LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA is adding five new highly anticipated bouts to the promotion’s historic BELLATOR 300 event taking place at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, October 7. The preliminary portion of BELLATOR 300 now features a heavyweight fight between No. 9-ranked Davion Franklin (6-1) and undefeated BELLATOR newcomer, Slim Trabelsi (5-0). Additionally, Olympic Games silver medalist and No. 2-ranked Sara McMann (14-6) will make her sophomore appearance in BELLATOR when she takes on Ireland’s No. 5-ranked Leah McCourt (7-3) in a high-stakes women’s featherweight bout. Elsewhere on the talent stacked preliminary card, Hawaii’s Kai Kamaka III (11-5-1) draws No. 10-ranked featherweight Henry Corrales (21-6), San Diego’s own Jena Bishop (5-0) returns to the BELLATOR cage when she takes on No. 10-ranked Ilara Joanne (11-7) in a women’s flyweight affair, and undefeated bantamweight prospect Bobby Seronio III (3-0) will face-off against Alberto Garcia (2-0) after a previously scheduled bout between the two was postponed. These five bouts join the historic BELLATOR 300 card which features the one-million-dollar BELLATOR Lightweight World Grand Prix rolling on when incumbent champion Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) puts his belt and undefeated record on the line against former champion and current No. 4-ranked Brent Primus (12-3) in a semifinal matchup. The top pound-for-pound female fighter in the world and current BELLATOR featherweight world champion Cris Cyborg (26-2, 1 NC) will face No. 1-ranked Cat Zingano (14-4) in what can best be described as a grudge match between two of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. BELLATOR’s reigning Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader (31-7, 1 NC) defends his belt in a rematch against No. 1-ranked Linton Vassell (23-8, 1 NC). Finally, two of San Diego’s top fighters collide as Liz Carmouche (19-7) defends her belt against former World Champion and No. 2-ranked Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (13-2) in a highly anticipated battle between two close friends and training partners. BELLATOR 300 will air live in the US on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Tickets for the historic event are on sale now at AXS.com and Bellator.com. #9-Davion Franklin vs. Slim Trabelsi – Heavyweight Bout No. 9-ranked heavyweight contender Davion Franklin will look to continue his momentum after his impressive performance last April when he out struck Kasim Aras at BELLATOR 295. Kicking off his career with a blistering five-fight winning streak, Franklin is ready to continue his rise to the top of the heavyweight division.At BELLATOR 300, the seven-fight BELLATOR homegrown talent will welcome American Kickboxing Academy’s undefeated knockout artist Slim Trabelsi to the promotion in an accelerating heavyweight clash. Although boasting three knockouts in five fights, the high-profile signee qualified for wrestling in the Olympic Games in 2016 and strives to make a statement in his highly anticipated promotional debut. #2-Sara McMann vs. #5-Leah McCourt – Featherweight Bout Despite being a world-renowned wrestler, at BELLATOR 294 Sara McMannwent toe-to-toe against women’s featherweight brawler and former three-time title challenger Arlene Blencowe in an instant classic bout last April in Honolulu, Hawaii. Looking to pick up her second win in her second BELLATOR outing, the Olympic Games silver medalist squares off against Ireland’s Leah McCourt, who is eager to reinsert herself back into title contention after a razor-thin decision defeat against title challenger Cat Zingano at BELLATOR 293. Victorious against Dayana Silva, Janay Harding, and other high-level featherweights, McCourt will aim to add another marquee name to her already impressive resume at BELLATOR 300. With the title of their division on the line the same evening, this decisive bout promises to deliver an exciting matchup at the Pechanga Arena. #10-Henry Corrales vs. Kai Kamaka III – Featherweight Bout Having competed 15 times under the BELLATOR banner since his debut in 2015, 37-year-old Henry Corraleshas become a mainstay within the featherweight division. On the heels of a dominant performance last February at the historic BELLATOR 290 giving Akhmed Magomedov his first loss, the heavy-handed veteran will meet Hawaii’s Kai Kamaka III in an electric matchup. Originally slated to face Akhmed Magomedov at BELLATOR 298, Kamaka reenters the fray after putting on a striking masterclass against Adli Edwards in front of his home state of Hawaii at BELLATOR 295. With victories over the likes of Aaron Pico and Georgi Karakhanyan, Corrales believes his experience will be too overwhelming for the young Kamaka. #10-Ilara Joanne vs. Jena Bishop – Flyweight Bout Joining BELLATOR 300’s San Diego residents Liz Carmouche, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, and Cat Zingano, highly decorated grappler Jena Bishop will step into the BELLATOR cage for the second time against the dynamic No. 10-ranked Ilara Joanne in a women’s flyweight affair. A BJJ black belt under JW Wright, the multiple time IBJJF world champion hopes to impose her will against her toughest test to date on home turf, meanwhile the inclined Joanne will look to defend her top 10 ranking within the flyweight division. Bobby Seronio III vs. Alberto Garcia – Bantamweight Bout Hailing from Vallejo, Calif., Bobby Seronio III will make his first appearance in 2023 against promotional newcomer, Alberto Garcia in a bout featuring two promising prospects. Originally scheduled to face each other at BELLATOR 292 last March, both competitors are eager to return to action in front of the rowdy San Diego crowd. BELLATOR 300 Main Card: Saturday, October 7 – Live on SHOWTIMEPechanga Arena in San Diego, CA 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Lightweight World Title Quadruple Main Event: C-Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) vs. #4-Brent Primus (12-3) Featherweight World Title Quadruple Main Event: C-Cris Cyborg (26-2, 1 NC) vs. #1-Cat Zingano (14-4) Heavyweight World Title Quadruple Main Event: C-Ryan Bader (31-7, 1 NC) vs. #1-Linton Vassell (23-8, 1 NC) Flyweight World Title Quadruple Main Event: C-Liz Carmouche (19-7) vs. #2-Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (13-2) BELLATOR 300 Preliminary Card:BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TVHeavyweight Bout: #9-Davion Franklin (6-1) vs. Slim Trabelsi (5-0) Featherweight Bout: #2-Sara McMann (14-6) vs. #5-Leah McCourt (7-3) Featherweight Bout: #10-Henry Corrales (21-6) vs. Kai Kamaka III (11-5-1) Flyweight Bout: #10-Ilara Joanne (11-7) vs. Jena Bishop (5-0) Bantamweight Bout: Bobby Seronio III (3-0) vs. Alberto Garcia (2-0)
