LOS ANGELES – The four-fight main card for Bellator MMA’s massive return to the SAP Center at San Jose on Friday, March 10 is now complete with the addition of a top-10 matchup pitting former title challenger and No.2-ranked Michael “Venom” Page (20-2) against No. 5-ranked Goiti Yamauchi (28-5) during the main card of “Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson.” The main card of Bellator 292 will air LIVE in the U.S. on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET.
Tickets for the event are currently on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or Bellator.com.
The massive welterweight scrap joins a must-see main card that already features the launch of the highly anticipated, $1 million Bellator lightweight world grand prix, where in the main event, newly crowned lightweight world champion and No. 7 pound-for-pound talent Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) will defend his belt against former UFC lightweight champion and No. 3-ranked Benson Henderson (30-11) Meanwhile, another thrilling opening round contest serves as the co-main event, as No. 2-ranked knockout artist Tofiq Musayev (20-4) clashes with No. 4-ranked Alexander Shabliy (22-3). A heavyweight tilt between former interim champion and No. 1-ranked Valentin Moldavsky (11-2) vs. No. 2-ranked Linton Vassell (23-8) rounds out the top of the evening’s docket.
In addition, the preliminary card is now complete with the addition of a clash between two offensive-minded light heavyweights when Lithuania’s Julius Anglickas (10-3) takes on the pride of Turkmenistan, Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (19-7-1). The prelims will also see the return of undefeated Bobby Seronio III (3-0) take on undefeated Alberto Garcia (2-0) at bantamweight. Rounding out the newly announced preliminary action, a 135-pound contest pitting Enrique Barzola (18-7-2) against Erik Perez (20-8) has been confirmed, as well as a middleweight scrap between Khalid Murtazaliev (15-3) against San Jose’s Tony Johnson (9-3) and a lightweight affair featuring Islam Mamedov (22-2-1) against undefeated Shamil Nikaev (10-0).
The preliminary contests will air live at 7 p.m. ET on the Bellator MMA YouTube channel, the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, and Pluto TV.
Fresh off a razor-thin split decision defeat to now-interim Bellator titleholder Logan Storley, U.K. star and No. 2-ranked Page will make his stateside return on March 10 when he faces Yamauchi in a matchup of top-five contenders that promises to be one of the most exciting fights of Bellator MMA’s 2023 campaign. The 35-year-old Londoner, whom many believed should have had his hand raised as the winner of the interim title, has won eight of his last 10 bouts — including five stoppages due to strikes and the avenging of his 2019 loss to Douglas Lima. Page owns one of the sport’s most entertaining highlight reels from his win over Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, and the accomplished kickboxer will look to punch his ticket back to a championship opportunity by defeating his Brazilian foe on the Showtime-televised main card of Bellator 292 at the SAP Center in San Jose.
Looking to continue his undefeated run at welterweight and keep his three-fight win – and finish – streak intact, No. 5-ranked contender Yamauchi will take on “MVP” in one of Bellator 292’s marquee main card matchups. The 30-year-old Brazilian is firmly in his prime, rattling off eight wins in his last 10 outings and adding such names as Neiman Gracie, Chris Gonzalez, Daron Cruickshank, Daniel Weichel and Levan Chokheli to his burgeoning resume. Yamauchi’s Bellator credentials are well-established: he is the first fighter in promotional history to earn wins and stoppages in three weight classes, and he stands alone atop the Bellator record books with the most submission wins in company history (nine). Now ranked inside the top five at 170 pounds, Yamauchi will aim to secure the biggest victory of his career by defeating the much-hyped Page and solidifying his status as an immediate title contender in this remarkable battle between two of MMA’s most prolific finishers.
The complete Bellator 292 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champ Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson – for lightweight title; lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
- Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy – lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
- Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
- Michael Page vs. Goiti Yamauchi
PRELIMINARY CARD (Showtime, 7 p.m. ET)
- Leandro Higo vs. James Gallagher
- Enrique Barzola vs. Erik Perez
- Keri Taylor Melendez vs. Bruna Ellen
- Cass Bell vs. Josh Hill
- Islam Mamedov vs. Shamil Nikaev
- Khalid Murtazaliev vs. Tony Johnson
- Julius Anglickas vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
- Bobby Seronio III vs. Alberto Garcia
- Laird Anderson vs. Rogelio Luna
- Wladmir Gouvea vs. Sean Tucker
- Theo Haig vs. Adam Wamsley
- Dupree Stewart vs. Demetri Georgiades
