Bellator MMA returned with their fourth event of 2024, the first in the United States this year, and a lightweight title fight atop the marquee. Also featured at Bellator Champions Series San Diego was a No. 1 contender fight in the welterweight division between Lorenz Larkin and Levan Chokheli, while former welterweight champion Douglas Lima faced highly-ranked middleweight contender Aaron Jeffery.
With plenty of stakes on the line during the main card, the co-main event saw a major statement be made, not only for the top-contender spot, but in the way it was done.