The Bellator 249 four-fight main card has been finalized.
Ricky Bandejas vs. Leandro Higo and Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo will round out the Bellator 249 main card.
Multiple people with knowledge of the situation recently confirmed the bookings to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
The event takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It streams on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Bandejas (13-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) returns to action looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Sergio Pettis in July at Bellator 242. Prior to the defeat, Bandejas had won back-to-back fights against Frans Mlambo and Ahmet Kayretli.
Higo (19-5 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) has gone 2-2 in his most recent four outings. At Bellator 228 in September 2019, Higo snapped a two-fight skid with a second-round submission win over Shawn Bunch. He joins teammate Patricky Freire on the card.
Awad (23-13 MMA, 11-10 BMMA) is currently on a four-fight losing streak. The skid followed a four-fight winning streak Awad went on from April 2017 to October 2018. In his most recent fight at Bellator 232 in October 2019, Awad was finished with punches by Paul Daley.
Nallo (7-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) is coming off the first loss of his professional career. After ending his first two Bellator outings against Alec Williams and Carrington Banks with violent knockout strikes, Nallo was finished with leg kicks by Killys Mota at Bellator 231 in October 2019.
With the addition, the Bellator 249 lineup includes:
- Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe – for Bellator women’s featherweight title
- Patricky Freire vs. Jaleel Willis
- Ricky Bandejas vs. Leandro Higo
- Saad Awad vs. Mandel Nallo