The next major Bellator event is shaping up to be a good one with the additional of several new fights, including a welterweight bout between longtime promotional veterans David Rickels and Brennan Ward.

MMAjunkie today verified the matchup between Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) and Ward (14-6 MMA, 9-6 BMMA) with a Bellator official.

Bellator 185 takes place Oct. 20 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event airs on Spike following early prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.

David Rickels

Rickels will set a new Bellator record most appearances in the promotion’s history when he steps in the cage for the 19th time. After spending much of his career with the organization in the lightweight division, Rickels moved up to 170 pounds in February 2016, and the results have paid off.

“The Caveman” is 2-0 with one no-contest since the change in weight class, and he will attempt to continue that run with a showdown against one of the most exciting fighters in all of Bellator.

Although he’s lost three of his past four fights, Ward has proven to be among the greatest action-fighters in Bellator history. All 15 of his appearances with the company have ended in a stoppage, albeit Ward has ended on the wrong of those results in his past two fights with defeats against Fernando Gonzalez and Paul Daley.

Also official for Bellator 185 are a pair of preliminary card fights. Ryan Quinn (13-7-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) meets Marcus Surin (4-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a lightweight bout while Steve Skrzat (8-9 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) takes on Costello van Steenis (8-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at middleweight.

The latest Bellator 185 card now includes:

• Gegard Mousasi vs. Alexander Shlemenko
• Muhammed Lawal vs. Liam McGeary
• David Rickels vs. Brennan Ward
• Heather Hardy vs. Kristina Williams
• Marcus Surin vs. Ryan Quinn
• Costello van Steenis vs. Steve Skrzat

For more on Bellator 185, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

It didn’t take long for Bellator to find a replacement opponent to step in to fight former champion Liam McGeary at Bellator 185 later this month.

MMAjunkie reported on Monday that Muhammed Lawal would not be able to meet McGeary (12-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) in the light heavyweight bout due to an undisclosed injury. Stepping in for “King Mo” will be Bellator and UFC veteran Bubba McDaniel (28-10 MMA, 3-1 BMMA), MMAjunkie today learned from a Bellator official.

Bellator 185 takes place Oct. 20 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

McDaniel has only fought twice in the past two years but was victorious in both appearances and boasts wins in seven of his past nine contests. His most recent Bellator appearance took place in November 2015, when he earned a second-round TKO of Kenyon Jackson at Bellator 146.

Although the change comes just over two weeks’ notice, McGeary is no stranger to late opponent switches. The former Bellator 205-pound titleholder went through three different opponents before beating Brett McDermott at Bellator 173 in February. He had no opponent switches for a Bellator 179 fight with Linton Vassell in May, but he came out on the losing end of that contest via third-round submission.

With McGeary now fighting McDaniel, a welterweight bout between David Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) and Brennan Ward (14-6 MMA, 9-6 BMMA) has been elevated to the Bellator 185 co-main event slot.

The latest Bellator 185 card now includes:

• Gegard Mousasi vs. Alexander Shlemenko
• David Rickels vs. Brennan Ward
• Bubba McDaniel vs. Liam McGeary
• Heather Hardy vs. Kristina Williams
• Ryan Quinn vs. Marcus Surin
• Steve Skrzat vs. Costello Van Steenis
• Alec Hooben vs. Jordan Young

For more on Bellator 185, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Friday’s Bellator 185 main card has undergone some major changes.

Officials today told MMAjunkie that an undisclosed injury has forced Brennan Ward (14-6 MMA, 9-6 BMMA) out of the night’s scheduled co-headliner, and as a result, welterweight opponent David Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) has also been pulled from the card.

Additionally, Javier Torres (10-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has also suffered an injury, and welterweight Zak Bucia (18-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has stepped in as a replacement to fight Neiman Gracie (6-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in the new co-main event.

Bellator 185 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and the main card airs on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

With the loss of Ward vs. Rickels, a fight between lightweights Ryan Quinn (13-7-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) and Marcus Surin (4-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has been promoted to the five-fight main card.

The latest Bellator 185 card now includes:

MAIN CARD (Spike, 9 p.m. ET)

• Gegard Mousasi vs. Alexander Shlemenko
• Zak Bucia vs. Neiman Gracie
• Heather Hardy vs. Kristina Williams
• Lisa Blaine vs. Ana Julaton
• Ryan Quinn vs. Marcus Surin

PRELIMINARY CARD (7 p.m. ET)

• Joaquin Buckley vs. Vinicius de Jesus
• Steve Skrzat vs. Costello Van Steenis
• Alec Hooben vs. Jordan Young
• Kevin Carrier vs. Kastriot Xhema
• Vovka Clay vs. Frank Sforza
• John Beneduce vs. Dean Hancock

For more on Bellator 185, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

An injury has forced a change to next month’s Bellator 189 card, and “The Caveman” will be back in action.

David Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) is stepping in for an injured Derek Anderson (14-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) to take on Adam Piccolotti (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) in a lightweight bout in Oklahoma. Bellator officials announced the change today.

Bellator 189 takes place Dec. 1 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The card airs on Spike following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.

Rickels will return for the first time since a TKO win over Aaron Derrow at Bellator 171 in January. That win got him back on track after a TKO loss to Melvin Guillard in July 2016 – a loss that eventually was overturned to a no-contest when Guillard tested positive for a banned substance. So technically, that gives Rickels back-to-back wins, including a TKO of Bobby Cooper at Bellator 150 in February 2016.

Rickels as been a fixture on Bellator’s cards in Mulvane, Kan., where he has been fighting in front of his home fans. The card in Oklahoma will be just the second time in nine fights “The Caveman” will have fought outside his home state.

Piccolotti will be looking to rebound from the first loss of his pro career. At Bellator 183 in September, he was submitted by Goiti Yamauchi in the first round. Before that, he had a perfect 9-0 start to his career, including 5-0 for Bellator with three submission finishes. Like Rickels, Piccolotti has been used to fighting at home. The Bay Area resident has had all 10 of his pro fights in California, and nine of the 10 have been either in San Jose or San Francisco.

Anderson was going to attempt to rebound from a loss, himself. At Bellator 170 in January, he dropped a decision to Derek Campos to have a two-fight winning streak snapped. But now his quest to get back on track is put on hold.

