Charlie and the Viking: Charlie Leary steps up for short-notice clash with Soren Bak at Bellator Paris
English lightweight stalwart will make a short-notice hop across the English Channel to face a former Cage Warriors champion.
Charlie Leary is all set for his second fight of 2022 as he prepares for a short-notice assignment in Paris on May 6.
Team Crossface veteran Leary's willingness to share the cage with any opponent has seen him become one of Bellator's lightweight staples since he joined the promotion as part of their European expansion in 2018.
Since then, "917" has competed six times inside the Bellator cage, alternating wins and losses throughout that run. Victories over Tom Green, Chris Bungard and Kiefer Crosbie have been offset by defeats to Paul Redmond, Tim Wilde and Davy Gallon, with the latter defeat coming in his last appearance at Bellator 275 in Dublin in February.
But the 39-year-old is staying active and has accepted a short-notice bout to replace fellow countryman Saul Rogers against former Cage Warriors lightweight champion Soren Bak at Bellator 280, which takes place in Paris, France next weekend.
Rogers announced on Thursday that a training camp injury had forced him off the card, and Leary later confirmed that he had accepted the chance to step in.
Bak hasn't lost since 2016, and has claimed victories over the likes of former Cage Warriors champions Paddy Pimblett and Morgan Charriere, and ex-BAMMA champions Terry Brazier and Martin Stapleton. Now “The True Viking” is heading to Paris in search of his third straight victory under the Bellator banner.
The bout joins a packed lineup for Paris on a fight card that is headlined by a battle for the Bellator heavyweight title, as France's Cheick Kongo challenges defending champ Ryan Bader in a rematch of their title fight no contest at Bellator 226 in September 2019.
Bellator 280: Confirmed Fights
MAIN CARD
Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo – for Bellator heavyweight title
Yoel Romero vs. Melvin Manhoef
Yves Landu vs. Gavin Hughes
Soren Bak vs. Charlie Leary
Lorenz Larkin vs. Kyle Stewart
Mike Shipman vs. Gregory Babene
PRELIMINARY CARD
Lewis Long vs. Thibault Gouti
Fabacary Diatta vs. Jordan Barton
Nicolo Solli vs. Joel Kouadja
Lucie Bertaud vs. Katarzyna Sadura
Pedro Carvalho vs. Piotr Niedzielski
Youcef Ouabbas vs. Matthieu Letho
Victor Verchere vs. Bourama Camara