Corey Anderson will encounter a clash of styles in his Bellator debut when he takes on decorated striker Melvin Manhoef.
After Anderson (13-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was granted his UFC release, he signed with Bellator to joined what company president Scott Coker has touted as the top light heavyweight division in MMA. He now draws his first matchup, and it’s against a longtime veteran in Manhoef (32-14-1 MMA, 4-3 BMMA).
MMA Junkie verified the booking with a Bellator official following an initial report from CBS Sports Network.
The fight will take place at Bellator 251 on Nov. 5. The event goes down at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and will air on CBS Sports Network.
Anderson most recently competed in February, suffering a first-round knockout loss to now-UFC champ Jan Blachowicz. He’d won four straight prior to the loss, including notable victories over Jonny Walker and Glover Teixeira.
Manhoef will the test to see how Anderson’s skills translate to the Bellator cage. The 44-year-old former kickboxing standout has won his past two fights, including a first-round knockout of Yannick Bahati at Bellator 230 in October 2019.