The Bellator 189 card now includes:

• Julia Budd vs. Arlene Blancowe – for women’s featherweight title
• Chris Honeycutt vs. Rafael Lovato
• Hisaki Kato vs. Chidi Njokuani
• Marcos Galvao vs. Sam Sicilia
• Alexis Dufresne vs. Amber Leibrock
• Adam Piccolotti vs. David Rickels

For more on Bellator 189, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Filed under: Bellator, News

Bellator returns to the U.S. today. After presenting events in Dublin, Ireland and Tel Aviv in November, the promotion heads to the familiar confines of WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla., for Bellator 189.

In the main event, women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd looks to defend her title for the first time when she meets Arlene Blencowe, an opponent the champion defeated by majority decision in 2016.

In the co-headliner, Chris Honeycutt and Rafael Lovato look to find a place among the top middleweights on the Bellator roster.

Bellator 189 airs on Spike following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.

Here are five reasons to watch the event.

1. High-stakes rematch

Julia Budd

The first time Budd and Blencowe faced each other, the bout ended in a majority decision in Budd’s favor. Budd’s only contest since that victory was her featherweight title-winning TKO of Marloes Coenen.

Blencowe (10-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has fought three times since she faced Budd (10-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in October 2016, and she won each of those bouts. The Australian’s most recent victory was a split-decision win over Sinead Kavanagh in August.

Budd’s strength and her ability to take advantage of openings in Blencowe’s striking game made the difference in the first meeting between these two. If Blencowe is more active in her striking and able to maintain distance, this could be her fight to lose. That’s easier said than done. The only two women to defeat Budd during her 12-fight career are former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and current UFC champ Amanda Nunes.

2. Moving on up

Chris Honeycutt

Once you drill down past Rafael Carvalho, Gegard Mousasi, John Salter and Alexander Shlemenko, you run into Honeycutt and Lovato in the middleweight pecking order. A step into the top tier of the division is on the line when the two meet at Bellator 189.

Since moving up from welterweight, Honeycutt (10-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) is unbeaten at 185 pounds. He extended his unbeaten streak to three straight after he earned a TKO win over Kevin Casey in August. Lovato (6-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), the former Legacy FC middleweight champion, has not lost in his MMA career. His most recent win was a first-round submission victory over Mike Rhodes in July.

Lovato is well known for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu accomplishments, but he has a developing striking game and has not been timid about using those newfound skills. Honeycutt has a wrestling background, which he uses to get the fight to the mat. Once on the ground, Honeycutt unloads heavy strikes. However, it will be a surprise if he tangles with Lovato on the ground.

The winner of this contest could find himself booked against the surging Salter, who was just victorious at Bellator 188.

3. Looking to make the most of his move

Chidi Njokuani

Chidi Njokuani was on a roll. Unbeaten in nine consecutive fights with four of those coming under the Bellator banner, he looked like a rising star heading into his August bout against former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov. The one thing that dimmed that star was the Texas-born fighters inability to make weight on a consistent basis. Njokuani missed weight in two of his three most recent fights; the other was contested at a catchweight of 179 pounds. After his first-round TKO loss to Koreshkov, Njokuani (17-5 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) decided to give middleweight a shot. He makes his 185-pound debut against Hisaki Kato (8-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) at Bellator 189.

Njokuani’s move to middleweight does not come at an ideal time. The top of the division is crowded with the emergence of Salter as a title contender and the signing of Mousasi. With that, the pressure is on the 28-year-old to come out of the gate hot. The 35-year-old Kato, who is on a three-fight winning streak, hopes to spoil Njokuani’s move. Kato’s most recent win was a January decision victory over Ralek Gracie.

4. Bounce back

Adam Piccolotti

Adam Piccolotti suffered the first defeat of his career in his most recent bout. The loss was a costly one. The man who forced him to tap in the first-round, Goiti Yamauchi, was booked to face former lightweight champion Michael Chandler after his victory. Meanwhile, Piccolotti looks to get back in the win column against David Rickels in a 160-pound catchweight bout in Thackerville.

This is a good test for Piccolotti (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA). Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) is a well-rounded fighter who should test all facets of his opponent’s game. The less experienced Piccolotti is known mostly as a top position ground fighter, but he has made strides in his striking game. If he can get by Rickels, Piccolotti should find himself right back in the thick of things in the lightweight division.

Rickels enters this fight on the strength of a third-round TKO win over Aaron Derrow at Bellator 171.

5. A fine how you do

Sam Sicilia

After three consecutive losses, Sam Sicilia saw his five-year run with the UFC end in February. He then signed with Bellator. If Sicilia thought he’d waltz into his new promotion without a test, he couldn’t have been more wrong. In his first fight with Bellator, Sicilia is matched up against former bantamweight champion Marcos Galvao.

This featherweight fight has the potential to be an entertaining one if it remains on the feet. Both of these combatants like to throw their punches with maximum force. If the bout does go to the ground, Galvao (18-7-1 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) will have an advantage, but getting Sicilia (15-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) to the mat could prove tricky as he defended 70 percent of his opponent’s takedown attempts while with the UFC.

Expect both men to be very motivated in this matchup. Sicilia enters this contest on the heels of a frustrating loss to Gavin Tucker in which he landed a total of 10 strikes. Galvao also lost his most recent outing when he dropped a decision to Emmanuel Sanchez.

For more on Bellator 189, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(This story was first published on Nov. 28, 2017.)

Bellator contributes to a busy weekend of MMA with Bellator 189, which takes place tonight at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla., and airs on Spike following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.

A women’s featherweight championship fight headlines the card. Reigning titleholder Julia Budd (10-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) attempts to make her first title defense when she rematches Arlene Blencowe (10-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) in a bout from Bellator 162 in October 2016, which Budd won by majority decision.

For more on the numbers behind Friday’s Bellator 189 fight card, check out 25 pre-event facts.

* * * *

Main event

Julia Budd

Budd competes in her fifth Bellator women’s featherweight bout, the second most appearances in divisional history behind Blencowe (five).

Budd enters the event on an eight-fight winning streak. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since November 2011.

Budd’s four-fight Bellator winning streak in women’s featherweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Budd’s four victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Julia Budd vs. Arlene Blencowe

Budd’s only career losses came against current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and ex-titleholder Ronda Rousey.

Blencowe is 3-0 since she suffered a majority decision loss to Budd at Bellator 162 in October 2016.

Blencowe competes in her sixth Bellator women’s featherweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Blencowe’s two victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Budd (four).

Remaining main card

Chris Honeycutt

Chris Honeycutt (10-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) is 2-0 since he moved up to the Bellator middleweight division in June 2016.

Rafael Lovato (6-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) has earned all of his career victories by stoppage.

