Blue-chip prospect Usman Nurmagomedov is set to make his Bellator debut.
Bellator President Scott Coker announced Thursday that Nurmagomedov—the cousin of UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov—will make his first appearance for the promotion when he fights Mike Hamel in a lightweight bout at Bellator 255 on April 2. The bout will be part of Bellator’s premiere on the Showtime television network.
Excited for this one.
Undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov will make his @BellatorMMA debut in a lightweight fight against Mike Hamel during the main card of #Bellator255.
The event will air live on @SHOsports on April 2 – pic.twitter.com/Tdl6csfmq5
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) February 25, 2021
Nurmagomedov, is 11-0 in pro competition, with seven wins by KO/TKO and three by submission since making his debut in March 2017. In his most recent outing at a joint Fight Nights Global-Gorilla Fighting Championship memorial show in Moscow for Khabib’s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Usman defeated Svyatoslav Shabanov by second-round TKO.
He has finished his past five opponents.
Hamel (7-4) is coming off of a split decision loss to Adam Borics in his Bellator debut last August. He has also previously competed for the LFA and Combate Americas.