STAMFORD, Conn. – The heavyweight division will be prominently displayed Saturday at Bellator 225, and Javy Ayala hopes to make an impression in his co-main event fight with Vitaly Minakov. Ayala (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) meets ex-champ Minakov (21-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) before the event headliner, which will see Matt Mitrione (13-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) rematch Sergei Kharitonov (29-7 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in another important matchup. With champion Ryan Bader set to put the heavyweight title up for grabs against Cheick Kongo next month at Bellator 226, Ayala thinks the two bouts could set up a title eliminator situation for who gets the Bader vs. Kongo winner. “I feel like we’re in the same category as Matt and Sergei,” Ayala told MMA Junkie at Bellator 225 media day.
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Javy Ayala hopes top-billed fights at Bellator 225 set up title eliminator – MMA Junkie