Next week’s Bellator return to its Northern California home base has a former champion as a late addition to the lineup.
With Tony Johnson (9-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) out with an injury, former middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (16-6 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) will step in to take on Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (18-7-1 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) on the preliminary card at Bellator 277. Promotion officials announced the change Thursday.
Bellator 277 takes place April 15 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.