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 hero Richard 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 for Bellator Dublin are on sale now through Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.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 out Mickael Bucher in 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 by Douglas 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 Daley in 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” Gallagher return to headline his hometown show against the UK’s Cal Ellenor in a bantamweight matchup. Meanwhile, British prospect Ryan Scope returns to action in the lightweight division, against Ireland’s Peter Queally, and women’s featherweight Leah McCourt steps up against Kerry Hughes in another Anglo-Irish clash.
Updated Bellator Dublin Card:
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)
Welterweight bout: Constantin Gnusariev (2-0-1) vs. Ian Coughlan (1-0)
Lightweight bout: Gavin Hughes (10-1) vs. Ryan Roddy (7-1-1)
Women’s flyweight bout: Camila Rivarola (2-1-1) vs. Danni Neilan (Pro Debut)
*Card subject to change