Bellator 86 Weigh-in Results: Ben Askren, Karl Amoussou Cleared for Welterweight Title Tilt

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Ben Askren’s third Bellator welterweight title defense will move forward on schedule, as both the champion and challenger Karl Amoussou hit their contracted weights at Wednesday’s Bellator 86 weigh-ins.

Askren (Pictured) tipped the scales at 169.8 pounds, while Amoussou checked in at 167.4. Bellator 86 takes place Thursday at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. In addition to the welterweight title headliner, the evening’s main draw will also see ex-Strikeforce king Muhammed Lawal (205) return to action against Polish talent Przemyslaw Mysiala (205.6) in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 8 light heavyweight tournament.

Additionally, the event will showcase the welterweight tournament bracket, as Marius Zaromskis (169.2), Douglas Lima (170.6), Ben Saunders (169.8) and Jose de Ribamar Machado Gomes (170.8) lock horns with Brent Weedman (170), Michail Tsarev (170), Koffi Adzitso (170.8) and Raul Amaya (171), respectively.

Askren, 28, has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career, posting seven straight wins inside the Bellator cage. A two-time NCAA Division I national champion wrestler, “Funky” captured the Bellator welterweight title from Lyman Good after winning the Season 2 tournament in 2010. The champion has since defended his crown twice, narrowly outpointing Jay Hieron in 2011 before dominating Lima last April at Bellator 64.

Amoussou, meanwhile, earned his title shot by topping the Season 6 tournament field, finishing Bryan Baker with an inverted heel hook at Bellator 72 last July. The triumph served as the Frenchman’s fourth straight victory after falling via split decision to Sam Alvey in his 2011 Bellator debut. The former middleweight holds nine of his 16 victories via submission and has been stopped just once in 22 career bouts.

Bellator 86 Weigh-in Results:

Ben Askren (169.8) vs. Karl Amoussou (167.4)
Muhammed Lawal (205) vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala (205.6)
Marius Zaromskis (169.2) vs. Brent Weedman (170)
Douglas Lima (170.6) vs. Michail Tsarev (170)
Ben Saunders (169.8) vs. Koffi Adzitso (170.8)
Jose de Ribamar Machado Gomes (170.8) vs. Raul Amaya (171)
Hunter Tucker (145) vs. Javier Obregon (146)
Chris Pham (139.6) vs. Jason Sampson (137.4)
Zach Church (154.6) vs. Damon Jackson (155.2)
Matt Jones (182.8) vs. Cortez Coleman (186)