Keoni Diggs out of Bellator 255; Mandel Nallo needs new opponent

Keoni Diggs won’t be making his return at Bellator 255 after all.

The Hawaiian lightweight is out of his matchup against Mandel Nallo for undisclosed reasons, a Bellator official told MMA Junkie on Monday. The promotion is actively seeking a replacement.

Bellator 255 takes place April 2 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and airs on Showtime.

Diggs (9-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) has won both of his Bellator appearances inside the distance. After he won his promotional debut against Scotty Hao by second-round submission in December 2019, Diggs choked Derek Campos unconscious in the final second of their three-round fight in September 2020. Diggs missed weight by one pound for the Campos fight.

Nallo (7-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) most recently competed at Bellator 249 in October. In the opening minutes of Round 1, Nallo accidentally struck opponent Saad Awad in the groin. The blow was hard enough that Awad could not continue and the bout was ruled a no contest.

With the change, the Bellator 255 lineup now includes:

• Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
• Mike Hamel vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
• Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
• Tyrell Fortune vs. Matt Mitrione
• Magomed Magomedov vs. Jared Scoggins
• Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe
• Manel Nallo vs. TBA
• Mads Burnell vs. Saul Rogers
• Chris Gonzalez vs. Roger Huerta