‘Tiger’ Sarnavskiy Fractures Hand, Jason Fischer Steps in to Face David Rickels at Bellator 91

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Alexander Sarnavskiy has a fractured hand and will not be able to continue in Bellator’s Season 8 lightweight tournament. Instead, Jason Fischer will take his spot in the 155-pound semifinals and face David Rickels at Bellator 91.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the news of Sarnavskiy’s injury via Twitter on Monday evening. Bellator 91 takes place on Feb. 28 at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and is headlined by a light heavyweight title clash between Christian M’Pumbu and Attila Vegh. The event also includes the other half of the lightweight tournament semis, as Will Brooks squares off with Saad Awad. The main card airs on Spike, while the prelims stream on Spike.com.

Fisher will look to avenge the only loss of his professional career against Rickels, who won a unanimous verdict against the Mash Fight Team product at Bellator 82 in November. “The Finisher” last competed at Bellator 87, tapping Sevak Magakian with a rear-naked choke in round one. All six of Fisher’s victories have come by knockout or submission.

Rickels advanced to the Round of 4 in the lightweight bracket by taking an entertaining unanimous decision triumph against Lloyd Woodard at Bellator 87. “The Caveman” is 6-1 in the Chicago-based promotion, with his only loss coming to Karl Amoussou last May.