9-Bout Lineup Finalized for Bellator 38

Undefeated Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts representative Nik Fekete (Pictured) will meet Richard Hale in the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 4 light heavyweight tournament quarterfinals on Saturday at Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Miss. The promotion on Monday finalized a nine-bout lineup for the event, which will air on MTV2.

A collegiate All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, Fekete was a U.S. Olympic wrestling team alternate in 2008. The 30-year-old Cranford, N.J., native has won all four of his professional MMA fights, including victories over journeyman John Cronk and Strikeforce prospect Ovince St. Preux. Fekete last appeared under the Tachi Palace Fights banner in December, when he stopped Chris Bostick on second-round punches at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

Hale will carry a two-fight winning streak into his promotional debut. The 25-year-old Arizona-based light heavyweight last fought at Top Combat Championship 3 in October, when he stopped Dave Mewborn on first-round punches in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hale has delivered 13 of his 15 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Bellator 38 will feature three other light heavyweight tournament quarterfinals: Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie, D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis and Chris Davis vs. Christian M’Pumbu. Blagoi Ivanov, the 2008 World Sambo Championships gold medalist, will make his promotional debut on the undercard, as he locks horns with John Brown.

Bellator 38
Saturday, March 26
Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino
Tunica, Miss.

Tim Carpenter vs. Daniel Gracie
D.J. Linderman vs. Raphael Davis
Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete
Chris Davis vs. Christian M’Pumbu
John Brown vs. Blagoi Ivanov
Jimmy Van Horn vs. Austin Lyons
Jake Underwood vs. Tim Galluzzi
Brian Albin vs. Cody Donovan
Amaechi Oselukwue vs. Abe Wilson