Yoel Romero vs. Anthony Johnson gets a new date, Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill gets rebooked and more — here is your fight announcement roundup for Sunday, March 28.
Yoel Romero vs. Anthony Johnson at Bellator 258
Fans hungry for Yoel Romero vs. Anthony Johnson will have to wait a little longer.
Romero vs. Johnson was moved from Bellator 257 on April 16 to Bellator 258 on May 7, the promotion announced. The fight is part of Bellator's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. The move was made due to scheduling issues.
“Like everyone, we had a few hurdles with travel issues and had to move some things around, but I’m pleased that we were able to reschedule these bouts quickly," Bellator boss Scott Coker said in a press release. "We now have three stacked events in a row featuring quarterfinal matchups on Showtime, while also adding other incredible fights to each of these cards.”
Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov moved to Bellator 257
Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov has also been postponed.
The Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix opener was originally scheduled for the co-main event of Bellator 256 on April 9. It will instead occupy Romero vs. Johnson's place as the co-headliner for Bellator 257 on April 16.
Joanne Calderwood vs. Lauren Murphy at UFC 263
A pivotal women's flyweight fight between Joanne Calderwood and Lauren Murphy is set for UFC 263.
Calderwood vs. Murphy is expected to be a title eliminator fight, according to MMA Junkie. Calderwood (15-5) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jessica Eye at UFC 257. Murphy (14-4) is riding a four-fight winning streak punctuated by wins over Liliya Shakirova and Roxanne Modafferi.
Rizin announces 16-man bantamweight Grand Prix
Rizin is moving forward with an explosive 16-man tournament.
The promotion announced the 16 competitors and opening match-ups in the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix. The specific brackets have yet to be announced.
Kai Asakura (16-3) vs. Shuto Watanabe (22-5-6)
Hiroki Yamashita (8-8) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (28-17-2)
Yuki Motoya (25-9, 1 NC) vs. Ryo Okada (17-4-3)
Yuto Hokamura (17-10-2) vs. Kuya Ito (10-8-1)
Kenta Takizawa (11-7) vs. Masakazu Imanari (38-19-2)
Kazuma Kuramoto (8-1) vs. Alan Yoshihiro Yamaniha (17-8-4)
Takeshi Kasugai (26-7-1, 1 NC) vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo (21-5-2)
Naoki Inoue (15-2) vs. Shintaro Ishiwatari (26-8-4)
Da Un Jung vs. William Knight at April 10 UFC event
Da Un Jung will now face William Knight at a UFC event scheduled for April 10, per MMA DNA.
Jung was originally scheduled to face undefeated Russian Shamil Gamzatov (14-0). It has been a rough stretch for Gamzatov who has had four straight fights cancelled.
S.Gamzatov out. Da Un Jung will now fight William Knight at UFC event on April 10th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN pic.twitter.com/WxCtvO7Psx
— MaRCeL DoRFF -------- (@BigMarcel24) March 24, 2021
Brett Johns vs. Matheus Mattos in Bellator
Welshman Brett Johns will make his long-awaited Bellator debut vs. Matheus Mattos on May 21.
Johns (17-2) makes the transition to Bellator following consecutive UFC wins over Montel Jackson and Tony Gravely. Johns vs. Mattos was reported by MMA DNA.
----BREAKING----
— MMA DNA (@MMADNANL) March 24, 2021
The long awaited Bellator debut for Welshman Brett Johns (@36Johns) is set!!! The Pikey takes on Matheus Mattos (@MattosMMA) on May 21st in the Bantamweight division!!! pic.twitter.com/u1oGpDbUiS
Damir Ismagulov vs. Rafael Alves at UFC 262
Damir Ismagulov (19-1) will meet Rafael Alves (19-9) at UFC 262 on May 15.
The lightweight clash will be featured on the undercard, first reported by Ag Fight, of Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler for the vacant UFC lightweight title.
Bryce Logan vs. Alan Omer at Bellator 258
Lightweight Bryce Logan and Alan Omer will do battle at Bellator 258.
The lightweight scrap takes place on May 7 and was first reported by MMA Junkie.
Lightweights @BryceLogan23, @AlanOmerMMA to square off at #Bellator258 (via @mma_kings) https://t.co/l8oZDYHHMR
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) March 25, 2021
Tony Gravely vs. Anthony Birchak on April 17
Tony Gravely (20-6) will meet Anthony Birchak (15-7) at the UFC event on April 17.
The fight was first reported by C. Contreras Legaspi. Gravely hopes to bounce back following a loss to Brett Johns; meanwhile, Birchak looks to erase a quick submission loss to Gustavo Lopez.
N.Maness out. Tony Gravely will now fight Anthony Birchak at UFC event on April 17th. (per @CCLegaspi) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN pic.twitter.com/qkuVRkAqxE
— MaRCeL DoRFF -------- (@BigMarcel24) March 26, 2021
Report: Hannah Goldy vs. Jessica Penne rescheduled for April 17
Hannah Goldy and Jessica Penne will have a chance to fight after all.
The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 260; however, MMA Junkie's Nolan King reports the fight will be re-booked for UFC's event on April 17.
Per source, the Hannah Goldy vs. Jessica Penne fight originally schedule for #UFC260 is expected to be rebooked for the #UFC event on April 17.
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 24, 2021
Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill at UFC 263
There is bad blood brewing between Paul Craig and Jamahal Hill.
The two light heavyweights were scheduled to meet at UFC Vegas 22. It was cancelled as Hill recovered from long-term effects of COVID-19. The two are now scheduled to meet at UFC 263.
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