A key welterweight match-up between former Bellator MMA title challenger Neiman Gracie and top prospect Logan Storley has been booked for February.
Gracie vs. Storley will take place on February 19, 2022 at a yet-to-be announced Bellator event. Cageside Press confirmed the booking with multiple sources Friday, following an initial report by MMA Fighting.
Storley (12-1) will be looking for his second straight win after suffering the first loss of his career against Yaroslav Amosov in November 2020. That loss might sting a little less these days, given Amosov went on to win welterweight gold. “Storm,” meanwhile, got back in the win column in August, winning a split decision against Dante Schiro.
That fight turned out to be Storley’s only contest in 2021, after a previous booking in May fell through when Killys Mota contracted COVID-19. Omar Hussein was later brought in to replace Mota, but was not medically cleared to compete.
Gracie (11-2) will enter the fight with Storley off a TKO finish of Mark Lemminger September. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt went 1-1 in 2021, losing a unanimous decision to Jason “The Ass-Kicking Machine” Jackson back in April.
In a Bellator welterweight world grand prix semifinal, Gracie challenged then-champ Rory MacDonald for the title at Bellator 222 in 2019, but ultimately came up short, losing a unanimous decision. He bounced back in his next fight, submitting UFC and Bellator title challenger and WSOF/PFL champ Jon Fitch.
Bellator’s February 19, 2022 event does not yet have a main event announced. The card is expected to take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
