The undercard for Bellator 179 has been announced and surprisingly, future foes Alex Lohore and Nathan Jones have been drafted separate assignments on May 19.
Bellator 179 will be the promotion’s second venture in London, following on from Bellator 158 last July.
In recent months, it has felt like two of BAMMA’s top welterweight have been on a collision course. After Jones defeated Walter Gahadza and Lohore bested Colin Fletcher, it felt like their convergence was inevitable.
With all eyes on London – the home to both BAMMA fighters – many expected them to be matched on the Wembley Arena card, but the matchmakers are keeping them apart for a bit longer.
Competing on the undercard of Paul Daley vs. Rory MacDonald, Jones will face Umer Kayani, whilst Lohore battles Dan Vinni.
Jones, who is currently over in Alberqueque, NM training at JacksonWinkMMA, has fought Kayani in the past, besting him in a UK1 bout back at UCMMA 32 in February, 2013. In that contest, Jones knocked out “Bullet Tooth” with a second round left high kick.
Interestingly, the same show Jones fought Umer on was where fellow Bellator 179 fighter Linton Vassell won the UCMMA light-heavyweight title, his last fight before signing to Bellator MMA.
As for Lohore, he takes on 29-year-old old Vinni, who holds a record of 14-14. Notable losses for Vinni include current UFC fighter Magnus Cedenblad, Xavier Foupa-Pokam and Dean Amasinger.
“Da Kid” is on a seven-fight win streak, and following his second round submission over Fletcher at Bellator 173, he is considered one of the UK’s best welterweight prospects.
Comparing their assignments to the caliber of opponents in recent fights, it seems as if Bellator 179 is designed as a method of keeping both fighters active, untile their eventual meeting later this year.
If both Jones and Lohore can win big at Bellator 179, it is expected that they will collide on a BAMMA event in September.
