Bellator MMA matchmakers decided against a soft landing for Corey Anderson.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran will make his organizational debut opposite Surinamese knockout artist Melvin Manhoef in the Bellator 251 headliner on Thursday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Anderson has rattled off four wins in his past five starts but finds himself on the rebound following a knockout loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in February. Manhoef, meanwhile, has secured back-to-back victories over Kent Kauppinen and Yannick Bahati since being leveled by a Rafael Carvalho head kick in April 2017.