Initially Slated for Rematch, Timothy Johnson, Tyrell Fortune Get Different Foes at Bellator 277

Timothy Johnson and Tyrell Fortune were supposed to have a rematch at Bellator 277. Instead, the two heavyweights will face different opponents at the April 15 event.

Johnson will lock horns with Linton Vassell, while Fortune will face Steve Mowry in newly-booked heavyweight bouts at Bellator 277. The California-based promotion confirmed the pairings following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com. Johnson defeated Fortune via first-round knockout at Bellator 239.

Bellator 277 takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and is headlined by a featherweight title rematch between A.J. McKee and Patricio Freire. In the co-main event, Vadim Nemkov will defend his light heavyweight crown against Corey Anderson in the finals of the 205-pound grand prix.

Johnson has lost his last two promotional appearances, falling to Valentin Moldavsky in an interim heavyweight title bout at Bellator 261 before suffering a first-round KO defeat against Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 269.

A former light heavyweight title challenger, Vassell is 3-1 since moving to the heavyweight division. His current three-fight winning streak includes wins over the likes of Sergei Kharitonov, Ronny Markes and Fortune.

After winning his first eight professional appearances — all under the Bellator banner — Fortune has won just three of his last six outings, with losses to Johnson and Fortune along with a no contest against Jack May on his ledger. The defeat to Vassell in his most recent fight at Bellator 271 halted a three-bout winning streak.

Mowry has emerged as a prospect to watch with victories in his first 10 professional bouts — including six under the Bellator banner. All of his career triumphs have come inside the distance, including a first-round tapout of Rakim Cleveland in his last outing at Bellator 271.