LOS ANGELES -- As BELLATOR’s return to the Windy City approaches, the promotion has announced the full lineup of preliminary bouts slated to take place before the event’s hugely consequential, two title fight-led main card.

 

On Friday, Nov. 18, BELLATOR 288 brings two world championship bouts to Wintrust Arena in Chicago, when incumbent light heavyweight titlist Vadim Nemkov (15-2, 1 NC) immediately rematches No. 1-ranked Corey Anderson(16-5, 1 NC) in the BELLATOR Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final, while Patricky “Pitbull” (24-10) defends his lightweight belt against undefeated, No. 1-ranked Usman Nurmagomedov (15-0). 

 

In an update to the main card, former featherweight title challenger and No. 7-ranked Daniel Weichel (42-13) faces promotional newcomer Timur Khizriev(11-0), who steps in to replace fellow Dagestani fighter Akhmed Magomedov(10-0, 1 NC).

 

The five-fight main card of BELLATOR 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2/Pitbull vs. Nurmagomedov airs LIVE on SHOWTIME beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The preliminary portion of the card will begin three hours prior across the BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel, Showtime Sports YouTube Channel, and Pluto TV.

 

Tickets are on sale now and available at Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.

 

Joining BELLATOR 288 will be one of BELLATOR’s brightest prospects, undefeated 26-year-old light heavyweight Sullivan “Sully” Cauley (4-0). The protégé of BELLATOR heavyweight champion Ryan Bader and No. 10-ranked light heavyweight will face fellow unbeaten American Jay Radick (3-0). Cauley will put his four-fight, first-round knockout streak on the line in this preliminary bout as he welcomes the six-foot-five Radick to the BELLATOR cage.

 

In an all-Brazilian lightweight matchup guaranteed to deliver fireworks, the always entertaining Killys Mota (13-3) will look to build off his BELLATOR 282 victory over Dan Moret (15-8) against promotional newcomer and countryman Jairo “Mumuzinho” Pachecho (7-0). Mota has taken his game to the next level after joining American Top Team, and his potential to disrupt the division is evidenced by his past wins over Moret, Mandel Nallo, and Bobby Lee. Opposite him will be Pachecho, who at just 25 years old has looked sensational through seven professional outings. The BELLATOR debutant seeks to add a third straight stoppage to his resume in Chicago.

 

Additionally, a featherweight bout between highly-touted undefeated American Kickboxing Academy black belt Laid Anderson (2-0) and one-time BELLATOR alumnus Rob “Big Papagiorgio” Fenicle (2-2) will take place on the preliminary portion of BELLATOR 288.

 

The full lineup for BELLATOR 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 / Pitbull vs. Nurmagomedov is as follows:

 

BELLATOR 288: NEMKOV VS. ANDERSON 2 / PITBULL VS. NURMAGOMEDOV MAIN CARD:

SHOWTIME

Friday, Nov. 18 - 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

 

Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final: C-Vadim Nemkov (15-2, 1 NC) vs. #1-Corey Anderson (16-5, 1 NC)

Lightweight World Title Bout: C-Patricky Pitbull (24-10) vs. #1-Usman Nurmagomedov (15-0)

Featherweight Bout: #7-Daniel Weichel (42-13) vs. Timur Khizriev (11-0)

Heavyweight Bout: #5-Tyrell Fortune (12-2, 1 NC) vs. Daniel James (13-6-1)

Welterweight Bout: #10-Roman Faraldo (8-0) vs. Levan Chokheli (10-2, 1 NC)

 

BELLATOR 288: NEMKOV VS. ANDERSON 2 / PITBULL VS. NURMAGOMEDOV PRELIMINARY CARD:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV

6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT

 

Featherweight Bout: Otto Rodrigues (13-1) vs. Khasan Askhabov (23-2)

Middleweight Bout: Imamshafi Aliev (8-0) vs. Sean Fallon (16-7)

Lightweight Bout: Killys Mota (13-3) vs. Jairo Pachecho (7-0)

Bantamweight Bout: Jaylon Bates (6-0) vs. Jornel Lugo (8-1)

Lightweight Bout: Archie Colgan (5-0) vs. Jesse Hannam (2-1)

Featherweight Bout: #10-Lucas Brennan (7-0) vs. Nick Talavera (5-1)

Light Heavyweight Bout: #10-Sullivan Cauley (4-0) vs. Jay Radick (3-0)

Middleweight Bout: Jordan Newman (4-0) vs. Jayden Taulker (2-2)

Featherweight Bout: Laird Anderson (2-0) vs. Rob Fenicle (2-2)

Featherweight Bout: Isaiah Hokit (1-1) vs. Matias Nader (3-0)

Heavyweight Bout: Wladmir Gouvea (Debut) vs. Kory Moegenburg (2-3)

 

# # #

 

For more information on upcoming BELLATOR MMA events, visit BELLATOR.com.

 

Updated schedule of BELLATOR events - click links for updated fight cards
Fri. Nov. 18 // BELLATOR 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 / Pitbull vs. Nurmagomedov // Wintrust Arena // Chicago, Il.
Fri. Dec. 9 // BELLATOR 289: Stots vs. Sabatello // Mohegan Sun Arena // Uncasville, Conn.

Sat. Dec. 31 // BELLATOR MMA vs. RIZIN // Saitama Super Arena // Saitama, Japan
Fri. Feb. 24 // BELLATOR: DUBLIN // 3Arena // Dublin, Ireland

 

About BELLATOR:

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity, and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Paramount, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About SHOWTIME:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.