Bellator 256 will see Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida face off in a rematch.
Bellator is officially back in the swing of things and is trying to get fans as hyped as possible for their return to competition in 2021. With two Grand Prix’s going on at the same time, and impressive-sized prospect-talent-pool to pick from, Bellator is providing some major reasons to tune in. Especially for their Bellator 256 card.
Obviously, the main event will see Lyoto Machida take on Ryan Bader in a fight that will kick off the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. It also serves as a rematch between Machida and Bader. That main event isn’t the only thing worth tuning to see, however.
Below are just three storylines to follow as Bellator 256 unfolds live on Showtime.
Three reasons to watch Bellator 256Can Lyoto Machida turn back the clock?
Lyoto Machida is not a young man and is on a two-fight losing streak. The soon-to-be 43-year-old has fallen to Phil Davis and Gegard Mousasi in two consecutive split-decision losses. The task isn’t going to get any easier with the heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. Bader is coming off of his first loss in Bellator, a TKO loss to current lightweight champion Vadim Nemkov. Nemkov proved Bader was beatable and Bader hasn’t won a fight since defeating MMA icon Fedor Emelienko in January of 2019. There’s an opportunity here and if Machida can catch the power-wrestler, then maybe Machida could make another run for a title.
Will Cat Zingano one step closer to a title bout?
To be fair to Olivia Parker, she’s a gimmie fights for Cat Zingano. No one expects Parker to win her bouts and one has to wonder why the no. 3 ranked fighter is fighting less-than-steller talents instead of top tier women. The hope is that if/when Zingano gets her win, that she gets a big name next. Bellator does this on occasion, giving big names easier fights (on paper), and hopefully, the company rewards fans by booking these two powerhouses against one another next.
Which prized prospect will step up?
Bellator will see a few big prospects step in to fight at Bellator 256. Names like Jeremy Kennedy, Adam Borics, Cody Law, and Cass Bell are just some of the younger fighters on the card looking to make a name for themselves. Some are facing one another, while others are looking at getting back on track after a loss. Which one of these prized prospects will step up?
Bellator 256 takes place on Friday, April 9, 2021, live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Follow along with FanSided for all your live news and highlights.