Lovato’s 13-second knockout of Charles Hackmann at Bellator 174 stands as the sixth fastest knockout in company history.

Chidi Njokuani (17-5 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) moves up to the middleweight division for the first time in his career.

Njokuani has earned 10 of his 11 career stoppage victories by knockout.

Njokuani has suffered all five of his career losses by stoppage.

Hisaki Kato (8-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) has earned seven of his eight career victories by stoppage.

David Rickels

David Rickels (18-4 MMA, 12-4 BMMA), 28, is the youngest of the 10 scheduled main card fighters.

Rickels competes in his 19th Bellator bout, the most appearances in company history (two appearances have resulted in no-contests).

Rickels’ 12 victories in Bellator competition are tied for fourth most in company history behind Patricio Freire (14), Michael Chandler (13) and Joe Warren (13).

Rickels is 3-2 (with two no-contests) in his past seven Bellator appearances.

Marcos Galvao (18-7-1 MMA, 8-4 BMMA), 35, is the oldest of the 10 scheduled main card fighters.

Marcos Galvao

Galvao is one of six fighters in history to win the Bellator bantamweight championship.

Galvao was unsuccessful in his Bellator featherweight debut when he lost to Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 175 in March.

Galvao has earned 13 of his 18 career victories by decision.

Sam Sicilia (15-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his Bellator debut following a 12-fight UFC stint where he went 5-7.

Sicilia enters the event on a three-fight losing skid. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2015.

For more on Bellator 189, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Adam Piccolotti’s late rally wasn’t enough to stop David Rickels from winning their catchweight bout tonight at Bellator 189.

Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA), who was making a record-setting 19th Bellator appearance at the event, outworked Piccolotti (9-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) to a unanimous decision courtesy of a more effective striking arsenal.

“The Caveman” took the 160-pound catchweight bout, which took place at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla. Rickels landed multiple left hands over the course of the three-round fight, swelling Piccolotti’s eye shut.

Although Piccolotti had several meaningful takedowns during the 15-minute affair, mainly in the third round, but Rickels was able to avoid big strikes and attack with submissions.

In the end, Rickels’ work convinced the judges to award him with a decision with three 30-27 scores.

“I put a whipping on that boy, but he is tough,” Rickels said in his post-fight interview. “I am the OG in this Bellator cage. You better come see me first. I never back down from a fight.”

For complete coverage of Bellator 189, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

Should the Bellator women’s featherweight title have changed hands on Friday in Bellator 189’s headliner?

In the Spike-televised headliner of the event, which took place at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla., Julia Budd (11-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) edged challenger Arlene Blencowe (10-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) via majority decision to defend her title.

The close bout, which ended with little action in the later rounds, resulted in 46-49, 48-47 and 49-46 scores – and more than a few boo birds who thought Blencowe deserved the victory.

While Bellator 189’s prelims ended with some spectacular finishes, the rest of the main card all went to decisions.

In the middleweight co-headliner, Rafael Lovato (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) neutralized the wrestling of Chris Honeycutt (10-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) and claimed a decision victory via 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 scores.

Also on card, Chidi Njokuani (18-5 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) moved up to middleweight for a fight with fellow striker Hisaki Kato and earned a decision victory. Njokuani finished strong for a trio of 30-27 scores from the judges.

In a 160-pound catchweight but, David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA), who made a record-setting 19th Bellator appearance at the event, outworked Adam Piccolotti (9-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) for a unanimous-decision victory with 30-27 scores across the board. In 19 career Bellator appearances, Rickels is 13-4 with two no-contests.

Check out all of the highlights above.

And for complete coverage of Bellator 189, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

Bellator 189 wasn’t the most memorable night for the promotion. All four main-card fights went the distance at Friday’s event, which took place at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla., and aired on Spike.

The card concluded with women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd (11-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) making her first successful title defense when she picked up a narrow, and somewhat controversial, split-decision victory over Arlene Blencowe (10-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA).

Budd’s title fight concluded the first of three Bellator events in the final month of the year. For more on the numbers behind the show, check out 20 post-event facts about Bellator 189.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 2-1 on the main card. One fight had even odds.

Betting favorites improved to to 15-4 (with one even odds) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 1:10:00.

* * * *

Main card

Julia Budd

Budd extended her winning streak to nine fights. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since November 2011.

Budd’s five-fight Bellator winning streak in women’s featherweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Budd’s five victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Budd has earned four of her five Bellator victories by decision.

Blencowe has suffered two of her three Bellator losses by decision. Both of those came against Budd.

Rafael Lovato

Rafael Lovato (7-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) earned the first decision victory of his career. His previous six wins came by stoppage.

Chris Honeycutt (10-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) fell to 2-1 since he moved up to the Bellator middleweight division in June 2016.

Honeycutt suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Chidi Njokuani (18-5 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) was successful in his Bellator middleweight debut.

Hisaki Kato (8-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

David Rickels

David Rickels’ (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) 13 victories in Bellator competition are tied with Michael Chandler and Joe Warren for second most in company history behind Patricio Freire (14).

Adam Piccolotti (9-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) has suffered back-to-back losses after starting his career on a nine-fight winning streak.

Piccolotti suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

Sam Sicilia

Sam Sicilia (16-8 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) was successful in his Bellator debut following a 12-fight UFC stint.

Sicilia snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since July 2015.

Marcos Galvao (18-9-1 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) fell to 0-2 since he moved up to the Bellator featherweight division in March 2017.

Galvao has suffered five of his six Bellator losses by decision.

Mandel Nallo’s (6-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) 18-second knockout victory marked the fastest stoppage in Bellator lightweight history.

For complete coverage of Bellator 189, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

David Rickels has appeared in 19 Bellator bouts, more than anyone else in company history, and for that he believes he’s due some respect.

“Still around, still whipping ass,” Rickels told MMAjunkie. “Man, I’m the OG. Put some respect on my name. I think I just solidified that I’m no joke. I’ve got skills.”

Or perhaps even more than respect, Rickels believe he might be due former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson (24-8 MMA, 1-3 BMMA).

“Benson Henderson, what’s good?” Rickels asked. “Let’s go. That’s who I want to fight, actually. I’ve been talking about that fight for a minute. Benson Henderson, let’s get it.”

Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA), whose 19 Bellator appearances include a pair of no contests, was riding high when he spoke to MMAjunkie, and for good reason. Fresh off a Bellator 189 win over prospect Adam Piccolotti (9-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) at this past Friday’s event in Oklahoma, Rickels knew he was in for a tough fight.

