This Thursday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut comes a big Bellator MMA card. Bellator 249 features its women’s featherweight champion in Brazilian powerhouse Cris Cyborg (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) going face to face against Australian native Arlene Blencowe (13-7 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in her first title defense. Cyborg comes off of a fourth-round victory ending defending champion Julia Budd’s seven-fight win streak and her title defense streak at three. Coming off a contract dispute with the UFC, Cyborg had some steam to burn off and took it to “The Jewel” winning the title back on January 25, 2020.
Cyborg looks to add to her collection of wins with another one going up against the New South Wales native, who’s riding a three-fight winning streak under the Viacom-owned organization.
Let’s go! #TeamCyborg #Bellator249 @bellatormma live on @CBSSportsNet Thursday night CH 221 DIRECTV CH 158 DishNet set your #DVR to record #CyborgVsBlencowe now pic.twitter.com/mXN8ec7AVF
— 🚨 #Bellator267 on @shosports (@criscyborg) October 12, 2020
In co-main event lightweight action, Bellator MMA veteran Patricky “Pitbull” Friere (21-8 MMA, 15-8 BMMA) goes one-on-one against Jaleel Willis (13-2, 0-0 BMMA), who makes his Bellator debut. Pitbull is looking to reinforce another win streak after having his seven-fight win streak stopped by Tofiq Musayev at RIZIN 20 last New Year’s Eve by unanimous decision. Willis is riding a four-fight win streak in three different promotions.
In a men’s bantamweight fight, Ricky Bandejas (13-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) looks to get back on the winning end when he faces Leandro Higo (19-5 MMA, 2-3 BMMA). Higo last fought in September of last year, defeating Shawn Bunch by submission due to a guillotine choke in the fourth round. Bandejas lost his last fight to the brother of Anthony Pettis, Sergio, by unanimous decision back in July earlier this year.
Saad Awad (23-13 MMA, 11-9 BMMA) looks to shake off a four-fight losing streak when he takes on TriStar MMA product Mandel Nallo (7-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), both fighting in a Lightweight competition.
Bellator MMA 249 will be aired on the CBS Sports Network with the preliminary card on at 7:30 PM ET and the main card just previewed at 10 PM ET.
