Bellator returns on Friday for its penultimate event of 2022 with Bellator 288, which takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
A championship doubleheader serves at the top of the card. In the main event, Vadim Nemkov (14-2 MMMA, 7-0 BMMA) and Corey Anderson (16-4 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) will try for a second time to determine the Bellator light heavyweight and grand prix champion when they meet in a rematch of their April fight that ended in a no contest due to a head butt.
The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see lightweight gold up for grabs as Patricky Freire (24-10 MMA, 15-8 BMMA) looks to kick off his reign with a defense against the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov pupil Usman Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA).
For more on the title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 288.
Vadim Nemkov
Nemkov is one of eight light heavyweight champions in Bellator history. It’s the most title turnover between different names of any division in company history.
Nemkov’s eight-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Nemkov has earned 12 of his 14 career victories by stoppage.
Nemkov’s five stoppage victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Liam McGeary (eight).
Corey Anderson
Anderson is one of 13 fighters in UFC history with 10 or more light heavyweight wins.
Anderson’s four-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Nemkov (eight).
Anderson has earned all three of his Bellator victories by knockout.
Anderson’s 61-second knockout of Matt Van Buren at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale stands as the fastest finish in a “TUF” tournament final.
Anderson’s 53 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed against Patrick Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed vs. Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are tied for the fifth-most in a single UFC fight.
Patricky Freire
Freire won a Bellator title for the first time in his 23rd promotional appearance, the most fights in company history before winning a championship.
Freire competes in his 24th Bellator lightweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Freire’s 15 victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied with Michael Chandler for most in divisional history.
Freire’s 10 stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied with Chandler for most in divisional history.
Freire’s 10 knockout victories in Bellator lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Freire’s 10 knockout victories in Bellator competition are tied with Michael Page for most in company history.
Usman Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage.
Daniel Weichel vs. Timur Khizriev
Daniel Weichel (42-13 MMA, 11-5 BMMA) is 3-2 since he returned to the Bellator featherweight division in September 2019.
Weichel’s 11 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for fourth in divisional history behind Patricio Freire (19), A.J. McKee (18) and Emmanuel Sanchez (12).
Tyrell Fortune vs. Daniel James
Tyrell Fortune’s (12-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) competes in his 16th Bellator heavyweight bout, the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Cheick Kongo (17).
Fortune’s 12 victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Kongo (13).
Fortune’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Fortune’s eight knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Fortune’s eight knockout victories in Bellator competition are tied for fourth-most in company history behind Page (10), Freire (10) and Douglas Lima (nine).
Roman Faraldo vs. Levan Chokheli
Roman Faraldo’s (8-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) five-fight Bellator winning streak at welterweight is tied for the second-longest longest active streak in the division behind Yaroslav Amosov (six).
Faraldo has earned all eight of his career victories by knockout.
Faraldo is one of three fighters in Bellator history to earn multiple knockouts stemming from a flying knee. Adam Borics and Page also accomplished the feat.
Sullivan Cauley vs. Jay Radick
Sullivan Cauley (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has earned all four of his career victories by first-round knockout.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 288.