And that was even before he stepped in the cage.

“It really didn’t affect me, but I was worried when they called,” Rickels said. “I was 185 (pounds), and I was eating pizza and drinking some beer, and yeah, man. The weight cut, it wasn’t terrible. It came off a lot easier than I expected, but it was cool. It worked out.”

Stepping in on short notice, Rickels was granted a 160-pound catchweight contest rather than going all the way down to the lightweight division. “The Caveman” said he’d be more than happy to take more of those matchups should future opponents be interested.

It would seem Rickels might be in line for a top-tier opponent. After all, in addition to his lengthy tenure with the company, Rickels also now boasts an official three-fight winning streak. But to be honest, with more than six years under the Bellator umbrella, Rickels isn’t too worried about challenging for a title. Instead, he’s only worried about challenging himself.

“My performance is what’s important to me,” Rickels said. “Tonight, I had a great performance. I felt smooth. I felt sharp. I landed good shots, and yeah, I think it showed.

“The performances. I just want to put my paws on people.”

And if Henderson is willing, then Rickels would like to go ahead and get a bout agreement drawn up. It’s no disrespect, he insists, but Rickels believes the two could combine for an entertaining scrap.

“I’ve just always respected him through his career, and I just think it would be a great fight,” Rickels said.

For more on Bellator 189, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

Bellator will return to London in May for its historic Bellator 200 card, and two bouts are set for the show.

Middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) will put his title on the line against Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). And in a welterweight bout, England’s own Michael Page (12-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) will take on David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA). Bellator officials announced the card and pair of fights today.

Bellator 200 will take place May 25 at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London. The main card will air on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

“Bellator continues to place a huge emphasis on its expansion into markets around the globe and creating a strong presence in the U.K. is a very important part of that,” Bellator President Scott Coker stated. “Our fans are going to be excited about the card we put together for this monumental event.”

Carvalho currently is Bellator’s longest-reigning titleholder. He is on a 15-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since his pro debut in Brazil in late 2011. The Brazilian debuted in the promotion at Bellator 125 in 2014 and knocked out Brian Rogers in the first round. After a decision win over Joe Schilling, he won the vacant middleweight title in October 2015.

Since then, Carvalho has defended the belt with a split-decision win over Melvin Manhoef in May 2016, a head-kick knockout win over him in their rematch in April 2017 and in December, a 44-second KO of Alessio Sakara.

Mousasi, a former Strikeforce champion, came to Bellator this past fall and topped former champ Alexander Shlemenko with a unanimous decision. The win gave him six straight victories, including his final five in the UFC before moving over as a free agent. When he left the UFC, he had four straight knockout wins over Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Hall and Chris Weidman.

“Venom” Page will return to action for the first time since a split-decision win over Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 165 back in November 2016. It was only the second decision win of his career after stoppages in 10 of his first 11 fights. The London native and resident will fight at home for just the second time under the Bellator banner.

Rickels has won three straight fights over the past two years. His one loss was by knockout to Melvin Guillard, but was overturned when Guillard failed a drug test. Beyond that no-contest, he has a first-round knockout over Bobby Cooper, a third-round knockout of Aaron Derrow and a decision win over Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 189 in December.

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

The milestone Bellator 200 card is all revved up and ready to go.

Officials today announced the finalized lineup for the event, which takes place May 25 at SSE Arena in London with a main card that airs via same-day tape delay on Paramount. And it’ll be a battle of big men getting top billing over a title fight.

The headliner features heavyweights Roy Nelson (23-15 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) doing battle. In the co-main event, middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) puts his title on the line against Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

Cro Cop, 43, comes to Bellator on an impressive eight-fight winning streak. While he fought just once in 2017, a New Year’s Eve TKO win over Japanese veteran Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at Rizin FF 9, Cro Cop went 4-0 in 2016, including three victories in a three-day stretch to claim Rizin’s openweight grand prix title. Meanwhile, Nelson, 41, was recently bumped from Bellator’s current heavyweight grand prix with a decision loss to Matt Mitrione at Bellator 194.

Nelson and Cro Cop have engaged in some heated trash talk over the Croatian’s checkered history with performance enhancing drugs. Cro Cop has passed one drug test already ahead of the matchup.

Carvalho currently is Bellator’s longest-reigning titleholder. He is on a 15-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since his pro debut in Brazil in late 2011. After a decision win over Joe Schilling, he won the vacant middleweight title in October 2015. Since then, Carvalho has defended the belt with a split-decision win over Melvin Manhoef in May 2016, a head-kick knockout win in their rematch in April 2017 and in December, a 44-second KO of Alessio Sakara.

Mousasi, a former Strikeforce champion, came to Bellator this past fall and topped former champ Alexander Shlemenko with a unanimous decision for his sixth straight victories, including his final five in the UFC before moving over as a free agent. When he left the UFC, he had four straight knockout wins over Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Hall, and Chris Weidman.

Bellator 200 also features the anticipated return of London’s own Michael Page (12-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) against David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA). The undefeated Page, who won a boxing match last October, hasn’t fought in MMA since Nov. 2016, when he beat Fernando Gonzalez by split decision to break a streak of four straight wins by finish.  It was only the second decision win of his career after stoppages in 10 of his first 11 fights.

Rickels has won three straight fights over the past two years.

The complete Bellator 200 lineup is as follows:

MAIN CARD (Paramount, 9 p.m. ET)

• Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson
• Champ Rafael Carvalho vs. Gegard Mousasi – for middleweight title
• Michael Page vs. David Rickels
• Aaron Chalmers vs. Ash Griffiths – 163-pound catchweight
• Phil Davis vs. Linton Vassell

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Kate Jackson  vs. Anastasia Yankova
•  Vladimir Filipovic vs. Anatoly Tokov
• Pedro Carvalho vs. Daniel Crawford
• Martyn Harris vs. Ryan Scope
• Carl Noon vs. Mike Shipman
• Louis King vs. Charlie Ward
• Jeremy Petley vs. Saul Rogers
• Kevin Fryer vs. Costello Van Steenis
• Tom Green vs. Charlie Leary

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

In the spectrum of those who are enthusiastic about unbeaten Michael Page and those who dismiss him as untested, David Rickels knows where he stands.

“I fall right in the middle,” Rickels told MMAjunkie. “Do I think Michael Page is a good fighter? Yes.

“Do I think he’s great? No.”

Rickels’ reasoning is quite simple: Page has been so “babied” throughout his six-year career that we don’t really know just who he is and what he’s capable of yet. But fear not: “The Caveman” is here to make sure that is no longer the case after Bellator 200.

