Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi will be reunited with his old boss Scott Coker after nearly five years in the UFC. Mousasi is one of the latest names to make the jump to Bellator as a free agent, however his circumstances have been different from most. Mousasi was on a five-fight winning streak in the UFC and closing in on a title shot when he decided to make the move. One must think he immediately jumps to the front of the middleweight pack in Bellator, and his debut against former champion Alexander Shlemenko could set him up for a title shot in short order.
Shlemenko has been splitting time between Bellator and M-1 since a positive drug test back in 2015 put him on the shelf for a year. He has had a successful run since his return, picking up five consecutive wins, including taking just 25 seconds to avenge his Bellator title loss against Brandon Halsey.
Aside from the main event, Bellator 185 has been destroyed by injuries. A planned bout between top 205ers Mo Lawal and Liam McGeary saw an injury to Lawal, and subsequently a McGeary injury which forced him out of the replacement bout with Bubba McDaniel. Brennan Ward’s particular brand of violence was set to be on display as well, but he too was forced from his bout against David Rickels with an injury.
All of that shuffling means that the co-main event is now Neiman Gracie taking on his own late replacement Zak Bucia. Gracie appears to be one of the two best members of the Gracie family currently competing in MMA (Kron being the other), but Bucia presents an interesting challenge as he has yet to be submitted in 26 career bouts. The middling main card continues with one-fight MMA veteran — but former boxing champion — Heather Hardy taking on the debuting Kristina Williams. A second women’s bout will open the card, as another former boxing champion, Ana Julaton, makes her Bellator debut after several fights in ONE FC. Rounding out the card is a lightweight bout between journeyman Ryan Quinn takes on 36-year-old “prospect” Marcus Surin.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the main card bouts on Bellator 185 today at Several Bookmakers. Take a look:
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Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko
OCTOBER 20, 2017
Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville, Connecticut
Main Card – (Spike, 9PM ET)
Alexander Shlemenko +280
Gegard Mousasi -400
Over 1.5 -165
Under 1.5 +125
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Zak Bucia +325
Neiman Gracie -475
Over 1.5 -165
Under 1.5 +125
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Kristina Williams +260
Heather Hardy -380
Over 2.5 -130
Under 2.5 -110
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Lisa Blaine +110
Ana Julaton -150
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
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Marcus Surin -120
Ryan Quinn -120
Over 2.5 -160
Under 2.5 +120
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