Bellator 97 weigh-in results: Chandler-Rickels, Askren-Koreshkov official

Bellator MMA’s “Summer Series” finale, featuring a pair of title fights and a pair of tournament finals, has a main card that is official for Wednesday night.

In the main event of Bellator 97, lightweight champion Michael Chandler (11-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) puts his title on the line against David Rickels (14-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA), while welterweight champ Ben Askren (11-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) defends his title against Andrey Koreshkov (13-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) in the co-main event.

All four title competitors came in under their allotted weights. Chandler and Rickels each were 154.6 pounds, while Askren was 169.9 for Koreshkov, who was 169.2.

Also on the main card, the “Summer Series” four-man light heavyweight tournament draws to a close when Muhammed Lawal (10-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) meets Jacob Noe (12-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) to determine next in line for the 205-pound title. And in the heavyweight tournament, Ryan Martinez (10-2 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) meets Vitaly Minakov (11-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA). Lawal and Noe each came in on the mark at 205.6 and 205.7 pounds, respectively. Martinez will have a sizable weight advantage at 262.8 against Minakov, who was 239.1.

The preliminary card features a pair of bantamweight tournament semifinals between Rodrigo Lima and Rafael Silva and Frank Baca vs. Anthony Leone. Silva missed weight and was given two hours to cut down an additional two-tenths of a pound. He made it on his second try, weighing in at 136 even.

Two other fighters on the preliminary card also failed to make weight on their first attempts. Richard Jacques was 1.2 pounds heavy for his 150-pound catchweight fight against Javier Palacios. And Cliff Wright came in 2.8 pounds too high for his featherweight bout against Donald Sanchez. The two were given two hours to cut the additional weight, but elected instead to forfeit an undisclosed percentage of their purses to their opponents.

Bellator 97 takes place Wednesday at Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, N.M. The three-hour main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

The Bellator 97 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (Spike TV, 7 p.m. ET)

• Michael Chandler (154.6) vs. David Rickels (154.6) – for lightweight title
• Ben Askren (169.9) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (169.2) – for welterweight title
• Muhammed Lawal (205.6) vs. Jacob Noe (205.7) – Summer Series light-heavyweight tourney final
• Ryan Martinez (262.8) vs. Vitaly Minakov (239.1) – Summer Series heavyweight tourney final
• Jared Downing (145.9) vs. Patricio Freire (145.1)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com, 4 p.m. ET)

• Will Brooks (157.5) vs. Cris Leyva (157.3) – 158-pound catchweight
• Rodrigo Lima (135.4) vs. Rafael Silva (136)* – bantamweight tournament semifinal
• Frank Baca (135.4) vs. Anthony Leone (135.9) – bantamweight tournament semifinal
• Mike Barreras (155.8) vs. Bubba Jenkins (156)
• Richard Jacques (151.2)** vs. Javier Palacios (148.4) – 151.2-pound catchweight
• Keith Berry (189.9) vs. Jeremy Kimball (189.2)
• Felipe Chavez (134.9) vs. Adrian Cruz (136)
• Shawn Bunch (135.6) vs. Russell Wilson (135.6)
• Donald Sanchez (145.4) vs. Cliff Wright (148.8)*** – 148.8-pound catchweight

* Silva was 136.2 on his first attempt, but made weight on his second try.
** Jacques missed weight and will forfeit a percentage of his purse to Palacios.
*** Wright missed weight and will forfeit a percentage of his purse to Sanchez.

For the latest on Bellator 97, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Ben Askren)