A battle between two of the U.K.’s most familiar featherweight names has been added to the preliminary card for Bellator Europe 8 in London.
Former contender from “The Ultimate Fighter 22,” England’s Saul Rogers, will go head-to-head with Scottish former UFC featherweight Rob Whiteford in a 145-pound preliminary bout at SSE Arena, Wembley on May 16.
Rogers (13-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is looking to bounce back to winning ways after his decision loss to German contender Daniel Weichel in the first round of the Bellator featherweight grand prix, while Whiteford (16-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will be keen to claim back-to-back victories for his new promotion following his dramatic last-gasp knockout of Sam Sicilia with just six seconds of the fight remaining at Bellator Europe 6 last November.
Also added to the preliminary slate is a lightweight bout between rising English prospects Alfie Davis and Tim Wilde. Davis (13-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) picked up a hat-trick of decision victories under the Bellator banner in 2019, and will be looking to kick off his 2020 campaign with an impressive win over Wilde (13-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), who rebounded from his gogoplata loss to Brent Primus in his debut by outpointing fellow Brit Charlie Leary at Bellator Europe 8.
Leary (16-11-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) is also scheduled for action in London, and will face rising lightweight prospect Akonne Wanless (4-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), while English light heavyweight Luke Trainer (3-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his Bellator debut after earning a contract with the organization by winning three fights in one night at last October’s Euro Fight Night tournament. He will take on fellow newcomer Alex O’Toole (4-3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who returns to action for the first time in two-and-a-half years to make his Bellator debut.
Also confirmed for the prelims in London is a featherweight bout between Aiden Lee (8-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Jeremy Petley (13-8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), and a middleweight matchup between George Tokkos (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and Andy Manzolo (23-8 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).
Bellator Europe 8 will be streamed live on Bellator’s official YouTube channel.
Confirmed fights for Bellator Europe 8 include:
MAIN CARD
- James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
- Fabian Edwards vs. Costello van Steenis
- James Haskell vs. TBA
- Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Alfie Davis vs. Tim Wilde
- Saul Rogers vs. Robert Whiteford
- Aiden Lee vs. Jeremy Petley
- Alex O’Toole vs. Luke Trainer
- Charlie Leary vs. Akonne Wanliss
- Andy Manzolo vs. George Tokkos
Saul Rogers, Rob Whiteford set for featherweight 'Battle of Britain' at Bellator London