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After losing its co-main event, Bellator 185 has suffered from further misfortune as the main card was hit by two more high-profile withdrawals, including popular welterweight Brennan Ward, which has left the American promotion scrambling.

Bellator 185 is due to take place later this week on Friday, October 20 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut and will feature a main event which sees the promotional debut of one-time Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi as he takes on Bellator middleweight stalwart Alexander Shlemenko.

The withdrawal of Ward has seen Bellator also remove his opponent, David Rickels, from the night’s action and the preliminary bout between lightweights Ryan Quinn and Marcus Surin has been moved up the pecking order and onto the main card. The news of the changes was first announced by MMAJunkie.com.

Another fighter to miss out on Bellator 185 is Javier Torres, who has been forced to pull out of his main card welterweight bout with Neiman Gracie due to an injury. Gracie will now face promotional newcomer Zak Bucia who has stepped in at short notice and will take the Mexican fighter’s place.

These unfortunate events are just the latest to befall Bellator 185 after the co-main event disintegrated into nothing last week. Firstly, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal was the event’s first casualty as he was forced to withdraw from his light-heavyweight clash with former champion Liam McGeary due to an injury.

After a replacement was found for Lawal in U.S. regional journeyman Bubba McDaniel, McGeary was forced to bow out of the bout as well only days later. With the Brit also suffering from an injury, Bellator would scrap the bout completely and decide go ahead with the already scheduled fights.

Bellator 185 Fight Card

Middleweight Main Event: Gegard Mousasi vs. Alexander Shlemenko

Welterweight Bout: Neiman Gracie vs. Zak Bucia

Womens Flyweight Bout: Heather Hardy vs. Kristina Williams

Lightweight Bout: Ryan Quinn vs. Marcus Surin

Womens Flyweight Bout: Ana Julaton vs. Lisa Blaine

Middleweight Bout: Steve Skrzat vs. Costello van Steenis

Catchweight Bout (195lbs): Jordan Young vs. Alec Hooban

Lightweight Bout: Dean Hancock vs. John Beneduce

Featherweight Bout: Pete Rogers Jr. vs. Timothy Wheeler

Welterweight Bout: Joaquin Buckley vs. Vinicius de Jesus

Catchweight Bout (150lbs): Matt Denning vs. Don Shainis

Catchweight Bout (150lbs): Vovka Clay vs. Frank Sforza

Lightweight Bout: Jose Antonio Perez vs. Kevin Carrier

Flyweight Bout: Billy Giovanella vs  John Lopez