Multiple people with knowledge of Bellator’s plans told MMA Fighting the matchup is verbally agreed to, though contracts have yet to be signed. The planned bout was first reported by ESPN.com.
Vanderford, the husband of MMA star Paige VanZant, picked up his fourth Bellator win this past November and outpointed short-notice replacement Vinicius de Jesus after bouts with his previous two opponents were cancelled.
A wrestling and submission standout, Vanderford remains undefeated in MMA with a 10-0 record.
Edwards, meanwhile, is the brother of UFC welterweight standout Leon Edwards and is seven months removed from his first setback in the Bellator cage, a split call loss to Costello van Steenis that marked his first setback as a professional. Prior to that, he won nine straight bouts, including four under the Bellator banner.
Bellator 259 is headlined by a featherweight rematch between champ Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith and takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event’s main card airs live on Showtime.
{feed:enclosure_href }
More...
