Bellator MMA officially announced Monday that Bellator light-heavyweight Champion Christian M’Pumbu will defend his belt against knockout artist Attila Vegh on Feb. 28 at New Mexico’s Santa Ana Star Center.
M’Pumbu defends the title that he won in early 2011 when he captured the inaugural Bellator light-heavyweight tournament with three highlight-reel knockouts over Chris Davis, Tim Carpenter and Richard Hale.
He returns to the cage after more than a year absence; his last fight was a decision loss to Travis Wiuff at Bellator 55 in October 2011, but that was a non-title bout.
“I look forward to getting back in the cage and putting on a show for all of the amazing Bellator fans throughout the world,” M’Pumbu said.
The Slovakian Vegh is the most recent winner of a Bellator light-heavyweight tournament, where he knocked out Wiuff in the final at Bellator 73 last August. He is now riding an eight-fight winning streak.
NOTES: The long-awaited featherweight tournament final between Utah’s Rad Martinez and Russia’s Shahbulat Shamhalaev will take place at Salt Lake City’s Maverik Center on Feb. 21. It was originally set to be held at Bellator 83 on Dec. 7 before Shamhalaev was sidelined with food poisoning.