Linton Vassell vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for Bellator 218 co-main event

Linton Vassell is moving on up for his next fight.

A two-time light heavyweight title challenger, Vassell will fight Valentin Moldavsky in a co-main event heavyweight bout at Bellator 218 on March 22 at WinStar World Casino, in Thackerville, Okla., officials announced Monday.

MMAjunkie was first to confirm the bout.

Vassell’s last two outings have both ended in knockout losses for the 35-year-old Englishman. He lost via second-round TKO to light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 186 and then was subsequently KO’d in the third round by Phil Davis at Bellator 200. Before those defeats, Vassell was 7-2 inside the Bellator cage and his overall record currently sits at 18-7 (1 NC).

This will be Vassell’s first appearance at heavyweight for Bellator.

Moldavsky (7-1) is coming off of back-to-back wins in Bellator, most recently defeating Ernest James by first-round TKO last July. He has also fought for Japan’s Rizin Fighting Federation, going 3-1 in that organization.

Bellator 218 will be simulcast on Paramount Network and the DAZN streaming service.