Bellator returns after a month away to Thackerville, Oklahoma as Emmanuel Sanchez is set to rematch Georgi Karakhanyan – a fight that went Sanchez’s way the first time via majority decision; Karakhanyan returns to Bellator after a two-fight stint with ACB. The co-main event features Valentin Moldavsky taking on Linton Vassell, who is moving up to heavyweight.

The main card kicks off @ 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT on the Paramount Network.

Main Card (Paramount Network 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT)

• Featherweight Bout: Emmanuel Sanchez def. Georgi Karakhanyan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Heavyweight Bout: Valentin Moldavsky def. Linton Vassell via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Middleweight Bout: Anatoly Tokov def. Gerald Harris via submission (guillotine choke) 0:37, R2
• Middleweight Bout: Norbert Novenyi def. Will Lavine via submission (head & arm choke) 4:05, R2

Both of these men got their start in kickboxing. Michael Page was a 10-time Kickboxing World Champion, as well as being crowned British Kickboxing Champion over 25 times. He is about as skilled of a point sparring fighter as you’ll ever see, and was scouted and offered a chance to train and qualify for the Olympics, but turned the offer down in order to pursue an MMA career. It is unknown what his official kickboxing record from all of those tournaments is, as he only holds a 1-0 record in full-contact professional kickboxing and 2-0 in professional boxing.

His kickboxing credentials include World Combat Games (2010 Silver Medalist), W.A.K.O. World Championships (2007 Gold, 2009 Silver), W.A.K.O. Irish Open (2008 Silver, 2009 Silver, 2011 Silver),  W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics World Cup (2008 Gold, 2x 2009 Gold), and WKA World Championships (2009 Bronze, 2009 Gold); all competitions either semi-contact or light-contact. I’d say those are quite the credentials, quite a long and impressive resume. Also 13-0 in professional MMA to go along with it, eight wins by knockout, three submissions, and two decisions. He also holds a 5th-degree black belt in Kickboxing. Many say Page hasn’t fought anyone, he’ll be exposed as soon as he fights a legit fighter; my argument is, Cyborg Santos is a legit fighter, David Rickels is a legit fighter, Nah-Shon Burrell is a legit fighter, they’re just not the elite of the elite, but they’re still very dangerous guys in their own right.

As for Paul Daley, he also has a kickboxing background and is 21-3 in full contact kickboxing with 14 knockouts. He has been around a long time and fought the who’s who of the best welterweights in the world, from fighting for both the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship and the Cage Rage British Welterweight Championship in his eighth and ninth professional MMA fights, both ending in draws, to winning the Cage Rage British Welterweight Championship and defending it three times, to winning the FX3 Welterweight Championship, to challenging Jake Shields for the EliteXC Welterweight Championship, to fighting Josh Koscheck for the number one contender spot in the UFC’s welterweight division, to winning a fight scheduled for the BAMMA Welterweight Championship, but missed weight; to challenging Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, to fighting others like Rory MacDonald, Douglas Lima, Jon Fitch, Tyron Woodley, picking up wins over Martin Kampmann, Lorenz Larkin, Jorge Masvidal, Duane Ludwig, Andre Santos, and many more.

Daley’s knockout ratio is insane, he’s 40-16-2, winning 32 of his 40 MMA wins via knockout, mostly KO’s, and eight decisions, zero submissions. It’s also notable to mention the only purely stand up fight he has ever lost was against Nick Diaz, and he almost won that fight by knockout. Both of these men also hold a Knockout of the Year award, Daley’s in 2010, and Page in 2016. Many speculate and wonder why the biggest grudge match in UK MMA history will be hosted in Connecticut, and it’s a fair question, but I suppose that’s how the bosses wanted it. I am so thankful this fight is five rounds, though it’s doubtful it’ll go that long.

As far as their attributes go, they’re built quite differently. While Semtex is one of the most vicious one-punch knockout artists ever in MMA, let alone the welterweight division, MVP is generally more crafty and creative with his finishes, without relying on brute power. This is the first real test for MVP, Daley has been there and done that throughout a massive number or promotions. Daley is 5′ 9” with a 74” reach, and Page is 6′ 3” with a 77” reach. Will Daley be able to get on the inside and uncork those bombs he has, will Page pick him apart from the outside until the knockout comes, or pick him apart from the outside for five rounds? I can’t wait to find out, this is definitely a fight worth watching!

Main card starts at 9:00pmEST/6:00pmPST On Paramount Network and DAZN.

Prelims are DAZN exclusive and start at 6:30pmEST/3:30PST.

Main article written by @MrDantyMan.

