After much speculation over where Ryan Scope would fight next, the lightweight prospect has revealed that he will face ex-UFC competitor Mickael Lebout on BAMMA’s year-end show in Newcastle.
Following Scope’s initial reveal on social media, BAMMA has confirmed the fight through a press release on Wednesday afternoon.
The promotion also noted that the winner of the December 15 contest will put themselves in prime position for an opportunity at the vacant BAMMA Lightweight title ‘in the months to come’.
Scope (10-1), 25, formerly responded to a fan on social media in September, informing that Frenchman Lebout would be his next opponent.
December 15 BAMMA Mickael Lebout
— Ryan Scope (@ryanscope1) September 26, 2017
BAMMA 33 — which will be co-promoted by BAMMA and Bellator MMA — takes place in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena, just a stone’s throw from Scope’s native Sunderland.
His last BAMMA fight took place more than three years ago in April 2014.
On that night, “Big Baby” beat a more favoured Ali Arish by unanimous decision, a victory which many thought would launch his career to the next level. However, the fight would be Scope’s last for more than two years.
Renewed through fatherhood, Scope returns to fighting in 2016
In October 2016, Scope returned from his hiatus following the birth of his daughter, fighting on Russian promotion Absolute Championship Berkut’s first United Kingdom show. His return took place in Glasgow, Scotland; this time moving down from welterweight to lightweight, against Yusup Umarov. The tough Russian actually hurt him early in their fight, before Scope recomposed to win by knockout in the second round.
After that, he decided to return to his original 170-pound weight class after struggling to get matched, where he signed to fight equally revered Lewis Long on Scope’s home show, Made4TheCage. Difficult circumstances brought them both together, but the gamble didn’t pay off for the 25-year-old, with Long submitting him in the first round for his first career defeat.
Now without an unbeaten record bearing over him, there have been numerous rumblings over Scope’s future. A deal with ACB seemed likely at one point, according to a source inside the promotion, but nothing materialised.
Instead, it was reported by SevereMMA that Scope would face Paul Redmond on December 15, but ultimately the Irishman’s camp turned that one down due to disputes with BAMMA.
Now the North East fighter is slated to face Mickael Lebout (16-7-2), who was released from the UFC in 2015 with only one win in three. Since then, he has won two and lost just as many, with his most notable defeat coming against Englishman Tim Wilde in Cage Warriors.
There has been no official confirmation from BAMMA but MMA Plus has reached out for clarification.
