Cris Lencioni returns, meets Cody Law at Bellator 289 in December

After three fights outside the promotion this year, Cris Lencioni will return to Bellator in December.

Lencioni (9-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has signed a new multifight deal with the promotion and will take on Cody Law (6-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in a featherweight bout at Bellator 289. A promotion official confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Wednesday.

Bellator 289 is set for Dec. 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card will air on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. The card features a women’s flyweight title fight between new champion Liz Carmouche and former champ Juliana Velasquez, plus a pair of bantamweight tournament semifinals that include interim champ Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello.

In addition, a welterweight fight between Mark Lemminger (12-5 MMA, 2-4 BMMA) and Michael Lombardo (12-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has been added to the lineup.

Lencioni most recently fought for Bellator in August 2020, when he took a unanimous decision from A.J. Agazarm. After that, he competed in many grappling tournaments, then returned to MMA in February with a loss to recent UFC signee Don Shainis. But he bounced back after that with a decision over Drako Rodriguez in April and, most recently, a submission of Talon Hoffman on the regional circuit in August.

Law started his career a perfect 6-0 with five stoppage wins before he was upset by James Gonzalez in June at Bellator 282. The American Top Team-trained wrestling standout will be looking to get back on track against Lencioni.

With the addition, the Bellator 289 lineup now includes:

• Interim champ Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello – for interim bantamweight title; bantamweight grand prix semifinal
• Champ Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez – for women’s flyweight title
• Magomed Magomedov vs. Patchy Mix – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
• Cody Law vs. Cris Lencioni
• Mark Lemminger vs. Michael Lombardo