Usman Nurmagomedov, cousin of Khabib, set to make promotional debut at Bellator 255

Usman Nurmagomedov is set for his Bellator debut.

On Thursday, Bellator president Scott Coker announced Nurmagomedov (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will make his first promotional appearance April 2 against Mike Hamel on the Bellator 255 main card.

Nurmagomedov, 23, signed with the promotion in August. Upon the announcement of him joining the Bellator roster, Coker had this to say:

“With (the) signing of Usman Nurmagomedov, we are making it clear that Bellator is home to the best fighters on the planet and an organization where the sport’s future stars are coming to compete. I am thrilled to have Usman join the promotion and he will be placed in an immediate position to showcase his skills and contend at 155 pounds.”

Like his more famous and more established cousin, Nurmagomedov fights at lightweight. He trains at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, and also was trained by Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, in Dagestan prior to Abdulmanap’s death earlier this year.

As for Hamel (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), The MMA Lab product made his promotional debut at Bellator 243 in August. Despite a split decision loss to Adam Borics, Hamel put on a competitive showing against one of the division’s top fighters.

Bellator 255 airs on Showtime from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

With the addition, the Bellator 255 lineup now includes:

• Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – grand prix semifinal bout for Bellator featherweight title
• Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
• Mike Hamel vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
• Magomed Magomedov vs. Jared Scoggins