After initially being slated for a headlining contest, Andrey Koreshkov will instead get a new opponent and a main-card slot at Bellator 219.
MMAjunkie today learned from a Bellator official that Koreshkov (21-3 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) will now face promotional newcomer Mike Jasper (13-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 219, which takes place March 29 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Koreshkov was originally scheduled to face Lorenz Larkin, who withdrew from the card.
Former welterweight champ Koreshkov is looking to get back on track after being bounced from Bellator’s ongoing welterweight grand prix tournament this past September at Bellator 206. In the quarterfinal matchup, he lost by technical submission to fellow former champion Douglas Lima, the man he beat to win the title in 2015 before losing it back to him in 2016. Prior to his loss to Lima, Koreshkov had won back-to-back bouts.
Meanwhile, Jasper comes to the promotion on the strength of a three-fight winning streak, all earned under the California Xtreme Fighting banner. Jasper does boast previous outings for RFA and Legacy FC. Nine of his 13 career wins have come by knockout.
With the addition to the card, Bellator 219 now includes:
MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 9 p.m. ET)
- Saad Awad vs. Brandon Girtz
- Shane Kruchten vs. Daniel Straus
- Mike Jasper vs. Andrey Koreshkov
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6:30 p.m. ET)
- Joshua Jones vs. Darren Smith Jr.
For more on Bellator 219, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
