BELLATOR EUROPEAN SERIES RETURNS
— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) September 15, 2020
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eptember - Edwards vs. Van Steenis
ctober - Gallagher vs. Ellenor
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Both events take place in Milan, Italy and will be broadcast live on Channel 5 pic.twitter.com/54gzu4BShj
On Tuesday morning, Bellator MMA announced the return of the Bellator European Series with events scheduled for Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 in Milan, Italy. The first of the two cards will be headlined by a middleweight meeting between Fabian Edwards and Costello van Steenis. The pair were supposed to clash in London back in May, but the COVID-19 outbreak forced the California-based organization to cancel the bill.
Edwards (9-0) has gathered a 4-0 record under the Bellator banner. In his latest cage appearance, he edged former BAMMA middleweight champion Mike Shipman in the co-main event of 2019's Bellator London card. Netherlands' van Steenis (12-2) suffered his first loss in Bellator when he faced John Salter at Bellator 233. Prior, he went on a six-bout winning streak with significant victories over Kevin Fryer and Chris Honeycutt.
The co-main event will feature a middleweight clash between Will Fleury (7-3) and Kent Kauppinen (12-5). Fleury, a SBG Ireland-representative, is looking to bounce back after suffering a defeat against Maciej Rozanski at EFM 3 back in June. Kauppinen is 2-3 in his latest cage appearances.
Bellator European Series 8 will go down Sept. 26, at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. The card will also feature another 185-pound clash as Italy's Pietro Penini (9-1-1, 1NC) will lock horns with Mike Shipman (13-3).