Bellator 225 Preview: Mitrione v Kharitonov 2

Bellator 225 Preview: Mitrione v Kharitonov 2

By Dan McConnell

This upcoming Saturday night a heavyweight rematch will headline Bellator 225 inside the Webster Bank Arena, in Bridgeport Connecticut.

Matt Mitrione (13-6) who was a former American Football player at Purdue University and also competed in the UFC will make his return to the cage, after exiting the Bellator heavyweight grand-prix in October 2018 to eventual champion Ryan Bader.

Mitrione has won four of his five Bellator bouts and will look to get back in the win column this weekend. His opponent is former PRIDE, DREAM and Strikeforce veteran in Russian Sergei Kharitonov (28-6).

Both men’s first faced off in February of this year, with the bout ruled a no-contest due to an accidental groin strike. Who will come out on top when the heavyweights collide for a second time?

Also on the main-card features former Sambo World and Russian Championship gold-medalist Vitaly Minakov who faces Javy Ayala (11-7). The heavyweight is one of the most exciting submission artists in the sport today, holding a 21-1 record. His only loss coming to Cheick Kongo last time out in his debut.

A catchweight contest between Dave ‘Caveman’ Rickles (21-5) and unbeaten Yaroslav Amosov (21-0) should be one to watch out for as a potential fight of the night!

While on the prelims, Khonry Gracie sets foot inside the cage for the third time. The unbeaten 7-0 Austin Vanderford who is married to UFC star Page VanZant looks to continue his unbeaten streak in the middleweight division.

Heavyweight Timothy Johnson, bantamweight Ricky Bandejas and former WSOF, LFA and Dana White Contender Series fighter Nick Newell stack out the prelims. Newell who fights with only one limb and has made positive waves throughout the MMA community makes his Bellator debut against Corey Browning.