Undefeated Timur Khizriev, Sullivan Cauley, Jairo Pacheco among new additions to Bellator 288 in Chicago
Less than three weeks away, Bellator 288 has some new additions.
Undefeated Russian prospect Timur Khizriev (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has officially signed with Bellator and will fight Daniel Weichel (42-13 MMA, 11-5 BMMA) on the Nov. 18 main card, filling in for Akhmed Magomedov, who withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
In addition, rising light heavyweight Sullivan Cauley (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) returns to fight Jay Radick (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Also on the prelims, Glover Teixeira underling Killys Mota (13-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) fights Jairo Pacheco (7-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a lightweight bout and featherweights Laird Anderson (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) and Rob Fenicle (2-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) collide.
A promotion official informed MMA Junkie of the additions Tuesday.
Bellator 288 takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with the main card airing on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
The card is headlined by two title fights including the light heavyweight grand prix final rematch between champion Vadim Nemkov (14-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) and challenger Corey Anderson (16-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA).
In the co-main event, lightweight champion Patricky Freire (24-10 MMA, 15-8 BMMA) will attempt to defend the title for the first time against undefeated challenger Usman Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA).
With the addition, the Bellator 288 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
Champion Vadnim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson – grand prix final for light heavyweight title
Champion Patricky Freire vs. Usman Nurmagomedov – for lightweight title
Timur Khizriev vs. Daniel Weichel
Tyrell Fortune vs. Daniel James
Levan Chokheli vs. Roman Faraldo
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)
Khasan Askhabov vs. Otto Rodrigues
Imamshafi Aliev vs. Sean Fallon
Killys Mota vs. Jairo Pacheco
Jaylon Bates vs. Jornel Lugo
Archie Colgan vs. Jesse Hannam
Lucas Brennan vs. Nick Talavera
Sullivan Cauley vs. Jay Radick
Jordan Newman vs. Jayden Taulker
Laird Anderson vs. Rob Fenicle
Isaiah Hokit vs. Matias Nader
Wladimir Gouvea vs. Kory Moegenburg