“I want to show his heart,” Rickels said. “I want to see what Michael Page is made of. I want to bring the fight to him. I want him to feel punches. I want to make him fight. I want to see how much he’s going to be able to give back. How much heart does Michael Page have?

“Does he have the heart of a champion? And I really really feel like I’m going to be able to test that. I’m going to be able to put that pressure. Let’s see how long he can fight and how hard he can fight.”

Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) is not alone in the argument that “Venom” Page (12-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA), whom he meets in a main-card bout next Friday at London’s SSE Arena, hasn’t exactly been fed to the sharks as he made his way up in Bellator’s welterweight division. But he’s also not the first fighter to present himself as Page’s first true test.

Battle-tested veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, for instance, was confident he’d be the one to spoil Page’s party at Bellator 158 – and we all saw what happened then. It took a few attempts, but Fernando Gonzalez came after – and, while it was a much closer (and lot less exciting) bout, “MVP” still kept his spotless record.

So what makes Rickels think he’ll be different?

“I think that the problem with everybody that I watched him fight, they’re (expletive) scared,” Rickels said. “They all fight with fear. They’re worried about what he’s doing. They’re watching his show. He does the little show where he dances and does all that (expletive). They’re not worried about fighting and whooping his ass. And I’m a one-track mind when I get in there. I’m hunting you down, and I’m going for the kill. That’s exactly what it is.”

Rickels’ confidence is not exactly unwarranted. Coming off a three-fight winning streak, two of those knockouts, his sole losses since 2013 are by the hands of ex-champ Michael Chandler and perennial contender Patricky Freire.

Rickels most recently beat Adam Piccolotti, who just scored a big submission win over then-undefeated Carrington Banks, and he holds a win over grappling ace and UFC up-and-comer Davi Ramos.

But, other than his experience, there’s another big weapon that Rickels is carrying into this one: his state of mind. Not only has his weight cut been a breeze compared to his tough 155-pound outings, which makes him a healthier fighter, he’s fully relishing the enemy role as he steps onto Page’s turf.

“I just feel like I’m dangerous right now, period, but I’ve always fought my best when I’ve been happy, healthy, when I can take the pressure off of myself,” Rickels said. “It’s kind of cool to realize that, now that I’m not fighting in my own hometown anymore, how much pressure I had on myself then. I used to love going into guys’ backyards and fighting and beating them up.”

As for how, exactly, he intends to spoil the English party? Well, let’s start with how he’s not going to do it.

“I’ve never been a wrestler; I’m not going to start wrestling tomorrow just because everyone thinks that’s what I should do,” Rickels said. “Dude, I can barely take a dude down in the gym. I’m not going to start wrestling some dude who likes to throw jumping knees and (expletive). … I’m going to keep my head up, I’m going to keep a good defense, and I’m going to stalk him down and put my pressure on like I always do with everybody.”

If Rickels pulls off spoiling Page’s homecoming after an almost 18-month layoff from MMA, it’s certainly going to send a loud message. But, when it comes to the post-Page future, Rickels is not thinking much further than some vacations with his wife through Europe.

Rickels, it turns out, has been able to do some “smart (expletive)” with his money since he started fighting. He now owns a few businesses and has the luxury to fight not because he needs it to feed his family – but because he wants to. And that makes for an interesting relationship when it comes to his in-cage plans and expectations.

“This game is fun to me,” Rickels said. “Fighting is a just a fun game at this point. I don’t know what Bellator wants to do with me next, and I don’t really care. I just want to enjoy what I do. And what I love to do is to fight. So, as long as I’m enjoying this game, you’re going to see me fighting anybody – whenever, whomever.”

But, upon request, Rickels doesn’t mind singling out a name.

“Give me another really easy fight. Give me Dillon Danis,” Rickels said. “He’s got a lot of hype, too. That’s a fair fight, ain’t it? 1-0 vs. ‘Caveman.’ Yeah, that’s perfect.”

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(UPDATED on May 21, 2018, after Bellator officials confirmed Mirko Cro Cop’s injury with MMAjunkie.)

So much for Bellator 200’s main event.

Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has reportedly suffered an injury and has been forced out of a planned headliner and rematch with fellow heavyweight Roy Nelson (23-15 MMA, 1-1 BMMA).

Bellator officials today confirmed the change with MMAjunkie. The scratch was first reported by telegraph.co.uk, which cited Bellator executive Ryan Grab.

Bellator 200 takes place Friday at The SSE Arena in London, and the main card airs via same-day delay on Paramount following live prelims on the Bellator app.

According to Grab, a fight between middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) and challenger Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has currently been elevated to the main-event slot while a replacement is sought to fight Nelson. Welterweights Michael Page (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) and David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 11-4 BMMA) have moved up to the co-main-event slot.

“Mirko Cro Cop has suffered an undisclosed injury and has been forced off the card, and we are looking at replacements, though for the time being Carvalho-Mousasi has been moved to the main event and British standout Michael ‘Venom’ Page against American David Rickels has been elevated up to the co-main event fight,” Grab told the outlet.

Cro Cop and Nelson first fought in 2011 at UFC 137; Nelson earned a third-round TKO victory, and Cro Cop retired afterward (though he eventually un-retired).

The Cro Cop vs. Nelson winner at Bellator 200 was expected to be an alternate in the organization’s current heavyweight grand prix.

The latest Bellator 200 card includes:

MAIN CARD (Paramount (tape delay), 9 p.m. ET)

• Champ Rafael Carvalho vs. Gegard Mousasi – for middleweight title
• Michael Page vs. David Rickels
• Roy Nelson vs. TBA
• Phil Davis vs. Linton Vassell
• Aaron Chalmers vs. Ash Griffiths

PRELIMINARY CARD (Bellator app, 12:30 p.m. ET)

• Kate Jackson vs. Anastasia Yankova
• Vladimir Filipovic vs. Anatoly Tokov
• Pedro Carvalho vs. Daniel Crawford
• Martyn Harris vs. Ryan Scope
• Carl Noon vs. Mike Shipman
• Louis King vs. Charlie Ward
• Jeremy Petley vs. Saul Rogers
• Kevin Fryer vs. Costello Van Steenis
• Tom Green vs. Charlie Leary
• Walter Gahadza vs. Kent Kauppinen
• Jahreau Shepherd vs. Marcin Zywica
• Chad Griffiths vs. Tom Mearns
• Amir Albazi vs. Iurie Bejenari

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

On Friday, England’s human highlight reel, Michael Page, returns to the cage in what will only be his second time competing in front of his home crowd under the Bellator banner.

