Bellator 25 Lineup Complete

Former World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion Shonie Carter will make his promotional debut against Strikeforce veteran Torrance Taylor at Bellator Fighting Championships 25 on Thursday at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The promotion has finalized an eight-bout lineup for the event.

Carter enters the matchup on the skids, having lost three consecutive fights and five of his last six. The 38-year-old Chicago native has not competed since July 31, when he succumbed to a second-round head kick and punches from the unbeaten Rick Hawn at Triumph 3 “Havoc” in Milford, N.H. His career rekindled by an appearance on Season 4 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Carter has delivered more than half (25) of his 49 career wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Victories against former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and one-time UFC middleweight titleholder Dave Menne highlight his resume.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Taylor has dropped three of his last four bouts, including a split decision to Glenn Brown under the UMMAXX banner in March. He owns notable victories against UFC veterans Jason Dent and Luke Caudillo. Taylor cut his teeth inside the Ring of Fire, North American Allied Fight Series and Next Level Fighting promotions.

Meanwhile, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 semi-finalist John Kolosci will lock horns with the unbeaten Kenny Robertson.

Kolosci last fought in June, when he submitted American Top Team’s Luigi Fioravanti with a first-round rear-naked choke at a Hoosier Fight Club event. In 20 professional appearances, the 35-year-old Portage, Ind., native has been knocked out only once. Kolosci was cut by the UFC following his submission loss to Matt Arroyo at “The Ultimate Fighter 6” Finale in December 2007. He has won six of his seven fights since, losing only to Strikeforce’s Shamar Bailey.

Perfect in nine professional bouts, Robertson sports six first-round finishes on his resume. He stopped Igor Almeida on second-round punches at a Maximo Fighting Championship show in Puerto Rico four months ago. Robertson has secured eight of his nine wins by KO, TKO or submission.

Bellator 25 will feature a pair of opening-round matchups in the promotion’s heavyweight tournament, as Damian Grabowski meets Scott Barrett and Cole Konrad takes on Rogent Lloret. In addition, Jessica Pene will square off with Zoila Frausto in the Bellator 115-pound women’s tournament.

Bellator Fighting Championships 25
Thursday, Aug. 19
Chicago Theatre
Chicago

Damian Grabowski vs. Scott Barrett
Cole Konrad vs. Rogent Lloret
Jessica Pene vs. Zoila Frausto
Dan Hornbuckle vs. Brad Blackburn
Shonie Carter vs. Torrance Taylor
Kevin Knabjian vs. Brian Gassaway
John Kolosci vs. Kenny Robertson
Keoki Cypriano vs. Eric Kriegermeier