Bellator 277 may only be a few weeks away, but the April card continues to grow.
The latest addition is a light heavyweight match-up, which will see Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (18-7-1) take on Tony Johnson (9-3). Sports Illustrated was first to report the booking, which was subsequently confirmed by Bellator officials.
Yagshimuradov, born in Turkmenistan, had been living in and fighting out of Kharkov, Ukraine until recently. With Russian forces invading the country, the 26-fight veteran has been training at American Top Team in Florida — and living out of the gym as well.
The 32-year old will have his back against the wall next month, as he’s dropped both his fights in the promotion thus far, against Corey Anderson and Karl Albrektsson.
Johnson, who previously competed as a middleweight, picked up a win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019, but did not get a UFC deal. He stepped into the Bellator cage later that year, knocking out kickboxer Joe Schilling. In his next outing, against Dalton Rosta last year, he’d end up losing a unanimous decision.
Bellator 277 is set to take place at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA, on April 15, 2022. The following fights are expected for the event:
A.J. McKee (c) vs Patrício Pitbull – for the Bellator MMA featherweight title
Vadim Nemkov (c) vs. Corey Anderson – for the Bellator MMA light heavyweight title / light heavyweight grand prix finale
Aaron Pico vs Jeremy Kennedy
Timothy Johnson vs. Linton Vassell
Tyrell Fortune vs. Rakim Cleveland
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Michael Lombardo
Gaston Bolanos vs. Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez
Bobby Seronio III vs. Calob Ramirez
Rhalan Gracie vs. Tyson Miller
Edwin De Los Santos vs. Alberto Mendez
Theo Haig vs. Alan Benson
Laird Anderson vs. JT Donaldson
Socrates Hernandez vs. Rogelio Luna
Tony Johnson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
