Bellator Champions Series: San Diego is set to take place in Southern California this week, with the lightweight title on the line. The event is scheduled to stream on the Max platform (formerly HBO Max) at 7 p.m. ET. The venue for the event, Pechanga Arena, is a historic location with a seating capacity of up to 16,000.
Pechanga Arena, formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena, has a rich history dating back to 1966. It has been a popular venue for various events, including concerts featuring iconic artists like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Queen in the 1960s and ’70s. In recent years, the arena has hosted modern pop stars such as Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga. Bellator has visited the venue in the past, most notably in 2014 for Bellator 131, where Tito Ortiz and Will Brooks had standout performances.
Usman Nurmagomedov, the current Bellator lightweight champion, has quickly risen through the ranks in just 18 months and has already defeated three former champions. His upcoming opponent, Alexander Shabliy, is on a nine-fight win streak and has been impressive in his first five Bellator appearances. The matchup between Nurmagomedov and Shabliy promises to be an exciting clash for the lightweight title.
The main card for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego features a diverse lineup of fights, including Levan Chokheli vs. Lorenz Larkin, Aaron Jeffery vs. Douglas Lima, and Jora Ayvazyan vs. Yancy Medeiros. Additionally, fans can look forward to bouts between Imamshafi Aliev and Jordan Newman, as well as Sumiko Inaba vs. Mackenzie Stiller. The stacked card also includes matchups like Masayuki Kikuiri vs. Herman Terrado, John MaCalolooy vs. Bryce Meredith, and Josh Hokit vs. Sean Rose.
Bellator Champions Series: San Diego is shaping up to be an eventful night of fights with the lightweight title headlining the card. The historic Pechanga Arena provides a fitting backdrop for the action, with a rich history of hosting both sports events and concerts. With talented fighters like Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexander Shabliy on the main card, fans can expect an exciting night of mixed martial arts action. Be sure to tune in to the Max platform to catch all the live action from Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.