Bellator MMA returns to Hawaii with a doubleheader in April and brings two championship fights with it.
Promotional officials confirmed to MMA Fighting on Wednesday that Bellator 294 and Bellator 295 will take place April 21 and 22 at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, which was first reported by local news outlet KHON2.
Headlining Bellator 294 is a flyweight title fight between Liz Carmouche and DeAnna Bennett. Carmouche is 5-0 since signing with Bellator, which includes a submission win over Bennett, and capturing the 125-pound title with a fourth-round TKO win over Juliana Velasquez at the promotion’s most recent trip to Hawaii at Bellator 278 this past April. Carmouche went on to finish Velasquez again in the rematch at Bellator 289 in December.
Bennett has won three straight since her loss to Carmouche at Bellator 246 in September 2020, earning a pair of decision wins over Justine Kish, as well as a unanimous nod against Alejandra Lara.
The promotion also revealed other main card fights for Bellator 294. These include a heavyweight bout between Timothy Johnson, Said Sowma and Sara McMann in her UFC debut at a featherweight match against Arlene Blencowe.
The Bellator bantamweight grand prix finale headlines Bellator 285 the next night as interim champion Raufeon Stots defends against fellow finalist Patchy Mix for the $1 million prize and the right to challenge Sergio Pettis for the undisputed title. Stots secured his place in the finals by defeating Juan Archuleta in April at Bellator and Danny Sabatello in December at Bellator 289..
Mix won three consecutive matches with a total of four wins, which included a unanimous win over Kyoji Horiguchi (former champ) and a submission victory by Magomed Magomedov in round two to secure his place at the final.
In the co-main event of Bellator 295, former flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane fights in front of her home crowd against Kana Watanabe.
Other fights announced for the second half of the doubleheader include Davion Franklin vs. Kasim Aras at heavyweight, Yancy Medeiros facing Charlie Leary, Bobby King vs. Aalon Cruz, and undefeated fighter Sumiko Inaba facing one-time flyweight title challenger Veta Arteaga.
Check out the updated Bellator 294 and Bellator 295 lineups below.
Bellator 294 Main Card, April 21 at 10 p.m. ET, Showtime
Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett – flyweight title fight
Tim Johnson vs. Said Sowma
Arlene Blencowe vs. Sara McMann
Bellator 295 Main Card, April 22 at 10 p.m. ET, Showtime
Raufeon Stits vs. Patchy Mix Grand Prix Finale for Interim Bantamweight Title
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kana Watanabe
Preliminary Card, 7 p.m. ET, MMA Fighting
Davion Franklin vs. Kasim Aras
Yancy Medeiros vs. Charlie Leary
Bobby King vs. Aalon Cruz
Keoni Diggs vs. Weber Almeida
Kai Kamaka III vs. Adli Edwards
Sumiko Inaba vs. Veta Arteaga
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/15/23600924/bellator-returns-to-hawaii-raufeon-stots-vs-patchy-mix-liz-carmouche-vs-deanna-bennett-title-fights?rand=96749
