Former Bellator middleweight title contender Alexander Shlemenko has been added to the organization's 44th event on May 14.Shlemenko will face veteran Brett Cooper on the card headlined by 185-pound champion Hector Lombard vs. Falaniko Vitale in a non-title fight, MMA Fighting has learned from sources close to the event.
Former WEC fighter Anthony Morrison has also agreed to fight journeyman Bryan Goldsby, while former UFC fighter Jay Silva will fight Armand Mrkanovic in undercard action.
This fight will mark Shlemenko's first in Bellator since losing to Lombard in October after winning Bellator's middleweight tournament in season two. The loss snapped his six-fight winning streak. The Russian got back on the winning track in March, defeating Nick Wagner via knockout at Fight Festival 30 in Finland.
Cooper (13-6) has won two in a row since losing to Steve Carl in the same middleweight tournament.
Bellator 44 emanates from Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino in New Jersey, and it will air live on MTV2.
A yet to be determined tournament final will also take place on the card.
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