The latest cross-promotional event between U.S. mixed martial arts org Bellator MMA and Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation continues to grow.
On Wednesday, Bellator officials announced via press release the addition of two more key match-ups to Bellator X RIZIN on July 30, 2023.
In the first, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov will face off against UFC vet and current Bellator standout Lorenz Larkin. In bantamweight action, meanwhile, a pair of grand prix alums will face off, as one-time title challenger Danny Sabatello meets Magomed Magomedov.
Sabatello (14-2) recently returned to the win column, defeating Marcos Breno by submission this past April to bounce back from his interim title fight loss against Raufeon Stots. That fight was additionally a semi-final in the Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix, which Patchy Mix would go on to win.
Magomedov (19-2) is 3-2 in Bellator, but coming off a loss against Mix in the other grand prix semi-final.
Koreshkov (26-4) has not competed for the company since February of 2022, and took his last fight outside of the promotion, beating Leonardo Cavalheiro last June in Omsk, Russia. Overall, the former champ has won his past four fights, while Larkin has won seven straight outside of a no contest due to an illegal elbow in his first fight with Mukhamed Berkhamov.
Larkin took just over a minute and a half to knock Berkhamov out in the pair’s rematch this past February.
Bellator X RIZIN is set to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, just outside Tokyo. Unlike December’s Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN card, the promotions are not going head-to-head this time out.
The following bouts have been announced for the event so far:
- Patricky Pitbull vs. AJ McKee — Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto “Shinryu”
- Danny Sabatello vs. Magomed Magomedov
- Kana Watanabe vs. Veta Arteaga
- Andrey Koreshkov vs. Lorenz Larkin
