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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nolan King

Bellator 284 lineup announced, including Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi headliner, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, more

Major promotional MMA heads back to South Dakota this summer.

Bellator 284 is set to take place Aug. 12 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, the promotion officially announced Wednesday. Atop the card is a five-round welterweight matchup between Neiman Gracie (11-3 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) and Goiti Yamauchi (27-5 MMA, 13-4 BMMA).

Gracie, 33, most recently competed in a five-round war against Logan Storely in February. The battle was back-and-forth until the final horn, shortly after which Storley was named winner by split decision. The loss moved Gracie to 2-3 in his past five appearances.

Yamauchi, 29, has won back-to-back fights entering Bellator 284. His most recent performance, a quick submission win against Levan Chokheli, marked his divisional debut at welterweight.

In the co-main event, top heavyweight contenders collide as Valentin Moldavksy (11-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) looks to rebound from a title shot loss when he battles undefeated rising star Steve Mowry (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA).

Also on the card, former Bellator women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) will take on Bruna Ellen (6-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA). Macfarlane will look to snap a two-fight losing skid, including a title defeat to Juliana Velasquez and a unanimous decision to Justine Kish.

Meanwhile, Ellen has won two of her most recent three bouts.

The current Bellator 284 lineup includes:

  • Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi
  • Valentin Moldavksy vs. Steve Mowry
  • Bruna Ellen vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
  • Weber Almeida vs. Ilias Bulaid
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