Bellator Champions Series: Usman Nurmagomedov and Johnny Eblen to defend titles in September

First, on Saturday, September 7, Bellator Champions Series San Diego will feature a Lightweight World Championship main event, as Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) attempts to remain undefeated and retain his 155-pound title when he locks horns with Alexander Shabliy (23-3) a man who has not tasted defeat in eight years.

One week later on Saturday, September 14, the Bellator Middleweight World Championship will be on the line in the main event of Bellator Champions Series London, when undefeated Johnny Eblen (15-0) will face-off once again with England’s Fabian Edwards (13-3).

Peter Murray, CEO of PFL, said: “September is set to be a huge month for Bellator Champions Series, and we’re continuing to step up our game to deliver incredible cards that we know the MMA community across the globe will love.

"Both San Diego and London are massive markets for us, and we’re confident we’ll put on a show that the fans in attendance and those watching around the world on Max and DAZN deserve.

“Our world-class roster has allowed us to hold two cards in two weeks, and you’re going to see that as we announce more fights and events, the future is incredibly bright for PFL and Bellator."

Both Bellator Champions Series events can be seen live in the U.S. on Max, as well as the U.K. only on DAZN.

 

Nurmagomedov vs Shabliy

Originally set to take place at Bellator Champions Series Paris in May, this Lightweight World Championship fight has been highly anticipated since it became a possibility.

Usman Nurmagomedov has proven to be one of the most dominant champions in the sport at just 26 years of age.

In seven fights with Bellator, Nurmagomedov has gone undefeated and captured a world title in a division many consider to be the toughest in the sport.

Dethroning former Lightweight World Champion Patricky Pitbull, the Khabib Nurmagomedov protege defended his title against MMA legend Benson Henderson enroute to this matchup on September 7.

A striking specialist who has gone 8-0 under the Bellator banner, Alexander Shabliy has also defeated the upper echelon of the 155-pound division, including the aforementioned Pitbull and Tofiq Musayev, and impressively scored a second-round knockout against former Bellator Lightweight Champion Brent Primus.

 

Eblen vs Edwards

A rematch from 2023, Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards took each other to the limit during their first encounter in Dublin at Bellator 299, where Eblen finished the fight via TKO in the third round and emotions flew high in the immediate aftermath.

Since then, the American Top Team standout went on to pick up a win over Impa Kasanganay at PFL vs. Bellator: Champs vs. Champs for the Middleweight Super Belt, while Edwards bounced back with a unanimous victory against Canada’s Aaron Jeffery this past March at Bellator Champions Series Belfast to earn his rematch.