Bellator returns from a 42-day hiatus on Friday with Bellator 282, which goes down at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
The middleweight belt will be on the line in the main event of the card. Champion Gegard Mousasi (49-7-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) seeks his third consecutive title defense against undefeated contender Johnny Eblen (11-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA).
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 282.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Johnny Eblen
Gegard Mousasi
Mousasi is the only two-time middleweight champion in Bellator history.
Mousasi is one of two fighters in MMA history to claim titles under the Bellator and Strikeforce banners. Cris Cyborg also accomplished the feat.
Mousasi’s seven victories in Bellator middleweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Alexander Shlemenko (12) and John Salter (eight).
Mousasi has earned 39 of his 49 career victories by stoppage. He’s earned 33 of those win in Round 1.
Mousasi’s four knockout victories in Bellator middleweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Shlemenko (six) and Brennan Ward (five).
Eblen’s seven-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Eblen has earned five of his seven Bellator victories by decision.
Magomed Magomedov vs. Enrique Barzola
Enrique Barzola
Enrique Barzola (18-5-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) improved to 2-0-1 since he left the featherweight division in March 2019.
Brennan Ward vs. Kassius Kayne
Brennan Ward
Brennan Ward (15-6 MMA, 10-6 BMMA) has earned 14 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. That includes all 10 of his Bellator wins.
Brent Primus vs. Alexander Shabliy
Brent Primus
Brent Primus (11-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) has nine victories in Bellator lightweight competition, which are tied for third most in divisional history behind Michael Chandler (15) and Patricky Freire (14).
Primus’ six stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Chandler (10) and Freire (nine).
Primus is the only fighter in Bellator history to earn a submission victory by gogoplata choke. He accomplished the feat at Bellator Europe 1.
Alexander Shabliy (21-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) has earned both of his Bellator victories by decision.
Cat Zingano vs. Pam Sorenson
Cat Zingano
Cat Zingano (12-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is 2-1 since she moved up to the women’s featherweight division in December 2018.
Zingano has earned nine of her 12 career victories by stoppage.
Anatoly Tokov vs. Muhammad Abdullah
Anatoly Tokov
Anatoly Tokov’s (30-3 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) six-fight Bellator winning streak in middleweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.
Tokov is 23-1 in his past 24 fights dating back to April 2012.
Sabah Homasi vs. Maycon Mendonca
Sabah Homasi
Sabah Homasi (16-10 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) has earned 13 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. That includes all four of his Bellator wins.
Cody Law vs. James Gonzalez
Cody Law
Cody Law’s (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) six-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Law has earned five of his six career victories by stoppage.
Lucas Brennan vs. Johnny Soto
Lucas Brennan
Lucas Brennan’s (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) five-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Law (six).
Brennan has earned five of his six career victories by stoppage.