High-ranked welterweights Neiman Gracie and Logan Storley are set to headline Bellator’s February 19th card, per a recent announcement by the promotion Tuesday.
The fight sits atop a nine-bout card that will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA.
Gracie and Storley will be looking to build momentum after their pushes toward a title fight were thwarted recently.
Gracie took a loss in April 2021 against rising contender Jason Jackson, giving him his second defeat as a pro. He has since returned to the win column with a first-round stoppage over Mark Lemminger, displaying his growing skills as a striker.
Storley was given his first loss in late 2020, losing to undefeated Yaroslav Amosov, who went on to claim the Bellator Welterweight Championship months later.
Storley bounced back in August, defeating Dante Schiro via split decision.
Koreshkov vs. Berkhamov Set For Co-Main Event
The co-main event is currently set to see Mukhamed Berkhamov return against veteran Andrey Koreshkov.
Berkhamov won his Bellator debut in October, submitting Jaleel Willis late in the first round with a guillotine choke. That victory extended a winning streak of his that dates back to 2013.
Koreshkov won in his return to Bellator recently, going three rounds against former UFC fighter Sabah Homasi to defeat him via decision.
Undefeated Fighters Booked For Main Card
The other two bouts scheduled for the main card see undefeated fighters face off against fellow Bellator talent.
After snapping a two-fight skid last year, Veta Arteaga will return against Keri Taylor-Melendez, who will be competing for the first time since 2020. She returns to the cage with a flawless record of five wins.
In the other bout, former Titan FC Heavyweight Champion Said Sowma will face Davion Franklin.
Sowma picked up two finish wins last year, beating Ronny Markes and picking up an upset doctor stoppage win over Vitaly Minakov in Russia.
Franklin scored his third consecutive first-round finish win in August, defeating Everett Cummings in just 21 seconds.
Five Fights Announced For Prelims
A total of five fights are currently expected for the event’s prelims.
In a clash of two Bellator veterans, Georgi Karakhanyan and Adam Piccolotti have been slotted into the featured prelim for the card. Both fighters enter the weekend after taking a loss last year.
After a successful Bellator debut last year, former LFA Lightweight Champion Nick Browne will return against Bellator prospect Mandel Nallo, who stopped Ricardo Seixas within a round in his last appearance.
Undefeated prospect Jaylon Bates will get his first test of 2022 when facing Chris Disonell.
After both winning their Bellator debuts, lightweights Corey Samuels and Justin Montalvo will meet. For Montalvo, he will be fighting to protect his undefeated record.
Both looking for their first win, Isaiah Hokit and Albert Birckhead will fight on the undercard.
Full Lineup
Main Card (9:00PM EST) (Showtime)
Bout 9: Neiman Gracie (11-2) vs. Logan Storley (12-1) (Welterweight)
Bout 8: Andrey Koreshkov (24-4) vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov (15-1) (Welterweight)
Bout 7: Veta Arteaga (6-4) vs. Keri Taylor Melendez (5-0) (Flyweight)
Bout 6: Said Sowma (8-2) vs. Davion Franklin (4-0) (Heavyweight)
Preliminary Card (6:00PM EST) (Youtube)
Bout 5: Georgi Karakhanyan (31-12-1) vs. Adam Piccolotti (12-4) (Lightweight)
Bout 4: Mandel Nallo (8-1) vs. Nick Browne (12-1) (Lightweight)
Bout 3: Jaylon Bates (4-0) vs. Chris Disonell (6-4) (Bantamweight)
Bout 2: Corey Samuels (3-2) vs. Justin Montalvo (4-0) (Lightweight)
Bout 1: Isaiah Hokit (0-1) vs. Albert Birckhead (0-1) (Featherweight)
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