A pair of notable names have been added to Bellator 225’s preliminary card.
Former interim CFFC champ Ricky Bandejas will return to the Bellator cage to take on LFA notable Ahmet Kayretli in a bantamweight matchup. Additionally, Khonry Gracie will collide with Oscar Vera at welterweight.
A promotion official confirmed the bookings to MMA Junkie on Wednesday.
Bellator 225 will take place Aug. 24 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The main card will air on Paramount Network after prelims stream live on MMA Junkie.
After signing with Bellator in 2018, Bandejas (11-3 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) burst onto the national stage in his promotional debut at Bellator 204. The New Jersey native became the first man to defeat James Gallagher, when he knocked out the brash Irishman with a highlight-reel side kick and punches.
Since his successful debut, Bandejas has dropped both of his follow-up outings. After dropping a close decision to Juan Archuleta, Bandejas was submitted in 1:06 by Patrick Mix at Bellator 222 in June.
His Bellator 225 opponent, Turkey’s Kayretli (8-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will be making his Bellator debut following four fights in LFA. The 30-year-old bantamweight went 2-1 with one no contest for the promotion.
The son of UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, Khonry Gracie (2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) will look to continue the momentum of his first professional victory when he faces Vera (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). Vera was defeated by Gracie’s cousin, Robson Jr., at Bellator 222 in June.
After he dropped his pro debut by decision at Bellator 192, Gracie rebounded at Bellator 209 when he defeated Ron Becker by unanimous decision.
The current Bellator 225 includes:
- Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov
- Vitaly Minakov vs. Javy Ayala
- Timothy Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky
- David Rickels vs. Yaroslav Amosov
- Tyrell Fortune vs. Rudy Schaffroth
- Nick Newell vs. Corey Browning
- Ricky Bandejas vs. Ahmet Kayretli
- Kastriot Xhema vs. Rodolfo Rocha
- Mike Kimbel vs. Chris Disonell
- Grant Neal vs. Alpha Toure
- Khonry Gracie vs. Oscar Vera
- Alejandra Lara vs. Taylor Turner
- Austin Vanderford vs. Douglas Usher
- Sabah Homasi vs. Micah Terrill
