Bellator 244 Weigh-in Results: Headliner Title Fight Set; Jessy Miele Misses Weight

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Ryan Bader is ready to defend his light heavyweight throne after nearly three years in a higher weight class.

Bellator MMA returns this week with Bellator 244. The card is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight as Bader will put one of his two belts on the line against surging challenger Vadim Nemkov.

This marks the first fight of 2020 for Bader (27-5, 1 NC), who is on a historic run that has seen him capture the promotion’s 205-pound and heavyweight championship belts. The last four fights of “Darth” Bader have all been contested at heavyweight, not competing at light heavyweight since finishing Linton Vassell to defend his strap in 2017. His last fight against Cheick Kongo ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke kept the challenger from continuing. Despite his recent fights at heavyweight, Bader had no issue making championship weight by coming in at 204 pounds.

The challenger is also undefeated inside the Bellator cage, as Nemkov (11-2) has won all four of his appearances. Since a pair of back-to-back losses to Jiri Prochazka and Karl Albrektsson in Rizin Fighting Federation, Nemkov has rattled off a six-fight win streak with key victories over multiple former Bellator champs Rafael Carvalho, Phil Davis and Liam McGeary. The Russian will look to upset Bader and officially weighed 203.9 pounds.

The 11-fight card is now official, and all fighters made weight except for Jessy Miele (147)*, who weighed one pound above the featherweight limit for her bout against Julia Budd. Miele has been fined a percentage of her purse and the co-main event will proceed as scheduled.

Bellator 244’s preliminary card will stream live on YouTube and Dazn starting at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT. The main card will air at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on both the Paramount Network and Dazn.

Bellator 244 Weigh-in Results:

Ryan Bader (204) vs. Vadim Nemkov (203.9)
Julia Budd (145.8) vs. Jessy Miele (147)*
Roy Nelson (264.9) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (234.6)
John Salter (186) vs. Andrew Kapel (185.1)
Yaroslav Amosov (174.4) vs. Mark Lemminger (174.6)
Adam Piccolotti (155.3) vs. Sidney Outlaw (156)
Erik Perez (135.6) vs. Josh Hill (136)
Weber Almeida (147.5) vs. Salim Mukhidinov (147.8)
John de Jesus (149.1) vs. Vladislav Parubchenko (149.6)
Vladimir Tokov (155.3) vs. Christopher Gonzalez (156)
Lucas Brennan (145.8) vs. Will Smith (143.7)

* Miele missed weight by one pound and has been fined a percentage of her purse.