Bellator 281 MVP vs Storley: The Line Up

Main Card

Welterweight Interim World Title Bout: #1-Michael Page (20-1) vs. #4-Logan Storley (13-1)

Number one welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page will meet Logan Storley in the Bellator 281 main event to determine who will become Bellator’s Interim Welterweight Champion. Undisputed champion Yaroslov Amosov was originally set to defend his title against Page, but opted to remain in his native Ukraine to help defend against the Russian invasion. MVP is a walking highlight reel, with some of the more dazzling finishes in recent memory. He is well known for his wild personality and in-cage taunting, as well as his flashy karate style that has devastated so many of his opponents. His only career loss came via KO at the hands of Douglas Lima back in 2019. Michael responded to that loss with a six fight win streak, which he ended by gaining vengeance over Lima in their rematch. Logan Storley is known as a four time NCAA Division one All-American wrestler for the University of Minnesota. He trains with a multitude of elite fighters at Sanford MMA and is currently on a two fight winning streak. He most recently defeated Neiman Gracie in the main event of Bellator 274. Storley’s only career loss was to Yaroslov Amosov, which was by split decision. 

Middleweight Bout: #6(LHW)-Lyoto Machida (26-11) vs. #4-Fabian Edwards (9-2)

MMA legend Lyoto Machida returns to middleweight to take on fourth ranked Fabian Edwards. Lyoto has recently found himself on a three fight losing skid, most recently to Ryan Bader over a year ago. This fight marks his at middleweight since he fell to Gegard Mousassi at Bellator 228. The sixth ranked light heavyweight is hoping a return to 185 pounds will reignite the momentum he once had at the height of his career. Much like headliner Michael Page, Machida holds a supreme MMA highlight reel with a mix of karate. Fabian Edwards is currently in the process of building himself back up after suffering the first two defeats of his career. Before that, he was undefeated through nine fights with six finishes. He’s a dangerous striker with sound grappling, much like his brother Leon Edwards. 

The Flying Knee did the trick for @lyotomachidafw 💪#Bellator222 pic.twitter.com/UJEocCqWnT

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 15, 2019

Flyweight Bout: #2-Denise Kielholtz (6-3) vs. #3-Kana Watanabe (10-1-1)

Second ranked Denise Kielholtz will face third ranked Kana Watanabe in a flyweight bout. Kielholtz is a natural finisher at 125 pounds. Just one of her victories has gone the distance. “Miss Dynamite” went the distance in a title opportunity against Juliana Velasquez in her most recent bout, but lost via split decision. Denise is a solid kickboxer with a handy submission arsenal. Kana Watanabe is a judo-based fighter who is just one spot below Denise in the rankings. Kana has four first round finishes on her resume, mostly due to her work on the ground. The Japanese fighter came up fighting through the ranks of Deep Jewels and RIZIN before breaking into Bellator.

Welterweight Bout: #8-Paul Daley (43-18-2) vs. Wendell Giácomo (9-2)

Eighth-ranked Paul Daley will take on Wendell Giácomo in a welterweight bout. Paul Daley is a legend of British MMA and has been fighting professionally for almost 20 years. Daley has fought for the UFC, Strikeforce, Cage Warriors, and Cage Rage before joining Bellator in 2012. He also owns a 79% finishing rate over his whole career, with 74% of those ways coming by knockout. Giácomo is a muay thai fighter who trains alongside the Pitbull brothers. He is 12 years younger than Daley and is slightly taller. The Brazilian will make his Bellator debut on a two fight winning streak.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Luke Trainer (5-0) vs. Simon Biyong (7-2)

Luke Trainer will face off against fellow light heavyweight Simon Biyong to open up the main card. Luke is an undefeated Englishman who’s earned a finish in all of his fights. He is only 26 years old and on a two fight winning streak. Simon Biyong is a fellow 6’6” fighter looking for his first Bellator win. His promotional debut resulted in a decision loss to Christian Edwards, although before he was on a four fight knockout streak. He is originally from Cameroon but now trains in Germany and Italy. 

