Georgi Karakhanyan steps in to face Paul Redmond at Bellator Europe 7

Paul Redmond’s return to action on home soil at Bellator Europe 7 will go ahead, despite a minor bump in the road during the leadup.

Ireland’s Redmond (15-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) was set to face England’s Ryan Scope in a lightweight preliminary matchup on Feb. 22’s dual-card event in Dublin, almost a year to the day since his last appearance inside the Bellator cage. But injury forced Scope off the card, leaving Redmond uncertain about his participation in the event.

However, the popular Irish fighter was quick to receive offers to face him – including from Scope’s coach and Bellator featherweight Andrew Fisher – but now “Redser” will take on Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan (28-10-1 MMA, 6-8 BMMA) at the 3Arena.

Karakhanyan’s substitute appearance was confirmed to MMA Junkie via Bellator press release, with the 39-fight veteran stepping up to 155 pounds following his first-round elimination from the Bellator featherweight grand prix last September.

Both men are chasing important victories, with Karakhanyan looking to register his first win since May 2018, and his first under the Bellator banner since August 2017. Redmond, meanwhile, is bidding to complete a hat trick of hometown wins inside the Bellator cage, following victories over Sergio de Jesus Santos and Charlie Leary at the 3Arena in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

With the switch in Redmond’s opponent, the revised fight card for Bellator Europe 7 / Bellator 240 includes:

BELLATOR EUROPE 7 MAIN CARD

• Cal Ellenor vs. James Gallagher
• Aaron Chalmers vs. Austin Clem
• Leah McCourt vs. Judith Ruis

BELLATOR 240 MAIN CARD

• Brent Primus vs. Peter Queally
• Kyle Kurtz vs. Charlie Ward
• Elina Kallionidou vs. Bec Rawlings
• Kiefer Crosbie vs. Iamik Furtado

PRELIMS

• Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Paul Redmond
• Ricky Bandejas vs. Frans Mlambo
• Oliver Enkamp vs. Lewis Long
• Will Fleury vs. Justin Moore
• Ranjett Bacia vs. Richie Smullen
• Ezzoubair Bouarsa vs. Blaine O’Driscoll
• Danni Neilan vs. Chiara Penco
• Christopher Duncan vs. Ryan Roddy
• Daniel Crawford vs. Philip Mulpeter
• Arunas Andriuskevicus vs. Karl Moore
• Dylan Logan vs. Tommy Mearns
• Asael Adjoudj vs. Constantin Blanita
• Ilias Bulaid vs. Diego Freitas
• Ciaran Clarke vs. Jamie Faulding