On just over two weeks' notice, Georgi Karakhanyan will replacing Ashleigh Grimshaw in the Bellator 218 main event against former opponent Emmanuel Sanchez.
According to Bellator MMA on Friday, Karakhanyan (29-8-1, 1 NC) is stepping up on short notice to face Sanchez (17-4) in a rematch at Bellator 218 in Thackerville, Okla. on March 22. The two men met previously at Bellator 170 in 2017, where Sanchez took a majority decision. While Sanchez was ahead on the scorecards, he was deducted a point in the second round when he threw an illegal knee while Karakhanyan was downed.