Bellator 219 has suffered a heavy blow with the loss of main event welterweight Lorenz Larkin.
Bad news for Bellator welterweight Lorenz Larkin. Expected to face Andrey Koreshkov in the main event of Bellator 219 next month, Larkin has been forced off the card due to an undisclosed injury. MMA Fighting was first to report the news Thursday. That will force Bellator to scramble to find a replacement fighter, with many of their top 170lb stars currently locked up in the Welterweight Grand Prix.
The promotion is looking at options to replace Larkin (20-7, 1 NC). The former UFC standout is currently riding a two-fight winning streak, after some early struggles in the organization.
Koreshkov (21-3), meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after being bounced out of the welterweight grand prix. That came in a late-fight submission loss to rival Douglas Lima. The Russian, however, remains one of the most formidable welterweights in the company.
As far as potential opponents go, a number of welterweights, including Ion Pascu, Logan Storley, Erick Silva, Yaroslav Amosov, Paul Daley, and Michael Page competed earlier this month at Bellator 215 and 216. That may trim the list of available candidates, although a quick turnaround could be possible. Given Page has moved on in the tournament, however, he’s out of the equation.
Bellator 219 takes place March 29 at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.
