Bellator 296 took place in scenic Paris, France on Friday, with a solid one-two punch topping the card.
The main event of the promotion’s return to Paris featured former middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, taking on rising 185lb contender Fabian Edwards, brother of UFC welterweight champ Leon.
The going theory heading into Bellator 296 was that the winner would get the next shot at champ Johnny Eblen, who had been on hand all week.
In the co-main event, meanwhile, a Lightweight Grand Prix quarterfinal saw ex-champ Brent Primus and French standout Mansour Barnaoui collide. Besides the obvious implications any Bellator tournament bout brings with it — the chance to move on, to move one step closer to a million dollars — Primus vs. Barnaoui also had a title shot awaiting the winner, with champ Usman Nurmagomedov already having beaten Benson Henderson to secure a spot in the semifinal round.
Bellator 296 takes place at the Accor Arena on Friday, May 12, 2023, airing live on Showtime in the U.S., and on PPV via Bellator360.com in Canada. Full results from the event can be found below. Where available, the preliminary card also streams live below.
Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards Results
Main card
Fabian Edwards def. Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Brent Primus def. Mansour Barnaoui by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) — Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
Douglas Lima def. Costello Van Steenis by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Thibault Gouti def. Kane Mousah by knockout, Round 2, 3:58
Preliminary card
Denise Kielholtz def. Paula Cristina by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Luca Poclit def. Oliver Enkamp by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Saul Rogers def. Davy Gallon by submission (D’arce Choke), Round 1, 2:12 Overturned to a No Contest by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation and French Mixed Martial Arts Federation
Yves Landu def. Piotr Niedzielski by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sarvarjon Khamidov def. Kevin Petshi by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 1:33
Tim Wilde def. Chris Gonzalez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Fabacary Diatta def. Keir Harvie by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Asaël Adjoudj def. Georges Sasu by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Romain Debienne def. Bourama Camara by knockout, Round 2, 1:04
José Augusto def. Simon Biyong by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
