Bellator 144 Gets Goiti Yamauchi-Isao Kobayashi, 3 Other Preliminary Bouts
Goiti Yamauchi will face a fellow prospect in his next outing. |
Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The preliminary card for Bellator 144 will feature a featherweight clash pitting Goiti Yamauchi against Isao Kobayashi, promotion officials announced Tuesday.
In addition to Yamauchi-Kobayashi, three other preliminary bouts were revealed: Matt Bessette vs. Kevin Roddy at featherweight, Matt Secor vs. Jeremie Holloway at welterweight, and Pete Rogers Jr. vs. Marius Enache at a 150-pound catch-weight.
Advertisement
Yamauchi, 22, will return to action for the first time since choking out Martin Stapleton at Bellator 125 more than a year ago. The Japanese prospect has won four of his five Bellator appearances and is 18-2 as a professional overall. He was slated to face former 145-pound champ Pat Curran at Bellator 139 but had to withdraw from the matchup due to injury.
The 26-year-old Kobayashi will make his Bellator debut on the strength of back-to-back victories over Will Chope and Marlon Sandro. A former lightweight King of Pancrase, Kobayashi holds an 18-2-4 career mark and has finished 10 of his triumphs inside the distance.
Related Articles