Anthony Adams to replace Khalid Murtazaliev, meet Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 280

Former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor Anthony Adams will replace Khalid Murtazaliev and lock horns with Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 280.

The California-based promotion announced the new middleweight contest at a press conference on Wednesday. A reason for Murtazaliev’s withdrawal was not given. Bellator 280 takes place at Accor Arena in Paris on May 6 and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship clash between Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo.

Adams defeated Murtazaliev via unanimous decision in his promotional debut at Bellator 266 before signing a multi-fight deal with the organization. The Elevation Fight Team representative went 0-2 on the Contender Series, dropping a split decision to Chibwikem Onyenegecha and falling to Impa Kasanganay via unanimous decision. “Sugafoot” is 9-2 as a professional overall, with eight of those triumphs going the distance.

Larkin will take a five-bout promotional winning streak into the matchup with Adams. The former Strikeforce and UFC talent returned following a year-and-a-half hiatus at Bellator 258 last May, when he defeated ex-champ Rafael Carvalho via split decision.