MVP to face Richard Kiely in the co-main event at Bellator Dublin

Leading mixed martial arts promotion Bellator MMA has today announced an electric welterweight bout for Bellator Dublin, which takes place at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday, September 27. Hometown heroRichard Kiely(3-1) is given the fight of his life, matched with British MMA star,Michael “Venom” Page(14-1) in a contest which promises to light up the main card of Bellator’s highly-anticipated return to Ireland.

Tickets forBellator Dublinare on sale now throughTicketmaster.ieandBellator.com, as well as the 3Arena box office.

Kiely returns to Dublin’s 3Arena after making his Bellator debut in the same venue five months ago where he made the perfect start under the promotion, knocking outMickael Bucherin the very first round. With just four professional bouts to his name, Kiely has been granted the opportunity of a lifetime in 15-fight veteran Page and will be dreaming of a repeat performance in front of what is certain to be an audibly partisan crowd. A product of Ireland’s world-renowned Straight Blast Gym (SBG), Kiely has made a promising start to his career, with three wins from four pro bouts, but victory against Page would be his finest achievement in the sport to date and propel his name forward within the welterweight division.

For London’s Page, stepping into enemy territory to face Kiely, the bout presents an opportunity to return to winning ways, having fallen to his first professional defeat last time out in the Bellator Welterweight Grand Pix semi-finals, where he was knocked out in the second round byDouglas Lima. Before that loss, Page had built up an astonishing 14-fight winning streak, including a number of highlight-reel finishes and a win against arch-rival Paul Daleyin February. He represents arguably the sternest test Kiely has faced in his comparatively short MMA career and will relish the chance to demonstrate his explosive skillset in front of a hostile crowd.

Today’s announcement comes hot on the heels of the confirmation of a mouthwatering main event, which sees James “The Strabanimal” Gallagherreturn to headline his hometown show against the UK’sCal Ellenorin a bantamweight matchup. Meanwhile, British prospectRyan Scopereturns to action in the lightweight division, against Ireland’sPeter Queally, and women’s featherweightLeah McCourtsteps up againstKerry Hughesin another Anglo-Irish clash.

UpdatedBellator DublinCard:

Bantamweight Main Event:James Gallagher(9-1) vs.Cal Ellenor(8-2)

Welterweight bout:“MVP”Michael Page(14-1) vs.Richard Kiely(3-1)

Lightweight bout:Ryan Scope(10-2) vs.Peter Queally(11-5-1)

Lightweight bout:Brandon Girtz(16-8) vs.Paul Redmond(15-8)

Bantamweight bout:Brian Moore(12-7) vs.Toby Misech(11-7)

Women’s featherweight bout:Leah McCourt(2-1) vs.Kerry Hughes(3-4)

Light heavyweight bout:Lee Chadwick(25-14-1) vs.Karl Moore(8-2)

Bantamweight bout:Frans Mlambo(7-4) vs.Dominique Wooding(6-2)

Welterweight bout:Philip Mulpeter(9-6) vs.Keith McCabe(3-4-1)

Featherweight bout:Richie Smullen(4-1-1) vs.Sean Tobin(6-3)

Featherweight bout:Dylan Logan(3-3) vs.Adam Gustab(4-4)