Bellator MMA is returning to Paris this May, and bringing a couple of high-profile fights along with it.
On Thursday, promotion officials announced via press release that the organization would return to the Accor Arena in Paris, France on May 12, 2023. Among the fights announced, former middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi (49-8-2) will face Fabian Edwards (11-2), while the lightweight grand prix will continue, with Mansour Barnaoui (20-4) taking on Sidney Outlaw (16-5) in quarterfinal action.
Mousasi will be looking to bounce back from a loss to Johnny Eblen last year, which cost him Bellator’s middleweight title. The two-time Bellator MMA champ, who has also held gold in Cage Warriors, DREAM, and Strikeforce (the latter at light heavyweight), is 7-2 in Bellator overall.
Ranked #1 in the weight class, Mousasi will be meeting the #2-ranked Edwards, who has won two straight. The bout could very well determine who fights for the title later in 2023, after champ Eblen defends the belt against Anatoly Tokov next month.
Outlaw and Barnaoui, meanwhile, continue the promotions lightweight grand prix, which kicks off in March. Outlaw will be looking to bounce back from a loss to Tofiq Musayev, while Barnaoui picked up a win in his promotional debut last year.
Also announced for Bellator Paris are a pair of lightweight preliminary card match-ups. Those see Saul Rogers (15-5) lined up opposite Davy Gallon (21-8-2), and Thibault Gouti (16-6) taking on Kane Mousah (14-4).
