Bellator 263 adds three fights including Brent Primus vs. Islam Mamedov, loses ranked bantamweight bout

With less than two weeks before what some are calling the biggest fight in Bellator history, the promotion continues to add the finishing touches to its next event.

Bellator 263 takes place July 31 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

On Monday, promotion officials announced the addition of a main card fight between former Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and Russian standout Islam Mamedov (19-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). The fight was first reported by TASS.

Additionally, a women’s flyweight bout between Ilara Joanne (9-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Vanessa Porto (22-9 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), as well as a 150-pound contract-weight fight between Daniel Carey (7-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) and Gadzhi Rabadanov (15-4-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has been added to the prelims.

A bantamweight bout between contenders Magomed Magmedov (18-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and Raufeon Stots (16-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has been removed from the card, MMA Junkie confirmed with a Bellator official. No reason for the cancellation was given.

Primus, 36, has not competed since February 2020. He rides a two-fight winning streak into the bout with back-to-back first-round submissions over Tim Wilde and Chris Bungard. In 11 pro fights, Primus’ lone loss came via unanimous decision when he lost the title to Michael Chandler in December 2018.

Mamedov, 31, makes his promotional debut riding a 19-fight unbeaten streak. Regarded by some as one of the best lightweights in the world, Mamedov nine times for WSOF/PFL where he compiled an 8-0-1 record including wins over Natan Schulte and Thiago Tavares among others.

With the additions, the Bellator 263 lineup includes:

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

• Champion Patricio Freire vs. A.J. McKee – for the featherweight title

• Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Mads Burnell

• Manny Muro vs. Usman Nurmagomedov

• Islam Mamedov vs. Brent Primus

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7 p.m. ET)

• Chris Gonzalez vs. Goiti Yamauchi

• Ilara Joanne vs. Vanessa Porto

• Daniel Carey vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov

• Kiefer Crosbie vs. Georgi Karakanyan

• Brian Moore vs. Jared Scoggins

• Johnny Cisneros vs. Joshua Jones

List

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 12-July 18)