Live this Friday night from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut comes another edition of Bellator MMA action. The main event features a Light Heavyweight Grand Prix matchup as current Bellator MMA Heavyweight Champion and former Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champion Ryan “Darth” Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1, 1 NC, BMMA) goes head-to-head against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (26-10, MMA, 2-2 BMMA).
🚨 IT'S FIGHT WEEK!! 🚨
The stacked #Bellator256 card and an epic rematch both go down this Friday, April 9th live on @SHOSports when the #BellatorLHWGP kicks off.#MMA #BellatorOnShowtime pic.twitter.com/QkGC0UqwAW
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 5, 2021
Bader is coming off of his Light-Heavyweight title loss to Vadim Nemkov in the second round via TKO at Bellator 244. He will look to redeem himself against Machida, who is coming off two straight losses to Gegard Mousasi and Phil Davis. This looks to be quite a pivotal first-round matchup. Bader represents Power MMA and Fitness while Machida fights for Black House.
The co-main event includes Liz Carmouche (14-7 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Vanessa Porto (22-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in women’s flyweight action. Carmouche is coming off of a win against DeAnna Bennett via submission at Bellator 246 while Porto makes her Bellator MMA debut with four straight victories.
In men’s featherweight division action, Adam Borics (16-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) knuckles up against Jeremy Kennedy (16-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Borics has a hot hand, winning 7 of his first eight fights in Bellator while the Surrey, British Columbia native will only fight for the promotion in his second bout, representing Team Quest Thailand.
The final bout of the main card includes Cat Zingano (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) going up against Olivia Parker (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA. The former UFC standout welcomes Parker, who makes her Bellator MMA debut.
Bellator MMA 256 will air on Showtime with the main card beginning at 9 PM ET preliminary matches take place at 6 PM ET.
