UFC veteran Rich Clementi will take on season two lightweight semifinalist Carey Vanier at Bellator 28 on Sept. 9 for a spot on the season four lightweight tournament, Bellator announced Thursday morning.
As previously reported by MMAFighting.com, the Slidell native Clementi (36-16-1) will be making his Bellator debut in front of his hometown fans for the promotion's season three stop at New Orleans, La. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.
Vanier (9-3) entered Bellator in April and extended his win streak to seven with a TKO victory over Joe Duarte to advance to the semifinals. But Toby Imada's submission prowess proved to much and Vanier was ousted from the tournament by way of a second-round armbar.
Also announced for Bellator 28 is a featherweight bout between season two tournament semifinalist Georgi Karakhanyan (13-2-1) and Chas Skelly (7-0) for an opportunity to compete in the season four featherweight tournament. Karakhanyan won his quarterfinal fight with a beautiful knee knockout, but fell short in the next round to eventual winner Joe Warren.
Bellator 28 will be headlined by two of its upcoming third season's semifinal bouts.
As previously reported by MMAFighting.com, the Slidell native Clementi (36-16-1) will be making his Bellator debut in front of his hometown fans for the promotion's season three stop at New Orleans, La. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.
Vanier (9-3) entered Bellator in April and extended his win streak to seven with a TKO victory over Joe Duarte to advance to the semifinals. But Toby Imada's submission prowess proved to much and Vanier was ousted from the tournament by way of a second-round armbar.
Also announced for Bellator 28 is a featherweight bout between season two tournament semifinalist Georgi Karakhanyan (13-2-1) and Chas Skelly (7-0) for an opportunity to compete in the season four featherweight tournament. Karakhanyan won his quarterfinal fight with a beautiful knee knockout, but fell short in the next round to eventual winner Joe Warren.
Bellator 28 will be headlined by two of its upcoming third season's semifinal bouts.