''Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards'' (also known as ''Bellator Paris'') is an upcoming

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

event produced by

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media cong ...

that will take place on May 12, 2023, at

Accor Arena Accor Arena (originally known as Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, and previously as AccorHotels Arena; also known as Bercy in competitions where commercial names are prohibited, such as in the Olympic Games) is an indoor sports arena and List of ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

, France.

Background

A middleweight title eliminator bout between former

Bellator Middleweight Champion Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

Gegard Mousasi Gegard Mousasi (born 1 August 1985), is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, currently competing in Bellator MMA, where he is the former two-time Bellator Middleweight Champion. As of December 13, 2022, he is #10 in the Bellator MMA ...

and

Fabian Edwards Fabian Edwards (born 24 March 1993) is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA. As of 28 June 2022, he is #2 in the Bellator Middleweight Rankings. He is the younger brother of UFC We ...

is expected to headline the event. A Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout between

Mansour Barnaoui Mansour Barnaoui (born September 20, 1992) is a French mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of Bellator MMA. As of February 28, 2023, he is #10 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings. Background Residing nowadays in Malako ...

and

Sidney Outlaw Sidney Outlaw (born April 11, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Bellator MMA. As of November 22, 2022, he is #5 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings. Background Born and raised in North ...

was expected to serve as the co-main event. However at the end of February, Outlaw tested postive for banned substances and was suspended, and was replaced by former Bellator Lightweight Champion

Brent Primus Brent Primus (born April 12, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Lightweight World Champion. As of November 1, 2022, he is #6 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings. Bac ...

Fight card

References

{{2023 in mixed martial arts Bellator MMA events 2023 in mixed martial arts 2023 in French sport Mixed martial arts in France Sports competitions in Paris May 2023 sports events in France Scheduled mixed martial arts events

Background

Fight card

See also

References