Bellator 191 pre-event facts: Can latest UFC crossovers change their fortunes?

The final Bellator event of the year takes place Friday with Bellator 191, which takes place at Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England, and airs via same-day tape delay on Spike.

Two debuting bantamweights headline the card. UFC veteran and formr interim title challenger Michael McDonald (17-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) attempts to make a fresh start when he makes his Bellator promotional debut opposite Peter Ligier (8-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Another former UFC title challenger, along with some more notables, also compete at the event. For more on the numbers behind Bellator’s final 2017 fight card, check below for 20 pre-event facts about Bellator 191.

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Main event

Michael McDonald

McDonald, 26, is the youngest of the eight scheduled main-card fighters.

McDonald competes for just the second time in the past four years. He has just one victory since August 2013.

McDonald makes his Bellator debut following a nine-fight UFC stint in which he went 6-3 and challenged for the interim bantamweight championship.

McDonald has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He suffered a loss to John Lineker in his most recent bout, which headlined UFC Fight Night 91 in July 2016.

McDonald has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 12 of those wins in Round 1.

McDonald has suffered all four of his career losses by stoppage.

Ligier enters the event on a five-fight unbeaten streak. He hasn’t suffered a defeat since December 2014.

Remaining main card

Valerie Letourneau

Valerie Letourneau (8-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her Bellator debut after a six-fight UFC run in which she went 3-3 and challenged for the strawweight championship.

Letourneau returns to the women’s flyweight division for the first time since June 2016. She’s 1-1 in her career in the weight class.

Letourneau enters the event on a three-fight losing skid, the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since August 2015.

Kate Jackson’s (9-2-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) only loss in her past nine fights came in May 2013 against former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

James Thompson (20-16 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), 38, is the oldest of the eight scheduled main-card fighters.

James Thompson

Thompson returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 29, 2015. The 717-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 15-year career.

Thompson enters the event on a two-fight losing skid. He hasn’t earned a victory since June 2014.

Thompson has earned 18 of his 20 career victories by stoppage.

Thompson has suffered 13 knockout loss during his career.

Philip De Fries (13-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is 4-3 since he was released from the UFC in April 2013.

De Fries has alternated wins and losses over his past eight fights. He has’t earned consecutive victories since 2011.

Lewis Monarch (9-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has earned all of his career victories by first-round stoppage.

Jeremy Petley (11-8-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to November 2013.

For more on Bellator 191, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.