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By Brett Okamoto, ESPN staff writer
Two Bellator MMA title bouts will be the main events of two separate events in September, promotion officials announced Tuesday.
Lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) will defend his title against Alexandre Chabry (24-3) at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at Pechanga Arena on Sept. 7. One week later, middleweight champion Johnny Eblen (15-0) will face Fabian Edwards (13-3) in a rematch on the main card at OVO Arena in Wembley, London.
Nurmagomedov is the cousin of retired UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and is widely considered one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. He hasn't fought since October, when he was suspended for six months after testing positive for a banned substance in one of his prescription medications, and he also suffered a knee injury earlier this year.
Eblen kicked off his 2024 campaign with a split decision win over 2023 PFL champion Impa Kasanganay. The middleweight bout turned out to be much more competitive than expected, but Eblen maintained his unbeaten record in the PFL's biggest bout of the year in Saudi Arabia.
Eblen knocked out Edwards in September to defend his Bellator title. Edwards, the younger brother of current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, will be looking to get revenge and win the title back in his native England. He defeated Aaron Jeffery by decision in March to force the rematch.