MAIN CARD

Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov ended in a No Contest via groin kick early in round 1

Logan Storley def. Ion Pascu via Unanimous Decision

Eduardo Dantas def. Toby Misech via Unanimous Decision

John Douma def. Mike Kimbel via Submission (Triangle Choke) in round 1

Austin Vanderford def. Cody Jones via Submission (Arm-Triangle) in round 1

PRELIM CARD

Billy Goff def. Ryan Hardy via Unanimous Decision

Zarrukh Adashev def. Ronie Arana via Unanimous Decision

Matt Probin def. Ali Zebian via Split Decision

Pete Rogers def. Jason Rine via TKO (punches) in round 2

Steve Mowry def. Darion Abbey via Submission (Kimura) in round 1

Amanda Bell def. Amber Leibrock via KO (punches) in round 1

Lindsey VanZandt def. Tabatha Watkins via TKO (right hook) in round 2

Pat McCrohan def. Jason Markland via TKO (punches) in round 1

Posted via twitter, the Northern Irish, Ultimate Fighter winner, Norman Parke has stated that following his upcoming bout under promotion BKB he will give up fighting unless he is offered a fight worth the right amount of money.

Coming off back to back wins against Myles Price and highly talented BJJ artists Paul Redmond, this announcement will come to a surprise to many, considering his recent signing with Bellator.

There was rumors of a fight between him and Benson Henderson in the pipeline, so it could be possible that perhaps that a disagreement between the two parties could have had some part to play in this decision. We will have to wait to find out what exactly the reason was.

All I do know however is that it would be a real shame to see Norman retire as he has a lot more to offer.

More will follow as it comes to light.

Louis Taylor floors Abus Magomedov to win the middleweight title and $1 million dollars at PFL 11 on December 31st

Uriah Hall storms back in the 3rd round and drops newcomer Bevon Lewis with a right hook at UFC 232 on December 29th

Joaquim Silva puts Jared Gordon out on his feet @ UFC Fight Night: Milwaukee on December 15th

Edson Barboza wins the war against Dan Hooker @ UFC Fight Night: Milwaukee on December 15th

Alen Amedovski does it again, stopping Ibrahim Mane early @ Bellator 211 on December 1st

Dheigo Lima gets back in the win column with a walk-off KO of Chad Laprise @ UFC 231 on December 8th

Kent Kauppinen stuns the Italian crowd with his knockout of Alessio Sakara @ Bellator 211 on December 1st

Don Madge debuts with a perfect head kick KO on Te Edwards @ UFC Fight Night: Moncton on October 27th

Josh ‘Cuddly Bear’ Copeland punches his way to the heavyweight finals @ PFL 8 on October 5th

When Derrick Lewis coined the phrase “My Balls Was Hot” with a come from behind knockout of Alexander Volkov @ UFC 229 on October 6th

Anthony Rocco Martin with the head kick KO to start the night off @ UFC 229 on October 6th

And finally, Khabib’s flying eagle on Dillon Danis @ UFC 229

Geoff Neal with the head kick KO on Frank Camacho @ UFC 228 on September 8th

AJ McKee deads John Macapá @ Bellator 205 on September 21st

Jéssica Andrade knocks out Karolina Kowalkiewicz @ UFC 228 on September 8th

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos lands a flying knee and follows it up with a knockout @ UFC Fight Night: Sao Paulo on September 22nd

Justin Gaethje obliterates James Vick @ UFC Fight Night: Lincoln on August 25th

Ricky Bandejas knocks out James Gallagher, handing him his first professional loss @ Bellator 204 on August 17th

Alexandre ‘Popo’ Bezerra lands a flying knee to knock out Magomed Idrisov @ PFL 7 on August 30th

Sadibou Sy finishes Caio Magalhaes @ PFL 7 on August 30th

Niko Price with the hammerfist knockout from the bottom @ UFC Fight Night: Boise on July 14th

Light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier becomes the second double champ in UFC history with his knockout of heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic @ UFC 226 on July 7th

Anthony Smith takes out a legend @ UFC Fight Night: Hamburg on July 22nd

Cristian Torres lands an uppercut from hell on Dashawn Boatwright @ LFA 46 on July 27th

Andrey Koreshkov spinning back kick’s the hell out of Vaso Bakocevic @ Bellator 203 on July 14th

Jose Aldo ends Jeremy Stephens’ night early with a liver shot @ UFC Fight Night: Calgary on July 28th

Michele Martignoni ties for fastest knockout in Bellator history @ Bellator 203 on July 14th

Raoni Barcelos is successful in his debut with a vicious combo against Kurt Holobaugh @ UFC Fight Night: Boise on July 14th

Marlon Moraes ends Jimmie Rivera’s night 33 seconds into the fight @ UFC Fight Night: Utica on June 1st

Brendan Allen faceplants Larry Crowe @ LFA 43 on June 22nd

Anthony Smith crumples Rashad Evans with a vicious knee @ UFC 225 on June 9th

Juan Archuleta uncorks a monster right hand to end Robbie Peralta’s night @ Bellator 201 on June 28th

Josh Parisian lands a spinning back fist to put Greg Rebello out on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series on June 26th

Petr Yan has a successful debut against Teruto Ishihara @ UFC Fight Night: Singapore on June 23rd