Bellator MMA has announced the main and co-main events for Bellator 182 later this Summer. In a press release today, the Viacom-backed promotion announced that it would head to the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona NY on August 5. Welterweight showdowns between Andrey Koreshkov vs. Chidi Njokuani, and Brennan Ward vs. Fernando Gonzalez top the card.
Koreshkov (19–2) is a former welterweight champion, and has not been in action since losing the title to Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 last November. Prior to that, he had successfully defended the title (which was vacant when he won it at Bellator 140 in a bout also against Lima) against Benson Henderson at Bellator 153. Winner of the Bellator Season 10 welterweight tournament, Koreshkov has been a staple of the promotion since 2012. His only career losses have come to Lima, and former Bellator/current ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren.
Chidi Njokuani (17–4 (1)), meanwhile, is undefeated under the Bellator banner and has not lost a fight since 2013. He’s coming off a unanimous decision win against Melvin Guillard at Bellator 171 in January.
The winner of Koreshkov vs. Njokuani should position themselves for a run at the title, though Rory MacDonald is all but a lock for the next shot.
Brennan Ward (14–5), meanwhile, returns to action after suffering a devastating flying knee knockout at the hands of Paul Daley at Bellator 170. He’ll be looking to regain momentum after being on the wrong side of what could very well turn out to be the Knockout of the Year. Ward is set to meet Fernando Gonzalez (26–14), who will enter the night coming off a unanimous decision win against Brandon Girtz.
