Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson Headlines Bellator 292 in San Jose

The first two matchups of the Bellator lightweight grand prix are set for Bellator 292.

Shortly after the 155-pound field was revealed by Scott Coker, the promotion announced that Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson will serve as the headliner for the March 10 event in San Jose, Calif. Tofiq Musayev will square off against Alexandr Shabliy in another quarterfinal pairing. All lightweight grand prix bouts will be contested over five rounds.

Bellator 292 takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, and the evening’s main card airs on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Nurmagomedov is unbeaten in 16 professional outings. He claimed the lightweight throne at Bellator 288, when he took a five-round unanimous decision against Patricky Freire on Nov. 18. The American Kickboxing Academy product has finished 13 of his 16 victories inside the distance.

Henderson, a former UFC lightweight champ, is coming off back-to-back victories over Islam Mamedov and Peter Queally under the Bellator banner. “Smooth” is 7-6 during his tenure with the California-based promotion, with other notable victories against the likes of Patricio Freire, Myles Jury and Roger Huerta.

A former Rizin Fighting Federation title holder, Musayev enjoyed a successful promotional debut this past July, when he knocked out Sidney Outlaw in 27 seconds at Bellator 283. The 33-year-old Azerbaijan native has been victorious in 16 of his last 17 outings.

Shabliy will take a seven-bout winning streak into his showdown with Musayev. The 29-year-old Russian is 3-0 in Bellator, including a second-round TKO of Brent Primus in his most recent appearance at Bellator 282.