Michael Chandler, Akihiro Gono Cleared for Bellator 67 Main Event on MTV2

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The Bellator 67 main event was officially given the green light at Thursday’s pre-fight weigh-ins, as both Michael Chandler and Akihiro Gono hit their contracted marks ahead of Friday’s non-title headliner on MTV2.

Chandler checked in at 156 pounds, while Gono tipped the scales at 155.6. Bellator 67 takes place at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario and airs in high definition on premium cable station Epix.

The main draw broadcast will also feature a welterweight tournament semifinal between UFC veteran Ben Saunders (171) and former middleweight tournament finalist Bryan Baker (171). Additionally, Canadian talent Ryan Ford (169.8) will make his promotional debut against seasoned vet Luis Santos (170) in a welterweight feature fight. Rounding out the televised broadcast will be a heavyweight tilt pitting once-beaten Damian Grabowski (241.4) against “Bad Man” Dave Huckaba (255.4).

Chandler, 26, has been perfect through nine bouts as a professional. After fighting his way through Bellator’s fourth-season lightweight tournament one year ago, the former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler submitted Eddie Alvarez to win the promotion’s world title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate this past November.

A UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran, Gono enters the cage 11 years the senior of his opponent. The Japanese standout returned to action on Feb. 18 after spending 18 months on the shelf, dropping a unanimous decision to Daisuke Nakamura in Tokyo. Gono’s upcoming clash with Chandler marks the former welterweight’s first fight on American soil since being outpointed by Jon Fitch in January 2009.

Bellator 67 Weigh-In Results

Michael Chandler (156) vs. Akihiro Gono (155.6)
Ben Saunders (171) vs. Bryan Baker (171)
Luis Santos (170) vs. Ryan Ford (169.8)
Damian Grabowski (241.4) vs. Dave Huckaba (255.4)
Nathan Gunn (169.6) vs. Dom O'Grady (170)
Nordine Taleb (179.4) vs. Matt MacGrath (179.6)
William Romero (148.8)* vs. Matt Veal (145)
Nick Kirk (135.6) vs. David Harris (134.8)
Cosmo Alexandre (155) vs. Lorawnt-T Nelson (155)
*Romero will have one hour to shed the additional 2.8 pounds