Bellator Champions Series 1: Anderson vs. Moore (also known as Bellator Champions Series Belfast) is a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA, that will take place on March 22, 2024, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Fight Card
Main Card (DAZN)
Light Heavyweight Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore Vacant Light Heavyweight Championship
Featherweight Patrício Pitbull (c) vs. Jeremy Kennedy Featherweight Championship
Middleweight Fabian Edwards vs. Aaron Jeffery
Featherweight James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo
Lightweight Tim Wilde vs. Manouel Sousa
Preliminary Card
Bantamweight Ciarán Clarke vs. Darius Mafi
Lightweight Oscar Ownsworth vs. Alfie Davis
Light Heavyweight Luke Trainer vs. Grant Neal
Featherweight Nathan Kelly vs. Vikas Singh Ruhil
Heavyweight Abraham Bably vs. Isaiah Pinson
Catchweight (130 lb) Nate Kelly vs. Jordan Elliot
Background
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced the premiere Bellator Champions Series event on Friday, March 22 at The SSE Arena, Belfast will be headlined by two world title fights.
Widely considered to be the Bellator “G.O.A.T.” Patricio Pitbull (35-7) will defend his Featherweight title for a ninth time when he meets Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy (19-3) in the co-main event. Pitbull, one of the most decorated fighters in MMA, conquered two weight classes simultaneously and holds the most wins in Bellator history.
Ireland’s James Gallagher (12-2) has a new opponent for the inaugural Bellator Champions Series event, Brazil’s Leandro Higo (22-6). Gallagher and Higo were originally slated to face off in 2023. Additionally two preliminary bouts have been announced to round out the card. Two unbeaten Middleweights square off when England’s Steven Hill (7-0) meets Jordan Newman (6-0) and in a Light Heavyweight contest Luke “The Gent” Trainer (7-1) faces Grant Neal (9-1).
The debut Bellator Champions Series Belfast event on March 22 is anchored by a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship pitting former title challenger Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) against Northern Ireland’s Karl Moore (12-2). The card can be seen live in Europe on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT / 12 pm ET, additional distribution information including a U.S. broadcast partner will be announced soon.
Patricio Pitbull vs. Jeremy Kennedy
Patricio Pitbull will put his belt on the line when he takes on No. 1 contender and winner of six out of his last seven bouts, Jeremy Kennedy. Pitbull's massive presence in MMA is second to none, boasting a legacy that includes conquering two weight classes simultaneously and holding the most wins in Bellator history (23). Defeating stars of the sport, including former featherweight world champion AJ McKee and former lightweight world champion Michael Chandler, Pitbull aims to retain his stake in the Featherweight division against the wrestling standout. No slouch in his own right, the 31-year-old Kennedy has been victorious against the elite in the featherweight division, including Aaron Pico and Pedro Carvalho, and believes he has the experience and tools to dethrone his Brazilian foe in front of the Belfast crowd on March 22.
James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo
A grudge match two years in the making, Leandro Higo moves up to Featherweight to face Ireland’s James Gallagher in a main card matchup. Hailing from Mossocro, Brazil, Higo has proven to be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the bantamweight division with his unparalleled jiu-jitsu background, collecting 13 submission victories in his professional career. Also a highly touted submission ace, Gallagher returns to action on the heels of an impressive victory over James Gonzalez at Bellator 298. Once initially slated to face each other in March of 2023, Higo and Gallagher will now have the opportunity to settle their differences inside the Bellator cage.
The event will mark the promotion's second visit to Belfast and first since Bellator 173 in February 2017. This event also will mark Bellator's first since being acquired by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) late last year.
A Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship bout for the vacant title between The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn light heavyweight winner Corey Anderson and Karl Moore is expected to headline the event. The previous titleholder Vadim Nemkov vacated the title and returned in the heavyweight division against 2021 PFL heavyweight winner Bruno Cappelozza at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions on February 24.
A featherweight bout between Sinead Kavanagh and Leah McCourt was scheduled for this event. On February 20, McCourt announced that she was out of the bout after suffering broken ribs and a torn oblique.
A featherweight bout between Jeremy Kennedy and James Gallagher was scheduled for this event. However, at the beginning of the month, Kennedy was rescheduled for a Bellator Featherweight Championship bout against reigning champion Patrício Pitbull, while Gallagher was rescheduled against Leandro Higo.
On March 15, it was announced that the Lightweight bout between Tofiq Musayev and Alfie Davis and the Middleweight bout between Steven Hill and Jordan Newman were scrapped. Instead, Davis will take on Oscar Ownsworth (8-2-1) and both middleweight will no longer appear on the card
