Bellator 196 took a major blow when it was revealed that undefeated SBG product James Gallagher would be taken off the card due to an undisclosed injury. Gallagher was scheduled to take on Adam Borics in the main event of the promotions return to Budapest; Borics will remain on the card to take on Manuel Gaxhja, a man who mirrors his record of 6-0. That bout will serve as the new co-main event of the evening. So, what about that main event?

It’s been announced by Bellator officials that the new main event will feature former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson taking on former Sports Illustrated cover boy Roger Heurta. The bout will be contested at 155 lbs. 

Henderson’s transition to Bellator hasn’t gone as “Smooth” as most would have expected. The MMA Lab fighter has come up short in two title bids, losing to both Andrey Koreshkov and Michael Chandler at 170 and 155 lbs respectively, before dropping a tought split decision loss to Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 183. His lone Bellator win would come in between the aforementioned title bids against Patricio Pitbull via injury — the younger Pitbull brother would be forced to verbally submit due to suffering a broken shin as a result of checking a low kick during the first round. 

For Huerta, this will be his first fight under the Bellator banner since all the way back in 2010, nearly 8 years ago, when he faced Eddie Alvarez in the main event of Bellator 33. Huerta was regarded as one of the top lightweights in the sport at one time, holding a record of 20-1-1 after earning Fight of the Year honors opposite Clay Guida at the TUF 6 Finale just over a decade ago.

Bellator 196 ‘Henderson vs. Huerta’ will air via tape delay on the Paramount Network on April 6th beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The event will be followed by Bellator Kickboxing 9 at 11 p.m. ET. Here are the fight cards as of today for both events.

Bellator 196: Henderson vs. Huerta

Lightweight Main Event: Benson Henderson (24-8) vs. Roger Huerta (24-9-1, 1 NC)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Adam Borics (6-0) vs. Manuel Gaxhja (6-0)
Women’s Flyweight Main Card Bout: Denise Kielholtz (1-1) vs. Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5, 1 NC)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: Brian Moore (10-6) vs. Giorgio Belsanti (7-6-1)

Bellator Kickboxing 9

Welterweight World Title Bout: Raymond Daniels (33-3) vs. Djibril Ehouo (38-9-2)
Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alexy Ignashov (85-21) vs. TBD
Women’s Featherweight Main Card Bout: Jorina Baars (44-0-3) vs. Julie Burton (7-1)

Weird things seem to happen when Harut Grigorian and Murthel Groenhart happen, and it continued this night in Chicago, when Grigorian knocked out by Groenhart at the end of Round 1 to take the Glory welterweight title. It was an incredible reversal for Grigorian, who had knocked out by Groenhart twice before, including a controversial verdict last June that saw Groenhart clock Grigorian as he inexplicably walked back to his corner.

This time, Grigorian hurt him with a right hand along the ropes and followed with a flurry that dropped him. Groenhart got up but Grigorian jumped on him and hit with two right hands that sent him scampering for cover and the ref decided to stop the fight.

Catch up on the undercard from Glory 50 out of Chicago below.

After two relatively quiet weekends of combat sports, we have an absolute MONSTER this weekend, and it all starts tonight. If you haven’t already checked out my Bellator 194 preview — you can dig into that right here. For the rest of the top flight regional MMA and kickboxing — continue reading below!

LFA 33

The Bomb Factory
Dallas, Texas
9 p.m. ET (AXS TV)

MMA’s top regional promotion heads back to one of their strongholds in Dallas, Texas with two undefeated welterweights battle in the main event, as Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series vet and former marine Kyle Stewart (7-0) battles Memphis’ Jaleel Willis (8-0). Another DWTNCS vet Alonzo Meinfeld (5-0) continues his progression, facing Brice Coe (4-4), and Texas strawweight prospect Maycee Barber (2-0) faces Kalia Thompson (0-1).

But the big news maker on this card will be disgraced former NFL All Pro and Dallas Cowboy Greg Hardy having his third amateur fight against somebody called Ryan Chester. I don’t believe it’s being televised or streamed, but you’ll hear about Saturday morning no matter what…

Titan FC 48

Watsco Civic Center
Coral Gables, Florida
7 p.m. ET (UFC Fight Pass)

Despite being in the MMA heavy state of Florida and having the most awesome title belts of any company in MMA, I don’t usually include Titan FC cards on these previews, but you should definitely watch this Friday as they will feature one of the top prospects in all of MMA as Chicago’s Jose “Shorty” Torres, the Titan FC flyweight AND bantamweight champion, will defend his 135 title against Columbia’s Alberto Orellano (3-2). If you have Fight Pass, he is well worth the watch…

Glory 50

UIC Pavilion
Chicago, Illinois
Prelims — 8:30 pm ET (UFC Fight Pass), Main Card — 10 pm ET (ESPN3)

The premier kickboxing organization returns to America with a card that includes two title fights and a four-man heavyweight tournament. The main event features Dutch sensation Murthel Groenhart (65-23-3, 37 KOs, 10-6 Glory) defending his Glory welterweight title Harut Grigorian (55-11, 32 KOs, 5-2 Glory), who won a welterweight contender tournament last August in Chicago. This is the third time those two have met in Glory, with Groenhart winning both matches by knockout (the first one was particularly crazy).

image credit – LFA (Facebook)