Moore makes weight for history bid in Belfast

Ireland's Karl Moore has made weight as he bids to make history in Belfast on Friday night against Corey Anderson.

Moore, 32, aims to become the first Irish fighter to win a major MMA world title when he faces Anderson for the vacant light-heavyweight belt.

Conor McGregor was the last Irishman to hold a major MMA world title in 2016.

"How many fighters have got to fight for a world title? And in their home town?" Moore told BBC Sport. "That's just unbelievable."

Nothing separated Moore and Anderson on the scales as they both weighed 204.6lb (92.8kg) inside the lobby of the SSE Arena, which will host the fight night.

It is the first time Moore, who has 12 wins and two losses in his career, has fought in Belfast as a pro and the local lad is "expecting a lot of noise and a lot of terrible Belfast accents going crazy".

As well as Moore, Strabane featherweight James Gallagher is also in action against Leandro Higo.

Gallagher, 27, hopes a big win over the Brazilian can fire him into title contention and was full of his usual bravado on stage before locking eyes with Higo.

Featherweight champion Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire defends his title in the co-main event in Belfast.

Pitbull faces Canada's Jeremy Kennedy, but has already played down the possibility of facing Gallagher next, backing Higo to beat him.

Birmingham's Fabian Edwards also returns to action in a number one middleweight contender fight against Aaron Jeffery.

The winner will get the chance to fight reigning champion Johnny Eblen.

Bellator Belfast, officially branded as Bellator Champions Series, is the first event since the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired the MMA promotion last year.