A matchup of local favorites has been added to undercard of Bellator 49. Promotion officials formally announced plans for a featherweight bout between Lester Caslow (6-5) and James Jones (10-9) late Tuesday afternoon.
Under the tutelage of former UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino, New Jersey-native Caslow rode an experienced kick boxing foundation to the Extreme Challenge Trials Middleweight title to begin his amateur career. Since then, the 27-year-old has competed under the Bellator umbrella once, losing to Kenny Foster via unanimous decision last October.
Affectionately known as "Binky," Jones is a six-foot Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist out of Baltimore's Ground Control Academy. He has garnered a wide range of opponents throughout his nine-year career, including bouts against UFC veterans Jim Miller, Thiago Tavares, and Jim Hettes. Currently, Jones enters the matchup riding on a two-fight win streak after defeating Jay Haas and Ran Weathers over a span of six months.
"To have the ability to put together world-class tournaments and memorable feature fights at the same time is what makes it fun for us," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in a press release. "Lester, being a New Jersey product, will have great fan backing and Binky has always been a crowd favorite and known for putting on exciting fights. This should be a great one."
Bellator 49 is scheduled for September 10th at Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey. The event debuts Bellator's fifth season and is headlined by a quartet of quarterfinal fights tied to the promotion's welterweight tournament.