A pair of top Bellator welterweights will collide in April.
First reported by MMA Junkie, Neiman Gracie, and Jason ‘The Ass-Kicking Machine’ Jackson will fight Bellator 255 on April 2. It will be the first Bellator event of 2021.
Cageside Press confirmed the initial report with a source close to the situation on Thursday. Gracie vs. Jackson will serve as the card’s co-main event.
Gracie (10-1) is coming off the biggest win of his career at Bellator 246, where he retired Jon Fitch by submitting him via heel hook. Before his most recent win, he made it to the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix’s Semifinal, where he fought Rory MacDonald for the title. Gracie would end up losing via a unanimous decision. He currently holds the most submission wins in Bellator MMA welterweight division history.
Jackson (13-4) is also coming off the biggest win of his career. ‘The Ass-Kicking Machine’ fought Benson Henderson at Bellator 253 and defeated him via unanimous decision. Before the Henderson win, he fought one other time in 2020, defeating Jordan Mein at Bellator 242. Jackosn is on a three-fight winning streak, and he might be one or two fights away from fighting Douglas Lima for the welterweight title.
Bellator 255 takes place April 2 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn, and will be the first card to air on their new home, Showtime. Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez will headline the card in a rematch for the featherweight title. That fight is also a Bellator featherweight grand prix semi-final. The winner will move on in the tournament to face AJ McKee, with one million dollars on the line.