We’re sure that, when David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) is standing in the opposite corner, it will be all business for the unbeaten “Venom” Page (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA). But, in the meantime, the welterweight has no problem acknowledging – and even appreciating – some aspects of his opponent’s game.

Specifically, the ways in which the “The Caveman,” much like “Venom,” himself, makes sure to bring the show to his fights.

“I love it, man,” Page told MMAjunkie Radio. “I think it’s a tough game. It’s an extremely tough game, one of the hardest sports in the world to do, and I think you need that kind of just humor to it – being able to relax and be comfortable and almost be silly out there, at times. just to kind of relax you. I think it is what I’ve got, that entertainment, and he’s one of those type of fighters.

“I enjoy his entrances as much as everybody else. It’s good. It’s nice to see. It makes it different.”

Page and Rickels are set to meet on the main card of this Friday’s Bellator 200, which takes place at the SSE Arena in London. The welterweight bout airs in the U.S. via same-day tape delay on Paramount.

Of course, it’s not just outside the cage that Rickels can keep things interesting. Although he does have technical merits – as shown by an extensive, active record that, in the past few years, shows losses only to ex-champ Michael Chandler and contender Patricky Pitbull – Rickels is not one to shy away from a good scrap either.

Speaking to MMAjunkie about the contest, Rickels made it clear that he’s never been one to shoot for takedowns, and he’s certainly not about to start with Page. Instead, he says he’ll rely on his relentless pressure and volume to take “MVP” into deep waters.

“I want to show his heart,” Rickels said. “I want to see what Michael Page is made of. I want to bring the fight to him. I want him to feel punches. I want to make him fight. I want to see how much he’s going to be able to give back. How much heart does Michael Page have?”

Page, of course, is known for his crisp, creative striking. And while he acknowledges that sometimes a little recklessness is exactly the type of thing that can bring trouble to more technical fighters, he insists he can also handle himself just fine should things get crazy in there.

“Sometimes (at the gym) you can work with guys that are a bit more beginners and they can land the shots, and only because they’re throwing so recklessly that you’re not used to blocking from those kinds of angles,” Page said. “So, sometimes, having a style that’s quite wild can actually be beneficial. It’s actually almost technical in its own way, and it’s harder to read.

“But this is where I’m good at. I’m good at figuring things out. Even if I didn’t have footage of him to see, I’m good at figuring things out during the fight – working on the timing and distance and keeping myself safe and then figuring out.”

Page hasn’t stepped inside Bellator’s cage since November 2016, when he took a split call over Fernando Gonzalez to add an eighth win under the promotion’s banner to his spotless Bellator record. But he hasn’t been inactive in competition, either: Last October, he tested himself in his first pro boxing bout. Page won via third-round TKO.

Page isn’t sure it works the other way around, but, considering MMA fights usually start with a punch, there’s no doubt that boxing can add a lot to a fighter’s skillset. On his end, Page has certainly felt the positive effects that his boxing foray has helped in the cage, be it when it comes to his footwork, power, combinations or just general upper body strength.

“Just the added work that I’ve done on my shoulders and my arms – it’s actually helping me in my wrestling,” Page said.

Those who follow MMA more closely have probably caught wind of Page’s visit to SBG Ireland, a camp known mostly for being home to former UFC champion Conor McGregor. The prospect clarifies, though, that he was only there for a one-day session.

“We’ve been doing a lot of this in different gyms,” Page said. “Just organize spars with different people, just to try and test to see where I’m at.”

Considering Page actually had to hop on a plane for that in-and-out experience, once could wonder why he simply din’t stay longer. But the ever-evolving 31-year-old fighter assures that he’s able to absorb quite a lot from these single-day sessions.

“I’m that kind of person,” Page said. “I’m analyzing just every second – every second I’m in there. I took back a lot and just straight back into the gym, just get to working on what I need to work on.”

To hear from Page, check out the video above.

And for more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Dan Tom. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 200 event in London.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMAjunkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMAjunkie MMA reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 200 staff picks we release on Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 200 takes place at The SSE Arena in London, and the main card airs via same-day delay on Paramount following live prelims on the Bellator app.

* * * *

Champ Rafael Carvalho vs. Gegard Mousasi

Records: Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA), Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA)
Past five: Carvalho 5-0, Mousasi 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Mousasi No. 5
Odds (as of 5/22/18): Mousasi -300, Carvalho +200

LONDON – Bellator hasn’t yet had success in finding a replacement opponent for Roy Nelson after Mirko Cro Crop dropped out of their heavyweight headliner that was set for Bellator 200 on Friday.

But, hey, that one may end up sorting itself out. Should the injury bug strike Bellator 200 again, more specifically welterweight David Rickels, there could be a willing replacement in Michael Page.

“100 percent,” Page said with a laugh after open workouts for his Bellator 200 encounter with Rickels. “Because straight away, I’m going to have to go and eat now. I could just stop. I don’t have to cut no more weight. That’s the main reason.

“I don’t think he’s going to put a hand on me, anyway. People my weight can’t put hands on me. So, yeah, 100 percent.”

Jokes (hopefully?) aside, the plan is still to have “Venom” Page (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) meet “The Caveman” Rickels (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) at The SSE Arena in London, England. The main card welterweight bout airs on Paramount via same-day tape-delay.

It’s an important matchup for Page, not just because he gets to perform in front of a friendly English crowd for the second time in his Bellator career, but because he gets to put an end to an 18-month layoff.

“Being out for so long is ridiculously stressful,” Page said. “It’s hard to continue training, because you don’t have a goal. And then when you do and things go wrong, it’s hard to continue training again. And that’s the hardest thing. I’m lucky I’ve got a good team around me, coaches that want to motivate me, too, and just scare me a little bit.

“So I can’t slack myself, because one day off I’m getting a phone call like, ‘What’s going on. What are you doing? You should be in the gym.’ That just keeps me on track. But it’s still a difficult journey when you don’t have a fight ready.”

Still, there are positives to be taken from the time away during which Page had a victorious pro boxing debut. For starters, it makes returning all the more exciting. But, moreover, it was a time that forced a mentality change in 31-year-old Page, who believes he’s grown as an athlete and as a person.

“As stressful as it was, I managed to overcome a lot, and (I’m) just happy to be here now,” Page said.

