Bellator announces unique three-card lineup for Italy, including Carvalho vs. Nemkov, Manhoef vs. Bahati
The previously announced Bellator Milan event now has a second MMA card to boast, as well as a kickboxing lineup.
Bellator officials today announced that the Oct. 12 event – which takes place at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy – will feature three separate cards: “Bellator Europe 5: Milan,” Bellator 230 and a Bellator kickboxing event.
Two notable names are set to square off in the headliner of Bellator 230 with former middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (16-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) moving up to 205 pounds to take on Vadim Nemkov (10-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA).
Bellator 230 will air on Paramount and stream on DAZN via tape delay in the U.S.
Fresh off of a win in the Bellator 224 headliner against Chidi Njokuani in July, Caravalho will compete at light heavyweight for the first time in his promotional tenure. The Brazilian served as the Bellator middleweight champion from October 2015 to May 2018, when he lost the belt to Gegard Mouasi.
In his nine-fight stint with the promotion thus far, Carvalho’s only other loss was suffered at the hands of Lyoto Machida in December 2018. Predominantly a striker, Carvalho has four victories by way of knockout.
Undefeated in the promotion thus far, Russia’s Nemkov is riding a five-fight winning streak entering his Bellator 230 headliner. Four out of his last five victories have come via stoppage due to strikes.
In his last two outings, Nemkov has defeated two former champions. After defeating Liam McGeary at Bellator 182 via leg kicks, Nemkov defeated Phil Davis by unanimous decision at Bellator 209 in November.
Meanwhile, Bellator Europe 5 features a headliner of Melvin Manhoef (31-14-1 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) vs. Yannick Bahati (9-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).
That card streams live on MMA Junkie at 5 p.m. ET.
Bahati made his debut with the promotion in May, picking up a submission win over Amir Dadovic, braking a three-fight losing streak in the process. He now meets veteran slugger Manhoef, who last saw action in June, picking up a decision win over Kent Kauppinen. That snapped a two-fight losing streak for “No Mercy,” who dropped consecutive bookings with Carvalho.
Bellator Kickboxing will have a full card to start the day of festivities, streaming live on the Bellator app beginning at 11 a.m. ET.