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Bellator 207 pre-event facts: Matt Mitrione, Ryan Bader facing first Bellator loss

Bellator action returns this weekend with an event doubleheader that will see the heavyweight grand prix tournament semifinals unfold over consecutive nights. Bellator 207, which takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMAjunkie, is the first of the two cards.

In the main event, Matt Mitrione (13-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and Ryan Bader (25-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) will attempt to punch their ticket to the finals of the eight-man tournament when they clash in a matchup that will see one man lose under the Bellator banner for the first time.

Although the heavyweights are the center-point of the card, Bellator 207 has some other goods to offer, as well. For more on the numbers, check below for 23 pre-event facts.

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Main event

All of Mitrione’s career bouts have taken place under the Bellator or UFC banners.

Mitrione’s four-fight Bellator winning streak in heavyweight competition is the third longest active streak in the division behind Cheick Kongo (six) and Tyrell Fortune (five).

Mitrione has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes three of his four Bellator wins.

Bader, the current Bellator light heavyweight champion, was successful in his heavyweight debut, when he defeated Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 199 in May.

Bader became the first fighter in Bellator history to win a championship in his promotional debut when he defeated Phil Davis at Bellator 180 in June 2017.

Bader is 10-1 in his past 11 fights. The lone defeat in that stretch came to Anthony Johnson at UFC on FOX 18 in January 2016.

Bader has earned both of his Bellator stoppage victories by knockout.

Bader’s 15-second knockout of Lawal at Bellator 199 is the second fastest in Bellator heavyweight history behind Eddie Sanchez’s 10-second victory at Bellator 8.

Bader has suffered all five of his career losses to fighters who have held or challenged for a UFC championship.

Co-main event

Roy Nelson (23-15 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has alternated wins and loses over his past seven fights. He lost to Mitrione in his most recent bout at Bellator 194 in February.

Nelson’s total fight time of 3:22:33 in UFC heavyweight competition is third most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (3:48:13) and Junior Dos Santos (3:28:55).

Nelson is the only fighter in UFC history to record his first seven victories with the organization by knockout.

Nelson absorbed 985 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history. Of those 985 strikes, 640 were landed to the head.

Nelson has suffered 13 of his 15 career losses by decision.

Sergei Kharitonov

Sergei Kharitonov (27-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) returns to Bellator competition for the first time since March 2017. He went 3-0 (with one no-contest) since his most recent appearance.

Kharitonov is 9-1 (with one no-contest) in his past 11 fights dating back to September 2011.

Kharitonov has earned 25 of his 27 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 22 of those wins in Round 1.

Remaining main card

Lorenz Larkin

Lorenz Larkin (19-7 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) is 6-7 in his past 13 fights dating back to July 2012.

Larkin is 4-3 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2015.

Kevin Ferguson Jr. (3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) – aka “Baby Slice” – is the son of the late Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.

Ferguson Jr. makes his lightweight debut at the event.

Ferguson Jr. has earned all of his career victories by stoppage.

Ferguson’s 34-second victory at Bellator 197 is the seventh fastest submission in Bellator history.

For more on Bellator 207, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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