The Bellator 197 preliminary card is filling up with the alleged addition of seven fights according to MMA DNA, which include Zach Freeman versus Zak Bucia, Jordan Howard against Eric Ellington, Rebecca Ruth facing Juliana Velasquez, AJ Siscoe versus Justin Robbins, Adam Cella versus Dewayne Diggs, Cort Wahle takes on Joe Roye and Jordan Dowdy battles Jeff Crotty.
Freeman (9-3-0) has won just one of two under the Bellator MMA banner, with that lone win coming over Aaron Pico at Bellator 180. Freeman has previously challenged for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance Lightweight Title, losing to then champion Thiago Moises at RFA 44.
Bucia (18-9-0) is currently winless in Bellator MMA competition, dropping a fight to Neiman Gracie at Bellator 185. Bucia is a former Shamrock FC Welterweight Champion, defeating Aaron Highfill by fourth round submission at Shamrock FC 295.
Howard (10-4-0) has won one of two fights under the Bellator MMA banner and that lone win came over Johnny Marigo at Bellator 181. Howard has suffered all four of his professional MMA defeats by decision, but also scored two wins in the same method.
Ellington (4-0-0) is making his Bellator MMA debut in this bout and all of the fighters previous bout have come in the Shamrock FC promotion. Ellington has earned two of his professional MMA victories by KO/TKO and the other two by way of decision.
Ruth (6-2-0) has won one of two bouts thus far in Bellator MMA, with that single win coming over Lena Ovchynnikova at Bellator 150. Ruth is also returning to action for the first time in almost two years, with her last bout coming in June of 2016.
Velasquez (6-0-0) has already competed once in Bellator MMA, defeating Na Liang by second round submission at Bellator 189. Velasquez is also the current 1 Round Combat Women’s Bantamweight Champion, defeating Rosy Duarte by fifth round TKO to win the gold.
Siscoe (2-2-0) is currently winless under the Bellator MMA banner, suffering a defeat to Garrett Mueller at Bellator 139. Siscoe does enter the contest riding a two fight winning streak, with both victories coming in the Shamrock FC promotion.
Robbins (14-18-1) enters the contest riding a three fight losing streak and he hasn’t earned a victory in over four years. Robbins is also winless in Bellator MMA competition, having dropped a bout to Matt Murphy at Bellator MMA Dynamite in June 2016.
Cella (8-8-0) is winless under the Bellator MMA banner, having dropped fights to the duo of Kyle Kurtz and Chel Erwin-Davis. Cella also competed on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 17 and dropped a bout to Tor Troeng at UFC On Fuel TV 9.
Diggs (2-1-0) is making his Bellator MMA debut with this bout, with the competitor having spent his entire career in the Shamrock FC promotion. Diggs has yet to see any of his professional MMA fights go past the opening round and this is the fighters first bout in almost a year.
Wahle (2-3-0) is going to be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight, having previosuly competed exclusively in Shamrock FC. Wahle has only seen one of his professional MMA fights go the distance and that bout came over two years ago.
Roye (1-4-0) will make his Bellator MMA debut in this bout and only one of the competitors fights have gone out of the first round. Roya has only competed once in the last two years, which was a victory over Shane Shomidle at Shamrock FC 301.
Dowdy (5-4-0) has been winless thus far in his Bellator MMA tenure, dropping bouts to Adam Meredith and Guilherme Vasconcelos. Dowdy has only seen just one of his professional MMA bout go past the opening round and that came under a year ago.
Crotty (1-1-0) is winless thus far in Bellator MMA competition, dropping a bout to Garrett Gross at Bellator 145. Crotty has seen both of his professional MMA bouts go into the third round, with one of those bouts going the distance.
Bellator 197 takes place on Friday, April 13 from the Family Arena in St. Louis, Missouri with Brent Primus and Michael Chandler headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
