Bellator 273 takes place this evening in Phoenix, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Ryan Bader vs. Valentin Moldavsky.
Bader (28-7 MMA), the promotions reigning heavyweight champion, will be returning to the division for the first time in twenty-eight months. ‘Darth’ has spent his last three contests competing at light heavyweight, where he went 1-2, this while dropping the 205lbs title to Vadim Nemkov.
Meanwhile, Valentin Moldavsky (11-1 MMA) captured Bellator’s interim heavyweight title this past June, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Timothy Johnson. That win marked the 29-year-old’s sixth in a row.
Bellator 273 is co-headlined by a key lightweight matchup featuring former UFC champion Benson Henderson taking on Islam Mamedov.
Henderson (28-11 MMA) will be looking to snap the first three-fight losing streak of his career this evening in Phoenix. ‘Bendo‘ last competed back in October, where he suffered a decision loss to Brent Primus.
Meanwhile, Islam Mamedov (20-1-1 MMA) made his Bellator debut last July, where he earned a split-decision win over the aforementioned Brent Primus. The Russian standout is currently sporting a nineteen-fight undefeated streak.
Get all of tonight’s results and highlights below (refresh for updates):
Bellator 273 Main Card (10pm EST):
265 lbs. Ryan Bader vs. Valentin Moldavsky – Bader def. Moldavsky by unanimous decision (48-47 x3)
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487649238075027461
155 lbs. Benson Henderson vs. Islam Mamedov – Henderson def. Mamedov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
145 lbs. Henry Corrales vs Aiden Lee – Corrales def. Lee by unanimous technical decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
170 lbs. Sabah Homasi vs. Jaleel Willis – Homasi def. Willis via submission (arm triangle) at 1:42 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487627413311868930
Bellator 273 Prelims (7:00pm EST):
135 lbs. Darrion Caldwell vs. Enrique Barzola – Barzola def. Caldwell via TKO at 3:01 of Round 3
155 lbs. Chris Gonzalez vs. Saad Awad – Gonzalez def. Awad via TKO (head kick and punches) at 0:36 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487608813335334912
185 lbs. Dalton Rosta vs. Duane Johnson – Rosta def. Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
135 lbs. Nikita Mikhailov vs. Blaine Shutt – Mikhailov def. Shutt via TKO (punches) at 3:55 of Round 3
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487598206787665920
145 lbs. Lucas Brennan vs. Benjamin Lugo – Brennan def. Lugo via submission (arm triangle) at 2:27 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487596957535289360
205 lbs. Ben Parrish vs. Sullivan Cauley – Cauley def. Parrish via TKO at 4:35 of Round 1
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1487586539920052226
Who are you picking to win tonight’s Bellator 273 heavyweight title fight between Ryan Bader and Valentin Moldavsky? Share your predictions in the comment section PENN Nation!