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Bellator 226 pre-event facts: Cheick Kongo can become Bellator’s oldest champion

Bellator kicks off a busy September on Saturday with Bellator 226, which takes place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., with a main card that streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A heavyweight championship bout takes center stage in the main event. Ryan Bader (27-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) puts his newly won belt on the line against Cheick Kongo (30-10-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA), who hasn’t dropped a fight since February 2015.

For more on the numbers behind Bellator 226, which also marks the start of the organization’s featherweight grand prix, check below for 30 pre-event facts.

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Main event

Bader became the first simultaneous two-division champion in Bellator history when he won at Bellator 214 in January.

Bader is one of two simultaneous two-division champions in Bellator history. Patricio Freire also accomplished the feat.

Bader is one of three fighters in Bellator history to win titles in two weight classes. Freire and Joe Warren also accomplished the feat.

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 12-1 in his past 13 fights. The lone defeat in that stretch came against Anthony Johnson at UFC on FOX 18 in January 2016.

Bader is 3-0 since he moved up to the heavyweight division in May 2018.

Bader’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Kongo (eight) and Tyrell Fortune (seven).

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

Kongo, 44, is the oldest of the 12 scheduled main card fighters.

Kongo, 44, becomes the oldest fighter to compete in a Bellator championship bout.

Kongo competes in his 15th Bellator heavyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Kongo competes in his 33rd Bellator/UFC bout, tied with Jim Miller for the most appearances in combined organizational history.

Kongo’s 12 victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Kongo’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Kongo’s five stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Javy Ayala (six).

Kongo’s four knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Vitaly Minakov (five).

Co-main event

Daniel Straus (25-8 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) competes in his 16th Bellator featherweight bout, the second most appearances in divisional history behind Patricio Freire (19).

Straus’ 10 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for third most ind divisional history behind Freire (16) and A.J. McKee (14).

Straus is one of eight fighters in Bellator history to have multiple title reigns in a single weight class. He accomplished the feat at featherweight.

Derek Campos’ (19-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2017.

Remaining main card

Pat Curran (23-8 MMA, 13-5 BMMA) is 10-4 since he dropped to the Bellator featherweight division in June 2011.

Curran’s 10 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for third most ind divisional history behind Freire (16) and McKee (14).

Curran is one of eight fighters in Bellator history to have multiple title reigns in a single weight class. He accomplished the feat at featherweight.

Adam Borics’ (13-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind McKee (14) and Henry Corrales (five).

Tywan Claxton’s (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind McKee (14) and Corrales (five).

Emmanuel Sanchez’s (18-4 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) seven decision wins in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Pedro Carvalho (10-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), 24, is the youngest of the 12 scheduled main card fighters.

Gaston Bolanos’ (5-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind McKee (14) and Corrales (five).

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