Bellator Fighting Championships 44, which will feature middleweight champion Hector Lombard against UFC and Strikeforce vet Falaniko “Niko” Vitale in a non-title match, will go down on May 14 in Atlantic City, N.J., at the Caesars Casino Hotel.
The promotion announced the details in a March 23 press release. The show will also feature the season four tournament finals, though the specific weight class has not been determined.
“This is a great partnership for us,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Redbney said. “Atlantic City is a classic fight town and New Jersey is a hotbed for mixed martial arts, so it was a natural fit. And, Hector vs. Falaniko should be a great fight.”
Lombard (27-2-1), a former Judo Olympian, has won his last 21 fights, including a five-round decision against Alexander Shlemenko to win the title.
Vitale (29-9) has won his last three bouts. Most recently, he stopped Dylan Clay at the March 12 X-1 show in Honolulu, Hawaii, via first round knockout.