Bellator 296 goes down in Paris on May 12th, and the promotion is showing off a card stacked with some of the best European talents on their roster. The main event sees the return of the former middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi as he takes on Birmingham’s own, Fabian Edwards. The quarter-finals of Bellators lightweight grand prix will fill the co-main spot, where former lightweight champion Brent Primus squares off against surging French contender Mansour Barnaoui.
Naturally, as the event’s taking place in France, the card will utilise the British fighters signed with Bellator. British competitors on the card include Steven Hill, Tim Wilde, Saul Rogers, Kane Mousah, and Fabian Edwards. Keep reading to find out more about each fighter.
Steven Hill
Hill decided to turn pro in 2018 after an undefeated run in the amateurs. Since then, the welterweight has stayed undefeated, boasting an impressive 7-0 record. In October last year, the 29-year-old took his skill set to the big stage and achieved a unanimous decision victory in his Bellator debut. The Englishman then put on another dominant showing in February, scoring a second-round rear naked choke over Joël Kouadja.
Hill looks to pick up his second win of 2023 this weekend as he takes on the Italien-born Nicolo Solli. The pair have only gone the distance once in their careers, so expect a finish. The bout will open up the prelims, so tune in early to catch this one.
Tim Wilde
Wilde came up short in his Bellator debut in 2019, losing in the first round to an incredibly rare gogoplata submission. However, taking the loss on the chin and moving forward, “The Experiment” hit his stride with three consecutive wins.
His most recent bout was a statement victory in October over fellow Brit Saul Rogers. Wilde entered the fight as a +310 underdog, but he put the bookies to shame as he walked away with his hand raised.
Wilde trains with Leon Edwards, Arnold Allen, Jai Herbert, and many more elite MMA fighters at the world-renowned Renegade gym in Birmingham. The 35-year-old spoke to Express & Star about his time there.
“The gym has so much momentum at the moment. I recently helped Jai Herbert and Leon Edwards with their camps, then straight into Arnold Allen’s camp for his fight against Max Holloway.”
Tim Wilde speaking to Express & Star
Wilde looks to prove the bookies wrong again as he comes in as a +240 underdog for his fight against Chris Gonzalez at Bellator 296 this Friday.
Saul Rogers
Rogers currently hosts a record of 15-5 and competes in Bellator’s lightweight division. “The Hangman” exploded onto the international MMA scene when he was part of Conor McGregor’s team in The Ultimate Fighter. He flew through the tournament with notable wins over current UFC stars Billy Quarantill and Ryan Hall. However, heartbreakingly, just before facing Artem Lobov in the show’s finale, Rogers pulled out due to visa issues.
After his TUF stint, the 33-year-old’s career has been slightly hit-and-miss, holding a record of 5-4 in his last nine bouts. Hopefully, the Brit can get back to winning ways this weekend, though the crowd will not be on his side as he takes on Frenchman Davy Gallon.
Kane Mousah
Fighting professionally since 2008, Mousah is a true veteran of the sport. The lightweight holds a record of 14-4 and looks to pick up his fifteenth win over the French-born Thibault Gouti at Bellator 296.
“The Danger’s” MMA story has been far from simple. At 23 years old, Mousah was a highly touted young prospect in the sport, but his career came to a halt, as he faced a nine-year prison sentence for gang-related crimes. However, in an interview with The Manchester Evening News, Musah spoke about how grateful he was to be off the streets
“Prison deterred me from the life that I used to live – I think it needed to happen for me. I did my time and I used it to change my perspective on life, to make sure I’d come out as a better person. Since I’ve come out of prison, all I’ve tried to do is help other people out along the way. I think I do that.”
Kane Mousah speaking to The Manchester Evening News
Fabian Edwards
Edwards takes on the former middleweight champion Mousasi in the main event of Bellator 296. The Jamaican-born fighter is ranked number 2 in the middleweight division, so there is no doubt that a win over Mousasi will make him next in line for a shot at gold. The 30-year-old has an impressive record of 11-2, with his most recent win coming over Irelands Charlie Ward last October.
Previously, Edwards has been slightly reluctant to pull the trigger in some of his fights, which has resulted in his two losses. Hopefully, we get the version of “The Assassin” we saw knock out Lyota Machida on Friday, as Mousasi’s record includes 40 wins by finish, so he won’t be waiting for Edwards to make the first move.
Edwards trains out of Renegade gym in Birmingham with his brother and UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards. Seeing your brother become champion and defend that belt will undoubtedly inspire Edwards throughout his camp.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
