Bellator hits London on May 13th in what promises to be a fantastic card, Bellator 281. In a stacked main-card, including Douglas Lima, Lyoto Machida, and Fabian Edwards. We were in for a treat culminating with an exciting welterweight matchup between Yaroslav Amosov and Michael Venom Page.
However, selflessly and courageously, Amosov has chosen to stay in Ukraine, fighting for the safety and security of his country. You know how the saying goes; the show must go on. Scott Coker has done a great job here of putting together another exciting matchup for the (interim) strap.
Logan Storley has stepped in to replace Amosov. He is coming into hostile territory to face the hometown fighter for the interim welterweight title. Six weeks’ notice cannot necessarily be considered short notice. However, even six months could not be long enough to prepare for MVP.
Logan Storley
Logan “Storm” Storley comes into this fight with a record of 13-1. Incidentally, his one loss came at the hands of the current champion, Amosov, in a close split decision back in 2020. Since then, the Sanford MMA fighter has notched off two straight victories against tough contenders in Dante Schiro and Neiman Gracie.
Fighting out of South Dakota, USA, this will be the American’s first trip across the pond. You can be sure that Storley is expecting a frosty reception from a crowd eager to see another UK fighter claim an MMA title.
Being a purebred wrestler, he certainly will pose some threats to MVP, and if he can get the fight to the ground, it could well be a long night for the Englishman. On the flip side, Page has a distinct advantage on the feet. So get ready for your classic wrestler vs striker matchup.
So, whilst this may not be the fight that everyone was expecting, it is still a fantastic and interesting fight that could produce fireworks. Whatever the result, MVP or Storley, it will cause huge ramifications in the world of MMA.
You can watch Bellator 281 on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and tickets are still available through numerous ticket vendors.
Follow me on Twitter at @Simmo_MMA and follow us at Combat Sports UK for more exclusive content!
Featured image credits to Bellator MMA
