Report: Ion Pascu Steps Up to Face Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 207

Lorenz Larkin has found a new opponent for Bellator 207 on Oct. 12. Monday evening Erick Silva, who was supposed to face Larkin, pulled out the bout due to a rib injury as confirmed by the Brazilian to MMA Fighting following a report by MMAjunkie. The one-time welterweight title contender is now set to face Romanian Ion Pascu, sources confirmed to Sherdog.com.

Larkin scored his first Bellator victory against Fernando Gonzalez last January. Prior to that, he was on a two-bout skid after losing to Douglas Lima in his Bellator debut and being knocked out by Paul Daley at Bellator 183. It’s not the first time an opponent pulled out of this welterweight grand prix alternate fight against “The Monsoon”; Silva was himself a replacement for Larkin's original opponent, Yaroslav Amosov.

Pascu, who has recently been sparring with Conor McGregor, helping the Irishman to prepare for his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, made his Bellator debut at Bellator 196, losing a unanimous decision to unfefeated super-prospect and fellow grand prix entrant Ed Ruth. “The Bombardier” won his next fight outside Bellator by besting Alex Lohore in the main event of BAMMA 35. The SBGi representative now is ready to take his chances in the Bellator welterweight grand prix alternate bout.

Bellator 207 features Ryan Bader vs. Matt Mitrione in the main event and will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.