Ex-Champ Andrey Koreshkov to Meet Chidi Njokuani in Bellator 182 Headliner on Aug. 25

A welterweight duel between Andrey Koreshkov and Chidi Njokuani will headline Bellator 182 on Aug. 25, the promotion announced Tuesday.

Bellator 182 will take place at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y., and will see Brennan Ward take on Fernando Gonzalez in the evening’s 170-pound co-main event. Additionally, featherweight prospect A.J. McKee will square off an as-yet-to-be-named opponent in another featured bout. The evening’s main card will be televised on Spike beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Koreshkov, the California-based promotion’s former welterweight king, will return to action for the first time since losing the belt to Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 on Nov. 10. Prior to that, the 26-year-old Russian had lost just once in his first 20 professional outings and earned notable wins over the likes of Benson Henderson, Lima, Lyman Good and Marius Zaromskis.

Njokuani, meanwhile, is unbeaten in his last nine fights, including four appearances under the Bellator MMA banner. “Chidi Bang Bang” is coming off a three-round verdict over UFC veteran Melvin Guillard at Bellator 171 on Jan. 27.

Ward last appeared at Bellator 170, where he suffered a devastating flying knee KO defeat to Paul Daley on Jan. 21. The Waterford, Conn., native is 10-5 in the promotion and has finished all of his wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

After having a five-bout winning streak snapped in a lackluster decision loss to Michael Page in November, Gonzalez returned to the win column at Bellator 174 with a three-round verdict over Brandon Girtz. “The Menifee Maniac” is 6-1 in the promotion and 26-14 as a professional overall.