Bellator stars Fabian Edwards and Charlie Ward will finally do battle in Milan on October 29 when the pair co-headline the promotion's return to Italy, Mirror Fighting understands.
The Brit recently returned to winning ways after a two-fight skid with a vicious knockout of former UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, while Ward has won his last three. And after the pair had agreed to fight back in November, there is a grudge held by Edwards due to the Irishman pulling out with an injury.
Both men were back in action after lengthy layoffs at the promotion's May event in London at the OVO Arena Wembley. Ward picked up an unanimous decision victory over Brazilian Alan Carlos, while Edwards famously stopped Machida in an explosive finish.
Edwards is currently in America preparing to corner his brother Leon, who fights for UFC gold against Kamaru Usman next week at UFC 278. But he will return to the UK to start an intensive training camp shortly after, and has been told that a win over Ward after beating Machida should be enough to get him in the discussion for a fight with newly-crowned champion Johnny Eblen.
"The fight got announced and then a few weeks later he pulled out," Edwards said of the situation between he and Ward. "I was a bit sceptical of signing up for this fight because I'm not a fan of signing up to face someone who has pulled out, especially when he apparently knew he was injured before he took the fight.
"I just thought he was taking the p***, if I'm honest. I was coming off a couple of losses, I hadn't fought in ages, and this is how we make our money so for me to sign up to a fight he was injured for and for me to be putting in the work, I'm having to cram an eight week camp into half the time because I only had about four weeks to prepare.
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"I'm after gold belts and big cheques, so for him to pull out of a fight like he did left a bad taste in my mouth. After I dealt with Machida I went after revenge, I wanted Austin Vanderford [the last man who beat him] straight away, but they've given me the path where it's Charlie, one more fight, and then a world title so I was like 'okay,' and now I know what's laid out for me."
The Milan card will be headlined by veteran Adam Piccolotti against the newly signed French star Mansour Barnaoui. Also featured will be British veteran Tim Wilde, who welcomes Saul Rogers up to lightweight.
Andrew Fisher will also look to land himself a spot in the featherweight rankings with a win over Justin Gonzalez, who is ranked at No.8. The event is the promotion's latest foray into Europe, and first back in Italy since their behind-closed-doors shows in 2020.
Tickets for BELLATOR 287: Piccolotti vs. Barnaoui are on sale now and can be purchased online at Bellator.com and Bellator.it
