Two hot prospects from either side of the Atlantic are set for action in separate bouts when Bellator makes its return to Thackerville, Okla., for Bellator 224.
Promotion officials confirmed to MMA Junkie that former NCAA Division I wrestling standout and welterweight contender Ed Ruth will face off against Japanese veteran Kiichi Kunimoto on July 12 at the WinStar Casino and Resort. The news was first reported by Canadian outlet theScore.
Ruth (6-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) was submitted by Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Neiman Gracie in the quarterfinals of the welterweight grand prix last December at Bellator 213. It was the 28-year-old Ruth’s first loss of his professional career after a string of impressive performances inside the Bellator cage.
Former UFC vet Kunimoto (20-7-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) arrives in Bellator after picking up back-to-back victories in Japanese promotion Rizin FF. The 38-year-old from Osaka previously compiled a 3-2 record in the UFC, dropping a split decision to Zak Ottow in his final appearance for the promotion at UFC Fight Night 110 in June 2017.
Also confirmed for the Thackerville card is the U.S. debut of undefeated Irish welterweight Kiefer Crosbie (6-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who will take on Jonathan Gary (13-11-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in a 165-pound catchweight bout that was first reported by Sporting News).
SBG Ireland product Crosbie stepped up to Bellator from U.K. promotion BAMMA and improved his perfect record to 6-0 with back-to-back wins over Orlando D’Ambrosio and Daniel Olejniczak. He’ll face Gary, who returns to Bellator for the first time since 2017 looking to pick up where he left off following his victory over William Florentino at Bellator 181 in July, 2017.
Women’s flyweight starlets Bruna Ellen (4-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) and Elina Kallionidou (7-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) will also face off at the event, which was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Bellator 224 will be headlined by a women’s featherweight title clash between defending champion Julia Budd (12-2 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) and undefeated top contender Olga Rubin (6-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA).
With additions, the Bellator 224 lineup now includes:
- Champ Julia Budd vs. Olga Rubin – for women’s featherweight title
- Rafael Carvalho vs. Chidi Njokuani
- Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Ed Ruth
- Kiefer Crosbie vs. Jonathan Gary
- Bruna Ellen vs. Elina Kallionidou
For more on Bellator 224, check out the Rumors page of the site.
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