| Bellator 280: Bader vs. Kongo 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for Bellator 280: Bader vs. Kongo 2 | ||||
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Bellator MMA | |||
| Date | May 6, 2022 | |||
| Venue | AccorHotels Arena | |||
| City | Paris, France | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bellator 280: Bader vs. Kongo 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on May 6, 2022, at AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France. [1] [2] [3]
After successfully defending his Bellator Heavyweight Title over interim champion Valentin Moldavsky, Ryan Bader made a quick turnaround and faced Cheick Kongo in his second defense in a rematch from their 2019 title bout at Bellator 226. That bout ended due to an accidental poke to Kongo's left eye in the opening round, resulting in a no contest. [4]
A featherweight bout between Pedro Carvalho and Khasan Askhabov was scheduled for this event. [5] However, due to undisclosed reasons, Askhabov was forced to pull out and was replaced by promotional newcomer Piotr Niedzielski. [6]
A bout between Melvin Manhoef and Yoel Romero was scheduled to be the co-main event. [7] However, Manhoef withdrew from the bout due to a hand injury while stopping burglars and was replaced by Alex Polizzi. [8]
A middleweight bout between Lorenz Larkin and Khalid Murtazaliev was scheduled for this event. [9] However at the end of March, Murtazaliev pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Anthony Adams. [10] Adams in turn pulled out as well and was replaced by UFC vet Kyle Stewart. [11]
A heavyweight bout between Davion Franklin and Daniel James was planned for the event. [12] However, James failed an out of competition drug test and was pulled from the bout. [13]
A lightweight bout between Søren Bak and Saul Rogers was scheduled for this event. [14] Due to Rogers pulling out of the bout on two weeks notice, Bak was rescheduled against Charlie Leary in a 160 pound catchweight bout. [11]
A welterweight bout between Nicolò Solli and Joël Kouadja was scheduled for the event. However, the French Athletics Federation scrapped the initial bout and Kouadja's replacement, Levy Carriel, tested positive for COVID-19 five days before the event. [15]
| Main Card (Showtime) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Heavyweight | Ryan Bader (c) | def. | Cheick Kongo | Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) | 5 | 5:00 | [lower-alpha 1] |
| Light Heavyweight | Yoel Romero | def. | Alex Polizzi | TKO (punches) | 3 | 4:59 | |
| Lightweight | Davy Gallon | def. | Benjamin Brander | TKO (punches and elbows) | 2 | 3:18 | |
| Middleweight | Lorenz Larkin | def. | Kyle Stewart | TKO (knees and punches) | 1 | 4:44 | |
| Middleweight | Gregory Babene | def. | Mike Shipman | KO (punches) | 1 | 2:11 | |
| Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV) | |||||||
| Featherweight | Piotr Niedzielski | def. | Pedro Carvalho | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Thibault Gouti | def. | Lewis Long | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Jordan Barton | def. | Fabacary Diatta | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (160 lb) | Søren Bak | def. | Charlie Leary | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Yves Landu | def. | Gavin Hughes | TKO (knees and body kick) | 1 | 3:01 | |
| Women's Flyweight | Lucie Bertaud | def. | Katarzyna Sadura | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Youcef Ouabbas | def. | Matthieu Duclos | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:17 | |
| Welterweight | Bourama Camara | def. | Victor Verchere | KO (punches) | 1 | 3:06 | |
Cheick Kongo is a French mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who fights in the Heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2001, he has also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator.
Melvin Manhoef is a retired Surinamese-born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. In kickboxing, he is a former It's Showtime Middleweight Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight Champion. In mixed martial arts, he competed in Bellator's Light heavyweight and Middleweight division and has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, DREAM, RINGS, It's Showtime, K-1, ONE FC, and KSW. Manhoef is known for his fearsome knockout power. 29 of his 32 wins have come via knockout, the highest percentage of any MMA fighter with at least 15 wins.
Ryan DuWayne Bader is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion in a continuous streak that is the longest of any Bellator Champion. He is also the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, and the winner of the 2018 Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament. At Bellator 214, Bader became the first fighter in Bellator history to become champion in two weight divisions simultaneously. Prior to signing with Bellator, Bader competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Light Heavyweight division and he was a cast member and winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.
Yoel Romero Palacio is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was a challenger for the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Lorenz Larkin is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2009, Larkin formerly competed for Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
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