UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Widely regarded as one of Bellator’s top up-and-comers, Christian Edwards will have to wait a little longer to step back inside the cage.
Following the Bellator 259 weigh-ins Thursday at Mohegan Sun, in which he came in underweight, Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) did not clear pre-fight medicals. With Edwards deemed medically unfit to compete, his fight against Ben Parrish (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was removed from Friday’s main card.
Promotion officials announced the news in between the official and ceremonial weigh-ins.
BREAKING: The light heavyweight bout between Christian Edwards and Ben Parrish has been cancelled. Christian Edwards was not cleared by the commission to compete. #BELLATOR259
— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) May 20, 2021
Despite the cancellation, Bellator 259 will still have a five-fight main card. Rising sensation Valerie Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has been elevated from the prelims and will take on Hannah Guy (2-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a strawweight matchup.
BREAKING: @valerielouredaa vs. Hannah Guy has been elevated to the main card of #Bellator259, which airs tomorrow night on @SHOsports at 9 p.m. ET
— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) May 20, 2021
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
- Champ Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith – for women’s featherweight title
- Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo
- Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford
- Maycon Mendonca vs. Jaleel Willis
- Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5:30 p.m. ET)
- Nate Andrews vs. Saad Awad
- Tyree Fortune vs. Grant Neal
- Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis
- Sean Felton vs. Aviv Gozali
- Davion Franklin vs. Tyler King
- Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt
- Brett Johns vs. Danny Sabatello
- Alfie Davis vs. Alexander Shabliy
