Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his title against Alexandr Shabliy at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego on September 7, marking his return after a year-long hiatus due to suspension and injury.
Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov is set to make his long-awaited return. He’ll defend his title against Alexandr Shabliy at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 7.
Promotion officials confirmed the matchup to MMA Fighting on Tuesday. This came after an initial report from Brian Martin on Twitter.
Nurmagomedov, undefeated as a pro, quickly became one of Bellator’s fastest-rising stars at 155 pounds. However, his career hit a snag due to a six-month suspension for a banned substance found in medication prescribed by a physician.
Although he didn’t lose his title, Nurmagomedov’s win over Brent Primus was overturned to a no-contest. He was then slated to fight Shabliy in May but had to withdraw due to an injury.
Now, Nurmagomedov is gearing up for his first fight in almost a year. He’ll face Shabliy, who boasts an impressive 24-3 record and a perfect 5-0 mark in Bellator.
Shabliy recently earned his shot at the title by defeating former lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull by unanimous decision. This victory positioned him perfectly for the upcoming bout.
The Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy fight will headline the Bellator card in September. More fights are expected to be announced soon. The event will air live on Max in the United States.
Stay tuned for further updates as the fight date approaches!