Escudero-Avila Booked for Saturday’s Bellator 55 Undercard

Bellator officials announced the bout on Tuesday, completing the 10-fight card. The MTV2- and Epix-televised event will see Marcos Galvao battle Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantes face Ed West in the semifinals of Bellator’s fifth-season bantamweight tournament.

Going down at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz., the show will also feature a non-title attraction between Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M\'Pumbu and Travis Wiuff. Rounding out the main card will be a lightweight contest pitting Ricardo Tirloni against Steve Gable.

Escudero has won four of five starts since receiving his UFC walking papers in September 2010. After earning three straight wins in local competition, the 25-year-old fell to Fabricio Camoes by unanimous decision at Tachi Palace Fights 9. Most recently, the MMA Lab representative returned to the win column by outpointing Mike Rio on July 23.

Known as “Dirty Boy,” Avila (Pictured) has been bested only once as professional. The 22-year-old Californian last competed in March, submitting Luis Magana with a triangle choke in just under two minutes. Avila’s lone loss in seven outings came in 2010, a submission defeat to Joe Gustina. The Team United fighter has finished all but one of his career victims, earning three submission wins in his four years as a pro.