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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer
Bellator has a big slate set for France later this year.
Undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his Bellator lightweight title against Alexander Shabliy and Patchy Mix will put his bantamweight title on the line against Magomed Magomedov at Bellator Champions Series on May 17 in Paris, PFL announced Wednesday. It will be the second Bellator event run under PFL ownership.
Nurmagomedov is returning after a six-month suspension for failing a drug test in California. Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC all-time great Khabib, was on a prescribed medication that was not disclosed to the commission. His victory over Brent Primus in October was overturned by the commission to a no contest.
Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) beat Patricky “Pitbull” Freire to win the title in November 2022. The Dagestan native has one successful title defense, over Benson Henderson in March 2023. Nurmagomedov, 25, is considered one of the best young fighters in the world.
Shabliy (24-3), a 30-year-old Russian fighter, has won nine straight.
Mix (19-1) has won six in a row, all but one of them via finish. The New York native who fights out of Las Vegas beat Sergio Pettis via second-round submission in November 2023. Mix, 30, won the $1 million Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix tournament in March 2023.
Magomedov (20-3), a 32-year-old Dagestan native, is coming off a win over Danny Sabatello last July. Mix defeated him via second-round submission in the grand-prix semifinals in December 2022.