Heavyweight Interim Title Bout Announced For BELLATOR 261 On Friday, June 25 – Live On SHOWTIME

As present BELLATOR MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader continues his pursuit of re-claiming his gentle heavyweight championship within the ongoing Mild Heavyweight World Grand Prix, BELLATOR MMA has formally launched an interim title for the heavyweight division.

On Friday, June 25, No. 1 ranked heavyweight Tim Johnson (15-6) and No. 3 ranked heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky (10-1) will vie for the interim title in the principle occasion of BELLATOR MMA 261. The occasion might be out there stay on SHOWTIME, with the principle card set to kickoff at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, emanating from Mohegan Solar Area in Uncasville, Conn.

The winner of the interim title will change into Bader’s necessary challenger when he returns to the heavyweight division or might be elevated to full champion within the occasion that Bader chooses to remain at gentle heavyweight following the end result of the present Mild Heavyweight World Grand Prix.

Along with the principle occasion, three extra preliminary bouts have been confirmed. Two light-weight bouts, No. 5 ranked Myles Jury (19-5) versus No. 6 ranked Sidney Outlaw (15-4) and Isaiah Hokit (professional debut) towards Aaron Hughes (1-1) have been confirmed. Additionally, a ladies’s strawweight tilt pitting Lena Ovchynnikova (12-6, 1 NC) towards Kyra Batara (8-4) can even happen on June 25. The preliminary card of BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky streams stay on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports activities YouTube channel and Pluto TV at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Further bouts might be introduced at a later date.

Driving a three-fight win streak, UFC veteran Timothy Johnson firmly entrenched himself because the clear-cut primary contender within the BELLATOR heavyweight division with spectacular first-round finishes over Matt Mitrione and Tyrell Fortune. His October 2020 victory over Cheick Kongo throughout the first-ever main MMA occasion in France catapulted him to the highest of the division. Proudly hailing from North Dakota, however combating out of Las Vegas, the Xtreme Couture-product can be gained two nationwide championships whereas wrestling at Minnesota State College and a heavyweight championship on the regional MMA circuit.

Coaching below the tutelage of heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, Valentin Moldavsky has begun carving out his personal legacy, turning into the No. 3 ranked BELLATOR heavyweight and securing himself an interim title shot with an ideal 5-0 file throughout the confines of the BELLATOR cage. A multi-time European Sambo champion, Moldavsky has defeated high heavyweight contenders reminiscent of Javy Ayala, Linton Vassell, and Roy Nelson on his climb to the highest. Born in Ukraine, the 29-year-old appears to affix teammate Vadim Nemkov and convey extra gold to Staff Fedor’s trophy case on June 25.

SHOWTIME streaming service is providing a 30-day free trial, adopted by a reduced month-to-month subscription price of $4.99/month for the subsequent six months. Viewers can enroll at SHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers might be delivered two premier BELLATOR MMA occasions per 30 days all through 2021 and past, with all occasions scheduled to air stay on Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT anyplace the SHOWTIME service is on the market.

BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Foremost Card:

SHOWTIME

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Interim Heavyweight Title Foremost Occasion: #1-Tim Johnson (15-6) vs. #3-Valentin Moldavsky (10-1)

Preliminary Card:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports activities YouTube channel | Pluto TV

6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

Strawweight bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (12-6, 1 NC) vs. Kyra Batara (8-4)

Light-weight bout: Isaiah Hokit (professional debut) vs. Aaron Hughes (1-1)

Light-weight bout: #5-Myles Jury (19-5) vs. #6-Sidney Outlaw (15-4)

*Card topic to alter.