There’s only one way the stakes get higher for Kill Cliff FC’s Magomed Magomedov (19-2): If he wins Friday at Bellator 289, he’ll move into a position that makes his next fight a $1 million payday.
But first he has to get past New York’s Patchy Mix (16-1) in Friday’s semifinal for the bantamweight grand prix at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The winner will face either interim champion Raufeon Stots (18-1) or challenger Danny Sabatello (13-1)—and they won’t have long to wait to see who they will be battling for the big dough. Stots and Sabatello are also on the main card as the main event.
Magomedov, aka Tiger, last saw action in Bellator 282 in late June, defeating Enrique Barzola in the fourth round with a guillotine choke, his favorite way to call it a day.
But tune in early to watch another KCFC fighter at Bellator 289: Jaleel Willis (15-4) is in the prelims, taking on Kyle Crutchmer (9-1) in a welterweight contest.
Willis, aka the Realest, is coming off two losses while Crutchmer is riding a three-fight win streak and climbing the rankings. The Realest will have to think Crutchmer is looking for a choke to finish him; in his last two fights Willis has been victim of an arm-triangle choke (Sabah Homasi) and a guillotine choke (Mukhamed Berhamov).
Word to the wise: Don’t choke!
You at home can see it all on Showtime. Prelims at 5:25 p.m. ET, main card at 9 p.m. ET.
