Bellator Announces Return to Italy with Three Cards in One Night

We are headed to Milan with three main events! @BellatorItalia

Full press release -> https://t.co/dhPgRKWuBx pic.twitter.com/5AWoVKw9GO

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) August 2, 2019

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Bellator MMA is returning to Italy in October with three separate events held on the same night.

On Friday, the promotion announced via press release that it would hosting events at the Allianz Cloud -- also known as the PalaLido -- in Milan, Italy, including the next installment of the Bellator Kickboxing series as well as not one but two MMA cards. Headlining the Bellator 230 portion of the event will be a light heavyweight battle between former middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (16-3) and Vadim Nemkov (10-2). Meanwhile, Bellator Milan will have a light heavyweight main event between Melvin Manhoef (31-14-1, 2 NC) and Yannick Bahati (9-4, 1 NC). Finally, Bellator Kickboxing 12 will hold a featherweight world title match as its main attraction between champ Gabriel Varga (17-6) and Cristian Faustino (48-18).

This event will have unusual broadcast order in line with the organization's European Series, in which the kickboxing section of the card will air at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT on the Bellator App. The Bellator Milan show will commence on the Bellator App at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. Bellator 230, however, will be tape-delayed on the Paramount Network and DAZN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. As more bouts are added to these cards, their start times may be subject to change.

Carvalho will be moving up to the light heavyweight division for this bout, after a successful test above middleweight against Chidi Njokuani at Bellator 224 at a 190-pound catchweight. The former middleweight champ lost his belt and had his 15-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Gegard Mousasi, and then unsuccessfully returned to lose a split decision to Lyoto Machida last December. Exactly 75 percent of the Brazilian's victories have come by knockout in his career, while he has lost one time by knockout, once by submission and dropped one decision.

Nemkov has not tasted defeat in the Bellator cage to date, winning all three of his outings including knockouts of Professional Fighters League 2018 heavyweight tournament winner Philipe Lins and former Bellator light heavyweight king Liam McGeary. In the latter, Nemkov became the first fighter to finish McGeary with strikes. In his most recent appearance last November, Nemkov took a split decision over former champ Phil Davis.

Bellator Kickboxing 12, Bellator 230 and Bellator Milan will all take place on Oct. 12 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

Bellator 230 Fight Card:

Rafael Carvalho (16-3) vs. Vadim Nemkov (10-2)

Bellator Milan Fight Card:

Melvin Manhoef (31-14-1, 2 NC) vs. Yannick Bahati (9-4, 1 NC)
Alessio Sakara (20-3, 2 NC) vs. Canaan Grigsby (8-7)
Andrea Fusi (8-4) vs. Walter Pugliesi (4-2)

Bellator Kickboxing 12 Fight Card:

Gabriel Varga (17-6) vs. Cristian Faustino (48-18)
Chingiz Allazov (55-3, 1 NC) vs. Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee (289-54-4)
Enderson Bonat (21-9) vs. Kebrom Neguse (33-2-2)