Emanuel Newton-Linton Vassell 205-Pound Title Tilt to Headline Bellator 130

Linton Vassell will challenge for Bellator MMA gold next month. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Promotion officials Tuesday confirmed the bout -- as well as the rest of the card -- to Sherdog.com following an initial report from The MMA Report. Bellator 130 takes place Oct. 24 at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan., and also features the promotional debut of former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen, who takes on Annalisa Bucci in a women’s featherweight pairing.

Two more fights round out the Spike TV-broadcast main card, as TNA pro-wrestling champion Bobby Lashley makes his second Bellator appearance against Karl Etherington in a heavyweight bout, while Dave Jansen squares off with Rick Hawn at lightweight.

Newton has won six straight fights with the promotion. He captured 205-pound gold with a split-decision triumph against Attila Vegh at Bellator 113. “The Hardcore Kid” made his first defense in spectacular fashion, knocking out Joey Beltran with a spinning back fist on Sept. 12.

A 31-year-old native of England, Vassell takes a nine-fight winning streak into his showdown with Newton. “The Swarm” is 3-0 under the Bellator banner, with victories over Matt Jones, Trevor Carlson and Virgil Zwicker to his credit.