Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Nolan King

Cris Lencioni returns, meets Cody Law at Bellator 289 in December

After three fights outside the promotion this year, Cris Lencioni will return to Bellator in December.

Lencioni (9-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has signed a new multifight deal with the promotion and will take on Cody Law (6-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in a featherweight bout at Bellator 289. A promotion official confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Wednesday.

Bellator 289 is set for Dec. 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card will air on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. The card features a women’s flyweight title fight between new champion Liz Carmouche and former champ Juliana Velasquez, plus a pair of bantamweight tournament semifinals that include interim champ Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello.

In addition, a welterweight fight between Mark Lemminger (12-5 MMA, 2-4 BMMA) and Michael Lombardo (12-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has been added to the lineup.

Lencioni most recently fought for Bellator in August 2020, when he took a unanimous decision from A.J. Agazarm. After that, he competed in many grappling tournaments, then returned to MMA in February with a loss to recent UFC signee Don Shainis. But he bounced back after that with a decision over Drako Rodriguez in April and, most recently, a submission of Talon Hoffman on the regional circuit in August.

Law started his career a perfect 6-0 with five stoppage wins before he was upset by James Gonzalez in June at Bellator 282. The American Top Team-trained wrestling standout will be looking to get back on track against Lencioni.

With the addition, the Bellator 289 lineup now includes:

  • Interim champ Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello – for interim bantamweight title; bantamweight grand prix semifinal
  • Champ Liz Carmouche vs. Juliana Velasquez – for women’s flyweight title
  • Magomed Magomedov vs. Patchy Mix – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
  • Cody Law vs. Cris Lencioni
  • Mark Lemminger vs. Michael Lombardo
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.