Evangelista Santos gets quick turnaround, meets Saad Awad at Bellator 154
A welterweight clash between Evangelista Santos and Saad Awad was added to the main card of Bellator 154, sources told MMA Fighting. The event takes place May 14 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
Santos (21-16) tapped Brennan Ward in just 30 seconds in his promotional debut on April 22, and enters the cage coming off back-to-back wins since coming off of retirement in 2016. During his 20-year MMA career, "Cyborg" has fought the likes of Melvin Manhoef, Mauricio Rua, Nick Diaz, Gegard Mousasi, Francis Carmont and Marius Zaromskis.
Awad (18-7) looks to bounce back to the win column following a decision loss to Patricky Freire in August, snapping a three-fight winning streak. Awad moves up to 170 pounds after building a 6-4 record under the Bellator banner with four first-round finishes, including a 43-second knockout over current lightweight champ Will Brooks.
Bellator 154 features Phil Davis versus Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal in the main event.
Main card:
Phil Davis vs. Muhammed Lawal
Sergei Kharitonov vs. Josh Appelt
Evangelista Santos vs. Saad Awad
Andre Fialho vs. Rick Reger
Preliminary card:
Joshua Hardwick vs. Jorge Acosta
Victor Jones vs. Anthony Taylor
Danasabe Mohammed vs. Martin Sano
Josh Paiva vs. Steven Gruber
Sam Spengler vs. Doyle Childs
Josh San Diego vs. Jeremiah Labiano
Alvin Cacdac vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Thomas Diagne vs. Mark Dickman
Stephanie Frausto vs. Jamielene Nievara
Brandon Hester vs. Nick Pica
James Chapman vs. Sean Tucker