. The main card of BELLATOR 292 will air LIVE in the U.S. on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event are currently on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or Bellator.com.
The massive welterweight scrap joins a must-see main card that already features the launch of the highly anticipated, one-million-dollar BELLATOR Lightweight World Grand Prix, where in the main event, newly crowned Lightweight World Champion and No. 7 pound-for-pound talent Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) will defend his belt against former UFC Lightweight Champion and No. 3-ranked Benson Henderson (30-11) Meanwhile, another thrilling opening round contest serves as the co-main event, as No. 2-ranked knockout artist Tofiq Musayev (20-4) clashes with No. 4-ranked Alexander Shabliy (22-3). A heavyweight tilt between former interim champion and No. 1-ranked Valentin Moldavsky (11-2, 1 NC) versus No. 2-ranked Linton Vassell (23-8) rounds out the top of the evening’s docket.
In addition, the preliminary card is now complete with the addition of a clash between two offensive-minded light heavyweights when Lithuania’s Julius Anglickas (10-3) takes on the pride of Turkmenistan, Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (19-7-1). The prelims will also see the return of undefeated Bobby Seronio III (3-0) take on undefeated Alberto Garcia (2-0) at bantamweight. Rounding out the newly announced preliminary action, a 135-pound contest pitting Enrique Barzola (18-7-2) against Erik Perez (20-8) has been confirmed, as well as a middleweight scrap between Khalid Murtazaliev (15-3) against San Jose’s Tony Johnson (9-3) and a lightweight affair featuring Islam Mamedov (22-2-1) against undefeated Shamil Nikaev (10-0, 1 NC).
The preliminary contests will air live at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, and Pluto TV.
Fresh off a razor-thin split decision defeat to now-interim BELLATOR titleholder Logan Storley, U.K. star and No. 2-ranked Michael ‘Venom’ Page will make his stateside return on March 10 when he faces Goiti Yamauchi in a matchup of top-5 contenders that promises to be one of the most exciting fights of BELLATOR MMA’s 2023 campaign. The 35-year-old Londoner, whom many believed should have had his hand raised as the winner of the interim title, has won eight of his last ten bouts — including five stoppages due to strikes and the avenging of his 2019 loss to Douglas Lima. Page owns one of the sport’s most entertaining highlight reels from his win over Evangelista Cyborg, and the accomplished kickboxer will look to punch his ticket back to a championship opportunity by defeating his Brazilian foe on the SHOWTIME-televised main card of BELLATOR 292 at the SAP Center in San Jose.
Looking to continue his undefeated run at welterweight and keep his three-fight win — and finish — streak intact, No. 5-ranked contender Goiti Yamauchi will take on ‘MVP’ in one of BELLATOR 292's marquee main card matchups. The 30-year-old Brazilian is firmly in his prime, rattling off eight wins in his last ten outings and adding such names as Neiman Gracie, Chris Gonzalez, Daron Cruickshank, Daniel Weichel, and Levan Chokheli to his burgeoning résumé. Yamauchi’s BELLATOR credentials are well-established: he is the first fighter in promotional history to earn wins and stoppages in three weight classes, and he stands alone atop the BELLATOR record books with the most submission wins in company history (9). Now ranked inside the top 5 at 170 pounds, Yamauchi will aim to secure the biggest victory of his career by defeating the much-hyped Page and solidifying his status as an immediate title contender in this remarkable battle between two of MMA’s most prolific finishers.
BELLATOR 292: NURMAGOMEDOV VS. HENDERSON MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME
Friday, March 10 — 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Lightweight World Championship Main Event: C-Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) vs. #3-Benson Henderson (30-11)
Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal: #2-Tofiq Musayev (20-4) vs. #4-Alexander Shabliy (22-3)
Heavyweight Bout: #1-Valentin Moldavsky (11-2, 1 NC) vs. #2-Linton Vassell (23-8)
Welterweight Bout: #2-Michael Page (20-2) vs. #5-Goiti Yamauchi (28-5)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Bantamweight Bout: #7-Leandro Higo (21-6) vs. #8-James Gallagher (11-2)
Bantamweight Bout: Enrique Barzola (18-7-2) vs. Erik Perez (20-8)
Flyweight Bout: Keri Taylor Melendez (5-0) vs. Bruna Ellen (6-4)
Bantamweight Bout: Cass Bell (6-2) vs. Josh Hill (21-5)
Lightweight Bout: Islam Mamedov (22-2-1) vs. Shamil Nikaev (10-0, 1 NC)
Middleweight Bout: Khalid Murtazaliev (15-3) vs. Tony Johnson (9-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Julius Anglickas (10-3) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (19-7-1)
Bantamweight Bout: Bobby Seronio III (3-0) vs. Alberto Garcia (2-0)
Featherweight Bout: Laird Anderson (3-0) vs. Rogelio Luna (1-0)
Heavyweight Bout: Wladmir Gouvea (1-0) vs. Sean Tucker (1-3)
Middleweight Bout: Theo Haig (1-0) vs. Adam Wamsley (2-2)
Welterweight Bout: Dupree Stewart (Pro Debut) vs. Demetri Georgiades (2-2)
# # #
For more information on upcoming BELLATOR MMA events, visit BELLATOR.com.
Updated Schedule of BELLATOR Events
Sat. Feb. 25 // BELLATOR 291: Amosov vs. Storley 2 // 3Arena // Dublin, Ireland
Fri. Mar. 10 // BELLATOR 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson // SAP Center // San Jose, CA
Fri. Mar. 31 // BELLATOR 293: Golm vs. James // Pechanga Resort Casino // Temecula, CA
Fri. May 12 // BELLATOR Paris: Mousasi vs. Edwards // Accor Arena // Paris, France
About BELLATOR:
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity, and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Paramount, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
About SHOWTIME:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.
