{"id":62130,"date":"2016-08-10T20:49:34","date_gmt":"2016-08-11T01:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=62130"},"modified":"2016-08-10T20:50:03","modified_gmt":"2016-08-11T01:50:03","slug":"bellator-161-breaking-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=62130","title":{"rendered":"Bellator 161 Breaking News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"B<\/a>A bantamweight showdown pitting Joe Warren (13-5) against Sirwan Kakai (12-4) has been added to the main card of \u201cBellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,\u201d which takes place on September 16 inside the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.<\/p>\n

The bantamweight contest joins a heavyweight main event featuring Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) taking on Tony Johnson (10-2), and the U.S. debut of Anastasia Yankova (3-0), who meets Veta Arteaga (2-0). Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

Tickets for \u201cBellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson\u201d start at only $25 can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office. The event will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 10 p.m. ET\/9 p.m. CT.<\/p>\n

A 15-fight veteran of Bellator MMA and champion in not one but two different weight classes, Warren enters the cage with an 11-4 mark under the Scott Coker-led promotion, including multiple streaks of five consecutive wins. Dating back to 2015, the 2006 Pan American and World Champion wrestler has made three consecutive appearances in Bellator\u2019s main event, including an impressive unanimous decision victory over L.C. Davis at \u201cBellator 143: Warren vs. Davis.\u201d Hailing from Denver, Colorado, the \u201cBaddest Man on the Planet\u201d will look to become the first-ever fighter to knock out Kakai when the two meet in main card action on SPIKE.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed \u201cZohan,\u201d Kakai comes into the fight in search of his first career win under the Bellator MMA banner. At just 26 years of age, the Swedish submission specialist hopes to make a splash against the former two-division champion in Warren. Since making his professional debut in 2008, Kakai has recorded 12 wins as a pro, with half coming by way of submission. Prior to joining the Bellator MMA fray, Kakai made a splash fighting under the direction of the UFC, recording a unanimous decision victory over Danny Martinez in his promotional debut. Kakai now faces one of the most challenging opponents Bellator MMA\u2019s stacked bantamweight division has to offer when he enters the cage on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.<\/p>\n

Updated \u201cBellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson\u201d Main Card:<\/p>\n

Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)<\/p>\n

Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Joe Warren (13-5) vs. Sirwan Kakai (12-4)<\/p>\n

Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)<\/p>\n