Two World Title fights set to headline Bellator Champions Series in Paris

LockerRoom Team

07 Mar 2024

Bellator Champions Series is all set to kick off its highly anticipated 2024 season with a bang, as it brings an electrifying night of mixed martial arts action to the historic city of Paris on May 17. The Accor Arena will play host to an unforgettable evening, headlined by not one, but two fiercely contested Bellator World Championship bouts.

In the main event, the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) will put his Lightweight title on the line as he steps into the cage against Alexander Shabliy (23-3), a formidable opponent who boasts an unbeaten streak spanning eight years.

Adding to the excitement, the co-main event will see the return of Bellator Bantamweight champion Patchy Mix (19-1), as he squares off against Magomed Magomedov (16-1), reigniting a rivalry that first ignited in 2022 during the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Semi Finals.

Fans can expect even more thrilling action as France's own Gregory Babene (23-11), riding high on an impressive eight-fight win streak, clashes with Holland's Costello van Steenis (14-3) in a Middleweight no. 1 contender bout during the main card. Meanwhile, the return of former Olympian and French Heavyweight, Slim Trabelsi (6-0), promises to add another layer of excitement as he faces Scotland's Louie Sutherland (6-2) in a heavyweight showdown.

Excitement is already building for the preliminary bouts, with France's own Mansour Barnaoui (20-6) set to showcase his skills in a Lightweight clash against Japan's Yusuke Yachi (26-13), a veteran of both Bellator and RIZIN.

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Bellator Champions Series Paris will be broadcast live across Europe via DAZN, with the action kicking off at 5 pm CEST. Stay tuned for more updates, including announcements of additional matchups featuring top French talent. Details on the U.S. distribution partner will be revealed soon, ensuring fans worldwide won't miss a moment of the action-packed event.