Top Reasons to Catch Bellator Champions Series San Diego

Years worth of blood, sweat and tears have pointed Alexandr Shabliy to this exact time and place.

The 31-year-old Persevet Fight Team standout will challenge the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator MMA lightweight championship in the Bellator Champions Series headliner on Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Shabliy steps into the spotlight with the wind of a career-best nine-fight winning streak in his sails. He last suited up at Bellator 301, where he laid claim to a five-round unanimous decision over former champion Patricky Freire on Nov. 17. Nearly 2,900 days have passed since the Russian’s most recent defeat. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, boasts a 17-0 record. The American Kickboxing Academy star last fought on Oct. 7, when he was awarded a unanimous verdict over Brent Primus at Bellator 300. However, the result was later overturned to a no contest when it was revealed that Nurmagomedov had tested positive for a banned substance in a prescription drug. He has secured 14 of his 17 professional victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

In addition to the marquee matchup between Nurmagomedov and Shabliy, here are three other reasons the catch Bellator Champions Series 4:

On the Hunt

Levan Chokheli wants to bolster his resume with a high-profile name. To that end, the under-the-radar Georgian welterweight has fixed his sights on Strikeforce and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Lorenz Larkin in the three-round co-main event at 170 pounds. Chokheli, 27, enters the cage on a modest three-fight winning streak. He last strapped on the gloves at Bellator 299, where he wrecked Sabah Hamasi with a front kick in the first round of their Sept. 23 pairing. On the other side of the equation, Larkin needs no introduction. The 38-year-old Millennia MMA export has compiled an 8-3 record with on no contest across his 12 assignments in Bellator. Larkin last appeared under the Professional Fighters League banner on June 28, when he stopped Alan Dominguez with a knee strike and follow-up punches 4:46 into their PFL 6 encounter. It was the 11th first-round finish of his career.

Historic Figure

Douglas Lima can only boost his legacy at this point. The three-time Bellator welterweight champion toes the line against Kill Cliff Fight Club’s Aaron Jeffery in a three-round attraction at 170 pounds. Lima has not competed since he snapped a four-fight losing streak with a three-round unanimous decision over Costello van Steenis at Bellator 296 on May 12, 2023. Operating out of an American Top Team affiliate, near Atlanta, the Brazilian owns victories over Rory MacDonald, Michael Page, Paul Daley, Andrey Koreshkov (twice) and the aforementioned Larkin. Jeffery, meanwhile, has rattled off eight wins in 11 outings. The former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder last saw action on March 22, when he wound up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision against Fabian Edwards at Bellator Champions Series 1.

Anonymous Call

Zhora Ayvazyan could soon shed his shell of anonymity. The once-beaten Armenian makes his organizational debut, returns from a lengthy hiatus and puts his five-fight winning streak on the line when he faces the well-traveled Yancy Medeiros in a three-round lightweight feature. Ayvazyan, 29, has not competed since he took a unanimous decision from Ali Kabdulla at an Eagle Fighting Championship show on Dec. 10, 2022. Two bouts in the Absolute Championship Akhmat promotion fell through earlier this year, leaving him with almost 21 months of inactivity. On the other side of the docket, Medeiros sets out on what could be the home stretch of a long and successful career. The 36-year-old Hawaiian has not seen action since he submitted Charlie Leary with a rear-naked choke at Bellator 295 on April 22, 2023. The win was later overturned to a no contest after it was revealed that Medeiros had tested positive for a banned substance. He has nailed down 12 of his 16 professional victories via stoppage, six of them inside one round.