PROMOTIONAL DEBUT OF ISAO KOBAYASHI COMES AGAINST GOITI YAMAUCHI DURING PRELIMINARY PORTION OF ‘BELLATOR 144: GALVAO VS. DANTAS 2’
LOCAL STANDOUTS MATT BESSETTE, MATT SECOR & PETE ROGERS JR. WILL ALSO BE IN ACTION
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 29, 2015) – In addition to a stacked main card that features two title fights, the preliminary portion of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., is shaping up to be can’t-miss action.
Today Bellator MMA is pleased to announce that a featherweight contest between Isao Kobayashi (18-2-4) and Goiti Yamauchi (18-2), as well as three other prelims will join the October 23 event. The main card of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features a bantamweight title fight between Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and Eduardo Dantas, (17-4). In the co-feature,Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will look to regain the vacant Bellator MMA Middleweight Title when he takes on Rafael Carvalho (11-1). A pair of welterweight contests will also be featured on the main card, when “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) meets Dennis “The Menace” Olson (14-9) and Michael “Venom” Page (8-0) will also be in action against an opponent to be named shortly.
Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.
At 26-years-old, Kobayashi holds the distinction of being a former “King of Pancrase,” earning the Japanese promotion’s lightweight title before making the transition to featherweight. A member of Sakaguchi Dojo Ichizoku, Kobayashi is currently riding a two-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Will Chope at a Pancrase event onAugust 9.
Forced to pull out of his bout against Pat Curran due to injury, Yamauchi will return to the Bellator MMA cage for the first time since his submission win against Martin Stapleton at “Bellator 125:Manhoef vs. Marshall.” Of the Brazilian’s 18 victories as a professional, 14 have come by way of Yamauchi making his opponent tap out.
In addition, three local talents will compete in Uncasville, Conn., when Matt Bessette (15-7) takes on 30-fight veteran Kevin Roddy (15-15), Matt Secor (6-2) meets the undefeated Jeremie Holloway (7-0) at 170-pounds and Pete Rogers Jr. (2-2) faces Marius Enache (2-3) in a 150-pound catchweight attraction.
Bessette owns a record of 5-2 inside the confines of a Bellator MMA cage and was most recently victorious at “Bellator 134: British Invasion” earlier this year. Secor has competed once under the Bellator MMA banner previously and has finished five of his six wins via submission.
Please see below for the updated list of bouts slated to take place at “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which airs live and free on Spike.
Bellator 144: “Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Updated Card
Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. Dennis Olson (14-9)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA
Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 6:50 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Isao Kobayashi (18-2-4) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Matt Bessette (15-7) vs. Kevin Roddy (15-15)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Matt Secor (6-2) vs. Jeremie Holloway (7-0)
Bellator 150-Pound Feature Fight: Pete Rogers Jr. (2-2) vs. Marius Enache (2-3)
