Bellator middleweight champion Brandon Halsey will make his first title defense in the main event of Bellator 137 on May 15 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California as he is challenged by Kendall Grove.
The fight booking was recently posted on the Pechanga website and Bellator made the fight official on Tuesday afternoon in a press release.
“We’re really looking forward to bringing another exciting world championship fight to a great sell-out crowd at Pechanga Resort & Casino this May,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “Our middleweight champion Brandon Halsey has been extremely impressive through his first 8 fights, and I’m looking forward to watching him defend his belt for the first time against Kendall Grove.”
Halsey (8-0) won the Bellator middleweight title in September as he submitted Alexander Shlemenko in 35 seconds. Since dropping to middleweight in 2014, Halsey is 3-0 and two of the wins have come by submission. Grove (21-14, 1NC) made his Bellator debut last year and has won two of his three fights in the promotion. Following a defeat to Brett Cooper in the season ten middleweight tournament, he defeated former Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu by submission at Bellator 127.
Tickets for Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove are available on the Pechanga website and ticket prices are $150, $85, $50.