Set to return to Hawaii, Bellator will look to start the Bantamweight Grand Prix with a bang. Also inside the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena on April 23, the main event will feature Cris Cyborg defending the Bellator featherweight title against Arlene Blencowe.
Former Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will return to action for the first time since December 2020, when she lost the title to Juliana Velasquez.
A two-time World Jiu-Jitsu Championship gold medalist, Cyborg made her pro debut in 2005. She has held featherweight gold with Strikeforce, Invicta FC, the UFC, and Bellator. Cyborg is on a five-fight win streak, her last bout a knockout win over Sinead Kavanagh back in November.
Blencowe made her pro debut in 2013. Debuting for Bellator in 2015, she is 8-4 for the promotion. Cyborg and Blencowe fought one another in October 2020, with Cyborg winning via submission. Since then, Blencowe has gone on a two-fight win streak.
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Additionally, Juan Archuleta faces Raufeon Stots and Kyoji Horiguchi faces Patchy Mix in the quarterfinals of the Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix. Archuleta vs. Stots is for the interim Bellator bantamweight title after champion Sergio Pettis was forced out of the Grand Prix due to an injury.
Below is the full rundown of the schedule for Bellator 279, with details on the fight matchups, start times, odds, and more.
When is Bellator 279: Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2
- Date: Saturday, April 23
- Start time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Main card: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET (approximately)
Bellator 279 takes place on Saturday, April 23. The YouTube prelims will start at 8:30 p.m. ET, and the main card begins at 10:30 p.m. Cyborg and Blencowe should make their way to the cage at around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights go.
How to watch Bellator 279: Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2
- U.S. - Showtime, YouTube
Bellator 279 will start with the prelims on YouTube. In the U.S., the main card will be airing live on Showtime.
Where is Bellator 279: Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe 2?
Bellator 279 will be taking place from inside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Hawaii. It can hold up to 8,800 people.
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Cyborg vs. Blencowe odds for Bellator 279
According to Bovada, Cyborg is the -1800 favorite, while Blencowe is the +800 underdog.
Cris Cyborg record, bio
- Nationality: Brazilian-American
- Born: July 9, 1985
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 28
- Record: 25-2 with one no-contest, 20 wins via knockout
Arlene Blencowe record, bio
- Nationality: Australian
- Born: April 11, 1983
- Height: 5-6
- Reach: 66 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 15-8 with eight wins via knockout
Bellator 279: Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe fight card
Main card (10:30 p.m. ET, Showtime)
- Cris Cyborg (c) vs. Arlene Blencowe for the Bellator featherweight title
- Juan Archuleta vs. Raufeon Stots for the interim Bellator bantamweight title
- Patchy Mix vs. Kyoji Horiguchi in a Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix opening bout
- Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Justine Kish; Flyweights
Prelims (8:30 p.m. ET, YouTube)
- Janay Harding vs. Dayana Silva; Featherweights
- Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Nainoa Dung; Lightweights
- Justin Gonzalez vs. Kai Kamaka III; Featherweights
- Goiti Yamauchi vs. Levan Chokheli; Welterweights
- Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Yancy Medeiros; Lightweights
- Keoni Diggs vs. Bobby King; Lightweights
- Randi Field vs. Maraya Miller; 120-pound contract weight
- Ryan Dela Cruz vs. Jordan Winski; Bantamweights
