MMAFighting.com reports that an undisclosed injury is forcing Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez off of Bellator 180 next week. There will be no replacement for her opponent Sadee Monseratte Williams. As a result, boxing standout Heather Hardy (0-0 MMA) versus Alice Yauger (4-5 MMA) will be elevated from the non-televised prelims.
The Bellator 180 card will air on Spike TV prior to the Bellator NYC Pay-Per-View at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 24th.
Here’s an updated look at the Bellator 180 card…
MAIN CARD (Spike, 8 p.m. ET)
Phil Davis (c) vs. Ryan Bader – for light heavyweight title
Neiman Gracie vs. Dave Marfone
James Gallagher vs. Chinzo Machida
Heather Hardy vs. Alice Yauger
PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. ET)
Ryan Couture vs. Haim Gozali
Anthony Giacchina vs. Jerome Mickle
Hugh McKenna vs. John Salgado
Matt Rizzo vs. Sergio da Silva
Bradley Desir vs. Nate Grebb
Sean Grande leaves as Bellator’s play-by-play voice
Sean Grande will not be calling the action for Bellator’s historic card in New York City this week. The play-by-play man released a statement to MMAFighting.com as to why he’s leaving the broadcast booth. You can read that in full here.
Matt Bessette vs. Kurt Holobaugh set for Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series
MMA Kings was the first to report a pivotal featherweight matchup has been added to Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, which starts on July 11th. Current CES featherweight champion Matt Bessette will take on current Titan FC interim lightweight champion Kurt Holobaugh in a 145-pound contest.
Bessette (22-7) heads into this matchup on a seven-fight win streak, with all of those victories coming by way of stoppage. The 32-year-old has also won nine of his last 10 fights.
Holobaugh (17-4) won the Titan FC interim lightweight title in his last contest, defeating Gesias Cavalcante by fourth-round TKO at Titan FC 44. The 30-year-old will be dropping back down to featherweight for the first time since March 2016 and is riding a three-fight win streak.
