Bellator XXVIII is an upcoming mixed martial arts event held by Bellator Fighting Championships. The event will take place on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event will be distributed live in prime time by FOX Sports Net and its regional sports network affiliates. This will be the first Bellator card with no Tournament Bouts.
Fight Card
Non-Tournament bouts
* Lightweight bout: United States Rich Clementi vs. United States Carey Vanier
* Featherweight bout: Armenia Georgi Karakhanyan vs. United States Anthony Leone
* Middleweight bout: United States Matt Horwich vs. United States Eric Schambari
* Featherweight bout: United States Eric Larkin vs. United States Marcus Andruisa
Background
Chas Skelly was expected to fight Georgi Karakhanyan in a fourth season featherweight tournament qualifier bout. However, Skelly injured himself during training and was forced to pull out of the bout. Skelly's replacement was to be UFC veteran, Alvin Robinson. However, Robinson was also forced to pull out of the bout due to injury. He will now be replaced by WEC veteran Anthony Leone.
The card will take place in the same city during the same night and time as the 2010 NFL season opener, a rematch of the NFC Championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings, a decision unprecedented in MMA to counter-program a marquee NFL event which may have an adverse effect on local ticket sales.