A pair of welterweights coming off wins over MMA notables will clash, with Neiman Gracie facing Jason Jackson at Bellator 255.
Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie on Thursday but asked to remain anonymous because Bellator has yet to officially announce the bout.
Featuring a featherweight title fight with reigning two-division champion Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez that also serves as a featherweight grand prix semifinal, Bellator 255 takes place April 2 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The card airs on Showtime.
A member of MMA’s legendary “First Family,” Gracie (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) opened his career with nine straight victories, including eight by submission. In 2019, Gracie suffered the first loss of his career, coming up short against then-champ Rory MacDonald in the semifinals of the welterweight grand prix. However, Gracie has since bounced back with a submission win over longtime veteran and former UFC title challenger and PFL champion Jon Fitch.
Meanwhile, Jackson (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) currently boasts three straight Bellator wins over UFC veterans, including former lightweight champ Benson Henderson, as well as Canada’s Jordan Mein and Japan’s Kiichi Kunimoto. A former cast member of “The Ultimate Fighter” and a veteran of Dana White’s Contender Series, “The Ass-Kicking Machine” is 6-1 in his past seven contests.
With the addition to the lineup, Bellator 255 now includes:
- Champ Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – featherweight grand prix semifinal; for featherweight title
- Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
