Bellator 188 pre-event facts: Can John Salter overtake middleweight submission record?

Bellator’s second consecutive overseas event take place on Friday when Bellator 188 goes down from Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel.

After losing the original main event just days out, the four-fight line-up on Spike (which airs via tape-delay) features a featherweight headliner. Israel’s own Noah Lahat (11-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) takes on Haim Gozali (7-4 MMA, 1-1 BMMA).

For more on the numbers behind Friday’s Bellator 188 fight card, check out a dozen pre-event facts.

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Main card

Noad Lahat

Lahat, 33, is the oldest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.

Lahat is 2-1 since he was released from the UFC in February 2016.

Gozali has earned all eight of his career victories by first-round stoppage. Six of those wins are by submission.

John Salter’s (14-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak in middleweight competition is the second longest active streak in the division behind Rafael Carvalho (five).

Salter has earned all 13 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s also been stopped inside the distance in all his losses.

Salter’s three submission victories in Bellator middleweight competition are tied with Justin Butcher for most in divisional history.

Jason Radcliffe (12-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) returns to Bellator for the first time since a 14-second knockout victory in his promotional debut at Bellator 158 in June 2016.

Radcliffe is 3-2 since his initial Bellator appearance.

Radcliffe has never gone to a decision in his 16-fight career.

Jessica Middleton (2-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) competes in her fifth Bellator flyweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Ilima Macfarlane (six) and Emily Ducote (six).

Middleton has suffered her two career losses to Macfarlane and Ducote.

Arsen Faitovich (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) 24, is the youngest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.

For more on Bellator 188, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.