Behind the scenes, Page says, there’s a lot that goes into keeping a busy schedule – “whether it be with the organization or whether it be personal.” But, regardless, “Venom” is still hoping to pick up the pace as he moves forward with his career.

“You guys get to see us on camera, but once we’re off-camera we still get to live a life,” Page said. “And, especially in London right now, life is difficult. A lot goes on behind that you have to kind of take into consideration. But I’d love to just be as active as I possibly can.”

That, of course, starts with Rickels.

When it comes to that meeting, Page and his opponent seem to see eye-to-eye on a few things. Both appreciate adding some showmanship to their performances. And both agree in that Rickels’ main danger lies in the experience he brings in.

While Page is no stranger to competition, with an extensive freestyle kickboxing past, fact is he hasn’t had that many chances to perform inside a cage. The ever-active Rickels, though, has done it 25 times. That, Page says, counts for “a hell of a lot” – even if he doesn’t see anything extraordinary in his competitor.

“He looks like another MMA fighter to me,” Page said. “I don’t see anything particularly – nothing that stands out to me in particular. But that experience there means if I make a mistake that I might have made in previous fights and been able to get away with, if I make a mistake with him, he’s going to capitalize.

“I’ve got to make that sure I’m able to get myself out of that situation. Or I need to make sure I’m on point so I’m not even making mistakes, everything I do is perfect.”

Clearly, there’s respect for Rickels here. But when it comes to another Bellator welterweight, with whom Page shares a bit of a turbulent past, “MVP” doesn’t seem too interested in exchanging pleasantries.

“Who is that?” Page answered, when asked about Paul Daley. “Might go by another name. What’s the other name?

“Is it … Or Paula? Is that Paula? That ‘Tampax’ Daley? To be fair, I don’t know what’s happened to him. I haven’t been paying attention, unfortunately.”

To hear more from Page, check out the video above.

And for more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

LONDON – Things got a bit heated – and a little comical – at today’s Bellator 200 media-day face-offs.

The media event featured all of the main-card fighters.

Following the loss of a planned headliner between Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and Roy Nelson (23-15 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) and challenger Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) move up from the co-main-event slot and now top the card.

Bellator 200 takes place Friday at The SSE Arena in London, and the main card airs via same-day delay on Paramount following live prelims on the Bellator app.

The Carvalho-Mousasi face-off was a fairly uneventful and mundane affair.

The same goes for main-card openers and female flyweights Kate Jackson (9-3-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Anastasia Yankova (5-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), as well as light heavyweights Phil Davis (18-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) and Linton Vassell (18-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA).

However, when co-headliner Michael Page (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) faced off with his opponent, David Rickels (19-4 MMA, 11-4 BMMA) pretended to rip out “MVP’s” heart and hold it up for the viewers. It elicited some laughs.

Additionally, Aaron Chalmers (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and Ash Griffiths (4-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), who meet in a catchweight bout, got squishy-nosed when they met for a very intimate face-off.

Check out all of the face-offs and photos opps above.

And for more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

One of the most monumental cards in Bellator history is slated for Friday with Bellator 200. The event takes place The SSE Arena in London and airs via same-day delay on Paramount following prelims on the Bellator app.

A Bellator middleweight championship bout is featured in the main event. Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) looks to continue the best title reign in Bellator middleweight history when he takes on his toughest test yet in Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

For more on the numbers behind the 200th card in Bellator history, check below for 25 pre-event facts on Bellator 200.

* * * *

Main event

Rafael Carvalho

Carvalho’s three consecutive Bellator title defenses are the most among current champions and as many as all other champions combined. No one else has more than one.

Carvalho’s three consecutive Bellator middleweight title defenses are tied with Alexander Shlemenko for most in history.

Carvalho’s 44-second knockout of Alessio Sakara at Bellator 190 is tied for the second fastest title-fight stoppage in Bellator history. Only Brandon Halsey’s 35-second win at Bellator 126 was faster.

Carvalho enters the event on a 15-fight winning streak. He hasn’t suffered a defeat since his MMA debut in December 2011.

Carvalho’s six-fight Bellator winning streak in middleweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Carvalho has earned 12 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Mousasi, a former Strikeforce and DREAM champion, competes in his first title bout since July 2011.

Mousasi was successful in his Bellator debut at Bellator 185 in October. He’s earned victories in 17 different organizations during his career.

Mousasi’s six-fight winning streak is his longest since December 2009.

Mousasi is 9-1 in his past 10 fights. His only defeat in that stretch came against Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night 75.

Mousasi has earned 35 of his 43 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 31 of those wins in Round 1.

Co-main event

Michael Page’s (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) returns to MMA competition for the first time since Nov. 19, 2016. The 564-day layoff is the longest of his more than six-year career.

Page’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak is the second longest active streak in the company behind A.J. McKee (11).

Page’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak is tied for the third longest streak in company history behind McKee (11) and Ben Askren (nine).

Page’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak in welterweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Page’s eight victories in Bellator welterweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Andrey Koreshkov (11), Douglas Lima (10) and Askren (nine).

Page’s six stoppage victories in Bellator welterweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Lima (seven).

David Rickels’ (19-4 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) competes in his 20th Bellator bout, the most appearances in company history (two appearances have resulted in no-contests).

Rickels is 3-0 in Bellator welterweight competition. He’s 1-0 since he returned to the weight class in January 2017.

Rickels’ 13 victories in Bellator competition are tied for third most in company history behind Michael Chandler (15) and Patricio Freire (14).

Rickels’ eight stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for fourth most in company history behind Chandler (11), Freire (10) and Brennan Ward (nine).

Remaining main card

Ash Griffiths’ (4-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since August 2015.

Mike Shipman (11-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) enters the event on an 11-fight winning streak. He hasn’t lost since his MMA debut in June 2013.

Carl Noon (7-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has earned six of his seven career victories by stoppage.

Linton Vassell’s (18-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) competes in his 11th Bellator light-heavyweight bout, tied with Liam McGeary for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Emanuel Newton (12).

Vassell’s seven victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Newton (eight) and McGeary (eight).

Vassell’s three submission victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied with McGeary, Newton and Mike Mucitelli for most in divisional history.

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Bellator hits a significant milestone on Friday when it presents Bellator 200 in London.

In the main event, Gegard Mousasi looks to check the second item off the to-do list he made after he signed with Bellator as a free agent in July. That item is the middleweight title that champion Rafael Carvalho has possessed since October 2015.

In the co-main event, Michael Page looks to answer some questions about his ability to get past tough completion when he faces David Rickels in a welterweight contest.

