McGeary to face Nemkov at Bellator 194
A former champ and a streaking prospect will clash on Bellator's next show in Connecticut.
Liam McGeary and Vadim Nedkov are set to square off at Bellator 194 on Feb. 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena, officials confirmed to MMAjunkie on Thursday after Nedkov revealed the matchup to Russian outlet Tass.
The 35-year-old McGeary has split a pair of bouts since losing his light heavyweight crown to Phil Davis in November 2016, stopping Brett McDermott in February before tapping to fellow Brit Linton Vassell at Bellator 179 this past May. The former titleholder was slated to face Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, then Bubba McDaniel, at Bellator 185 in October, but McGeary pulled out with an injury less than two weeks before the event.
Nemkov, a decade McGeary's junior, has dispatched each of his last three foes by first-round knockout and only gone the distance once in 10 pro contests. The Russian was last seen stopping Philipe Lins three minutes into his Bellator debut in August.
The bill will feature the sophomore bout of Bellator's eight-man heavyweight tourney in the main event, where UFC alumni Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione meet in a rematch. Bellator 194's main card is as follows:
- Heavyweight bout: Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson
- Lightweight bout: Patricky Freire vs. Derek Campos
- Light heavyweight bout: Liam McGeary vs. Vadim Nedkov
- Women's flyweight bout: Heather Hardy vs. Ana Julaton