Juliana Velasquez will put her flyweight title and undefeated record on the line tonight at Bellator 278 as she takes on Liz Carmouche. Carmouche is 3-0 since joining Bellator in 2020 and is looking to add Bellator gold to her trophy case. Velasquez will be looking to defend her title for the second time while keeping her undefeated record intact.
In the co-main event of the night, UFC veteran Enrique Barzola will be taking on rising Bellator prospect Nikita Mikhailov in the opening round of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. Barzola won his Bellator debut at Bellator 273 with a TKO win over former bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell. His opponent, Nikita Mikhailov, is 2-0 in Bellator so far and will be looking to keep his win streak going. Bellator 278 will also Jornel Lugo and Danny Sabatello, who are set to face off in the first bout of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix, as well as light heavyweight prospects Christian Edwards and Grant Neal. In the opening fight of the card, PFL welterweight champion Ray Cooper‘s younger brother, Makoa Cooper, will be making his second professional fight against Blake Perry.
Bellator 278 is one-half of a Bellator doubleheader weekend. Bellator 279 will take place tomorrow night and will feature Cris Cyborg and Arlene Blencowe for the women’s featherweight title in the main event. Both fight cards will take place at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Bellator 278 prelims will start tonight at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT on YouTube, and the main card will follow that up at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT on Showtime.
Bellator 278 Results
Main Card
Liz Carmouche def. Juliana Velasquez Via TKO (ground and pound) at 4:47 of round 4 — for the Bellator Women’s Flyweight Championship
Enrique Barzola def. Nikita Mikhailov via unamipus decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Opening Round
Danny Sabatello def. Jornel Lugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Opening Round
Grant Neal def. Christian Edwards via unamipus decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Manny Muro def. Nate Andrews via split decision ( 28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Weber Almeida def. Fabricio Franco via TKO at 3:01 of round 1
Blake Perry def. Makoa Cooper via submission (anaconda choke) at 4:14 of round 2
Dante Schiro def. Scotty Hao via TKO (punches) at 1:03 of round 3
