MMA veteran, Cheick Kongo headlines Bellator 265 in an event with two Brazilians this Friday

C. Kongo (left) and S. Kharitonov (right) head the Bellator 265. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

In a busy month for the organization, it's time for the Bellator 265. This Friday (20), in Sioux Falls (USA), the company will try to put on another MMA show in an event with nine fights planned. The show will be headlined by veterans Cheick Kongo and Sergei Kharitonov, who will compete at heavyweight (up to 120,2kg). Brazil will be represented by two athletes.

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At 46 years old, the unstoppable Kongo will try another run for the under-120,2kg group belt. To get there, the fighter will have to pass Kharitonov, 41, who returns to the company after a stint at Parus Fight Championship.

PUBLICITY:

After having two changed opponents, Marcelo Golm is confirmed for the event. Former UFC fighter, the fighter faces Billy Swanson, who was called up in a hurry for the event.

Representative of the middleweights (up to 83,9kg), Fábio Aguiar is back in the circular cage and is looking for the first positive result in the organization. The Pernambuco native will exchange forces with Taylor Johnson, who is coming off a win at Bellator.

PUBLICITY:

Kongo x Kharitonov

Current number four in the division they have as champions Ryan bader (linear) and Valentin Moldavsky (interim), Kongo will make his first appearance of the season. A veteran in the sport, the athlete needs to get back on the path to victory. The athlete has not triumphed since February 2019, when he beat Vitaly Minakov.

To get even closer to the elite and get a glimpse of a title fight, Kongo, who played for the UFC between 2006 and 2013, will need to ruin Kharitonov's party. The Russian is coming off a victory over Oli Thompson, in a fight held in November, at the Parus Fight Championship.

PUBLICITY:

In a new main fight in the organization, Kongo tries his third title fight in the company. The veteran hit the post in two situations and a big victory this Friday could put him on the board's radar.

In MMA since 2001, Cheick currently has 44 appearances in professional MMA. The fighter has 30 wins, 11 losses, two draws and one 'no contest'.

With more than 20 years of career, Kharitonov arrives at the show for his 40th clash in the sport. The athlete currently has 30 triumphs, seven setbacks and two 'unsuccessful' clashes.

PUBLICITY:

Brazil on the card

After moments of tension in relation to opponents, Marcelo Golm will finally make his Bellator debut. With two rivals changed before the show, the São Paulo native will now face Billy Swanson. After a lackluster stint in Ultimate, the Tupiniquim wants to prove himself in the competition and tries to shine in the company's heavyweight division.

Ready to win his first in the organization, Fábio Aguiar is back. Fighting at middleweight, the fighter wants to erase the duel that marked his Bellator debut, when he ended up defeated by Khalid Murtazaliev, in April. Now, the Pernambuco native will face Taylor Johnson, who is trying for his third triumph in four appearances with the company.