Preliminary Card

Featherweight Bout: #7-Daniel Weichel (41-13) vs. Robert Whiteford (16-4) 

Seventh-ranked Daniel Weichel will headline the preliminary card when he takes on Robert Whiteford. Weichel is a german mixed martial artist who has been competing professionally for twenty years. He has been with Bellator since 2014, and has gone 10-4 within the promotion. He most recently lost to Pedro Carvalho via decision at Bellator 270. Robert Whiteford is a scottish fighter with a judo base. He trains out of American Top Team and is on a five fight unbeaten streak. His last fight was a no contest (unintentional eye poke) against Andrew Fisher.

Welterweight Bout: Oliver Enkamp (10-3) vs. Mark Lemminger (12-4)

Oliver Enkamp will face off against Mark Lemminger in a welterweight bout. Enkamp fights out of Stockholm, Sweden. He has an 80% finishing rate, with six of his ten wins coming by way of submission. Oliver’s last contest was a unanimous decision loss to Kyle Crutchmer. Mark Lemminger is a seven year veteran with a 75% finishing rate. Since joining Bellator in 2020, he has gone 2-3 with the promotion but has been an underdog in each of those losses (+235, +160, +450).

Flyweight Bout: Kate Jackson (11-5-1) vs. Elina Kallionidou (8-4)

Kate Jackson will take on Elina Kallionidou in a flyweight bout. Kate is coming into this fight on a two fight losing skid after being finished by Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 247. Now nearly two years later, she returns for her first non-main event fight since her most recent win, which came by first round stoppage over Lena Ovchynnikova. Elina Kallionidou is a 23 year old Greek fighter who has been with Bellator for six years. She dropped her Bellator debut in a unanimous decision that went to Sinead Kavanagh, and has overall gone 1-4 with Bellator. “Gunner” also holds a 75% finishing rate.

Lightweight Bout: Alfie Davis (14-4) vs. Tim Wilde (14-4)

Alfie Davis will face off against Tim Wilde in a lightweight fight. Alfie is an English veteran of the fight game dating back to 2013. “The Axe Man” began his Bellator campaign in 2019, with a four fight winning streak. His most recent bout against Alexander Shabliy at Bellator 259 marked his first loss with the promotion, which was by unanimous decision. Tim Wilde has the same record, height, and nationality as his opponent. He is on a two fight winning streak with a 50% finishing rate. The karate fighter defeated veterans Yves Landu and Charlie Leary in his two most recent fights.

Featherweight Bout: Andrew Fisher (18-8-1) vs. Attila Korkmaz (12-6)

Andrew Fisher will take on Attila Korkmaz in a featherweight bout. Andrew fights out of Sunderland, England and is on a four fight winning streak. He holds an 83% finishing rate, with half of his victories coming by submission. Attila Korkmaz is a former European Beatdown champion and currently fighting out of Berlin, Germany. “The Fearless” has never been finished through 18 fights and won his most recent fight at UAE Warriors 22. This will be his Bellator debut.

Middleweight Bout: Charlie Ward (9-4) vs. Alan Carlos (13-9)

Charlie Ward returns to face off against Alan Carlos in a middleweight bout. Charlie is an Irish fighter out of SBG Ireland making his return to the cage for the first time since 2020. He is currently on a two fight winning streak, both victories were in 2020. Ward holds a 66% finishing rate over his career which spans seven years. Alan Carlos will be making his Bellator debut on this card. “The Brazilian Viking” has not fought since 2018, when he earned a decision win in Cage Warriors. His fight before was a TKO loss to Jack Hermansson for the Cage Warriors Middleweight Title, in which Carlos was a +700 underdog.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Lee Chadwick (27-15-1) vs. Maciej Różański (13-3)

Lee Chadwick will take on Maciej Różański in a light heavyweight bout. Lee is a 16 year veteran of mixed martial arts and represents England. “The Butcher” is on a two fight winning streak at 37 years old, and a three fight grappling match winning streak. Maciej Różański is a Polish 14 year fight veteran making his Bellator debut. Różański has an 85% finishing rate, with 9 of his 13 victories coming by submission. “Spartan” has also never been finished.

Strawweight Bout: Chiara Penco (6-3) vs. Lanchana Green (4-4-1)

Chiara Penco will open up the preliminary card when she faces off against Lanchana Green in a strawweight bout. Chiara is a 26 year old Italian fighter, who is fresh off of her second first round armbar finish. “Beasty Barbie” has won all of her bouts by finish, five by submission. Lanchana Green is an English fighter making her Bellator debut. “Mean Green” holds a 66% finishing rate and is currently on a one fight losing skid.