There is no love lost between Fabian Edwards and Johnny Eblen ahead of their Bellator Middleweight Championship showdown on September 23.
The Jamaican-British challenger goes up against the American champion at Bellator 299 in Dublin on Saturday evening as Edwards looks to make history and join brother Leon Edwards as a champion in a major MMA promotion. The 30-year-old (12-2) is looking to snap the winning record of the Iowa-born champ who has won all 13 of his professional outings.ย
The pair had to be pulled apart at their weigh-ins on Friday as tempers boiled over. Edwards, nicknamed The Assassin, weighed in first to applause from the crowd while coming in at the 185lbs on the dot.
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'Pressure' Eblen (184.6lbs) was next up holding his championship belt, raising it aloft over his head before the pair squared off. Few words were exchanged before the middleweights were thanked by president Scott Coker – but the discontent would follow.
Security stepped in as the champion, 31, laughed in his face of his opponent with Edwards pointing back angrily as staff intervened to avoid them coming to blows. Both men are fiercely confident of taking the belt home come Saturday evening, with UFC welterweight king Leon set to be in his brother's corner.
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Edwards told Daily Star Sport last week: "This is a chance to make history for Birmingham, for my family, for Jamaica – It really feels like this is my time. The camp has been so steady and we've been able to add bits in even now, my body feels great and it feels like it's my time."
The contest, which goes down at the 3Arena in the Irish capital, pits the champion against the #1 contender at the top of a stacked card. Aaron Pico takes on Pedro Carvalho at featherweight after Sinead Kavanagh and Sara Collins go head-to-head.
The time for talking is almost over as KSI and Tommy Fury will bury their rivarly once and for all as they face off in Manchester on Saturday, October 14th. Logan Paul will also be fighting at the event in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
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Also on the card are Peter Queally, Charlie Ward and Luke Trainer, with 21 fights on a packed night of MMA action.
Fans can tune into Bellator 299: Eblen vs Edwards live from the 3Arena, Dublin, on BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Saturday 23rd September.
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