Also on the main card is a light heavyweight bout between former champion Phil Davis and two-time title challenger Linton Vassell.

Bellator 200 takes place at The SSE Arena in London. The main card airs via same-day delay on Paramount following live prelims on the Bellator app.

Here are five reasons to watch the event.

1. Checking off his to-do list

After he signed with Bellator as a free agent, Mousasi laid out the blueprint for his career in the promotion before his first Bellator appearance.

“I have to beat (Alexander) Shlemenko first, then the (middleweight) title fight, then maybe a matchup against Rory MacDonald, and then maybe light heavyweight,” Mousasi told MMAjunkie in October.

Mousasi cleared that first hurdle when he earned a disputed unanimous-decision win over Shlemenko, the former middleweight champion, at Bellator 185. Mousasi paid a high price in that bout, fighting through a broken orbital bone.

Now the No. 5 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings, Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) gets his shot at 185-pound champion Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA). And by the sound of things, the Shlemenko bout is still with him.

“I’m more nervous than normal, especially coming off a fight like my previous fight,” Mousasi said in the lead-up to Bellator 200. “But I know once the cage door closes, everything goes automatic. So I don’t worry about it.”

As for Carvalho, who has quietly defended his belt three times (most recently knocking out Alessio Sakara in 44 seconds), he knows that this if going to be the toughest test of his career.

“I’ve never used all I can do in a fight,” Carvalho said via an interpreter at Bellator 200 media day. “In this fight, I see it as the hardest fight for me. Because every fight I’ve reinvented myself, and this fight, I see myself having to use everything I know.”

2. Something to prove

Rickels has something in common with a lot of MMA fans: He wonders just how good Page really is.

“I fall right in the middle,” Rickels told MMAjunkie Radio. “Do I think Michael Page is a good fighter? Yes.

“Do I think he’s great? No.”

Page is 12-0 with some highlight-reel knockout victories to his name, including his 2016 MMAjunkie “Knockout of the Year” stoppage of Evangelista Santos. Despite his winning streak and memorable finishes, Page has yet to be tested against top-ranked competition.

Rickels (19-4 MMA, 11-4 BMMA), a former Bellator lightweight title challenger, is Page’s (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) toughest opponent to date. Rickels, who is on a two-fight winning streak, plans on testing just what his opponent is made of in this welterweight matchup.

“I want to show his heart,” Rickels said. “I want to see what Michael Page is made of. I want to bring the fight to him. I want him to feel punches. I want to make him fight. I want to see how much he’s going to be able to give back. How much heart does Michael Page have?”

In addition to proving how much heart he has, Page has to show he can come back from a long layoff. He hasn’t fought in an MMA bout for 18 months, though he did win a boxing contest in October.

“Being out for so long is ridiculously stressful,” Page said at the Bellator 200 open workouts. “It’s hard to continue training because you don’t have a goal. And then when you do and things go wrong, it’s hard to continue training again. And that’s the hardest thing. I’m lucky I’ve got a good team around me, coaches that want to motivate me too and just scare me a little bit.”

3. A former champ and a former challenger meet

Vassell fell short in his second bid to become Bellator light heavyweight champion in November. Champion Ryan Bader knocked out Vassell. The difference in that bout was Bader’s wrestling, which allowed him to get the fight to the mat and finish Vassell with ground strikes in the second round.

After that loss, Vasell hit the gym.

“If you’ve seen the fight, he took me down; I reversed it a few times, but the last time I stayed there,” Vassell told MMAjunkie. “I couldn’t get up. I didn’t do the right things. So I went straight back, and that’s what I worked on – getting up, stuffing the takedowns, getting up, stuffing the takedowns. Making them pay. I went back and corrected those things that I did wrong and the mistakes that ended the fight for me.”

We’ll find out if that work pays off when Vassell (18-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) meets another accomplished wrestler in Davis (18-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) at Bellator 200.

Davis, the former light heavyweight champion, won his most recent bout by using a kickboxing approach. He defeated Leo Leite in that contest. Davis is currently ranked No. 4 in the 205-pound division. He feels that a win at Bellator 200 will put his name in the conversation for the next light-heavyweight title fight.

“I think this solidifies my spot as – if there’s going to be an interim belt (Bader is involved in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix), it’s going to involve me,” Davis told MMAjunkie during Bellator 200 media day. “If there’s going to be any talk of defending the belt, it’s going to be involving me. So this puts my name in the hat for all the talk.”

4. A new reality

Bellator and BAMMA co-promoted a fight card in December. The Bellator portion of the event was Bellator 191, and BAMMA handled the prelims with BAMMA 33. Aaron Chalmers, who made a name for himself on the British reality TV show “Geordie Shore,” fought on the prelims. At the time he was 2-0 with two quick stoppage wins. Chalmers made it three stoppages when he earned a first-round TKO win over Karl Donaldson at that event. Like his two previous opponents, Donaldson had zero professional MMA experience before he faced Chalmers.

Chalmers (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) gets his first fight against an experienced opponent when he meets Ash Griffiths in a catchweight bout at Bellator 200. Griffiths (4-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), a pro since 2013, has never gone the distance, and he’s left the first round only on one occasion. Griffiths has been on the wrong end of a stoppage in his three most recent fights.

While this fight might not feature the highest level of MMA, this could prove to be an entertaining fight. Even if it’s not, Bellator is undoubtedly banking on Chalmers’ popularity to bring some additional eyeballs to this card. The English fighter has more than three million followers on social media.

5. Unbeaten but questions remain

Anastasia Yankova was signed by Bellator to be the face of the women’s flyweight division. That hasn’t happened for a few reasons. First, Yankova has yet to hit the flyweight mark under the Bellator banner. All three of her previous fights with the promotion have been catchweight bouts. The second reason is that she’s failed to impress inside the Bellator cage since she won her promotional debut via a quick submission. Yankova also recently had her share of bad press for her past involvement with neo-Nazi clothing company White Rex.

Yankova (5-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), despite her unbeaten record, was initially booked for the prelims at Bellator 200, but when the originally scheduled main event of Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson fell through due to an injury to Cro Cop, her fight against Kate Jackson (9-3-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) was moved to the main card.

Jackson is the most experienced fighter that Yankova has faced. Jackson was riding a six-fight unbeaten streak before she dropped a unanimous decision to former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau in December.

Yankova’s star seems to be dimming with the emergence of flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. While this probably won’t be a make or break fight for her, it is a fight she needs to win convincingly – and also one where she needs to hit the flyweight limit.

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.