Heavyweight prospect Davion Franklin will get his next test on the same card at which gold in his weight class will be on the line.
Franklin is set to return to action at Bellator 280 on May 6 when he takes on Daniel James. MMA Junkie verified the booking with a person close to the situation, who requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to officially announce.
Bellator 280 takes place at Accor Arena in Paris and airs on Showtime. The event is headlined by a rematch between heavyweight champ Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo.
Franklin (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) has been flawless thus far in his young career. The 27-year-old has finished four of his five career wins thus far, including three first-round knockout victories.
James (13-6-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will attempt to derail the prospect in what will be his first Bellator appearance since his MMA debut in March 2014. The 40-year-old has spent the majority of his career fighting in the Russia-based ACA organization, and is coming off a string of three consecutive first-round knockout wins.
The latest Bellator 280 lineup includes:
- Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo – for heavyweight championship
- Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoel Romero
- Lorenz Larkin vs. Khalid Murtazaliev
- Soren Bak vs. Saul Rogers
- Gavin Hughes vs. Yves Landu
- Khasan Askhabov vs. Pedro Carvalho
- Gregory Babene vs. Mike Shipman
- Thibault Gouti vs. Lewis Long
- Fabacary Diatta def. Jordan Barton
- Joel Kouadja vs. Nicolo Solli
- Lucie Bertaud vs. Katarzyna Sadura
- Davion Franklin vs. Daniel James
