Ryan Bader to defend his Bellator Heavyweight Championship against Cheick Kongo

Two-division champion Ryan Bader defends his Bellator heavyweight championship against UFC veteran Cheick Kongo in the main-event of Bellator 226, this Sunday on September 8.

Ryan Bader, who currently holds both the Light Heavyweight Championship and the Heavyweight Championship, has remained undefeated in Bellator MMA. The former UFC fighter won the vacant Bellator Heavyweight Championship in his previous outing, after he knocked Fedor Emelianenko in just 35 seconds of the first round at Bellator 214, making him the first fighter in the promotion’s history to hold two championship belts.

Bader will be squaring off against veteran Cheick Kongo, The Frenchman defeated former Bellator Heavyweight Champion, Vitaly Minakov by unanimous decision in his previous bout and will be eyeing the gold himself this time. Kongo has been undefeated in Bellator MMA for over four and a half years, with his last defeat coming at Bellator 134 to Muhammed Lawal.

The quarter-finals of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix, where Patricio Freire defends his featherweight championship will also commence this Sunday.

Former featherweight champion Daniel Straus and Pat Curran will be in action, as will be former bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell.