Learn more about Bellator 296 2023, which took place on Friday night at the Accor Arena in Paris, including the main event winner, fight card results, bonus prize winners, salaries and payouts
Edwards, the younger brother of UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, outclassed Mousasi (49-9-2) from pillar to post to earn the biggest win of his Bellator career. Following his victory at the Bellator 296, Edwards has earned a title against unstoppable middleweight champion Johnny Eblen.
Bellator 296 2023 payouts, salaries, Fabian Edwards vs Gegard Mousasi winner, full main fight card results and score
Ouch. #Bellator296 | 🇺🇸 @SHOsports | 🇫🇷 @RMCSport pic.twitter.com/TFuxZQ1cNW
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 12, 2023
Bellator 296 purse details, total payouts, & salaries of all fighters
Fabian Edwards received a reward of $200,000 for winning Bellator 296’s main event. In the meantime, his opponent Gegard Mousasi received $250,000 despite a heartbreaking decision loss. Due to his convincing victory over Mansour Barnaoui, Brent Primus got a net reward of $75,000.
| Fighters | Purses |
| Fabian Edwards | $200,000 |
| Gegard Mousasi | $250,000 |
| Brent Primus | $75,000 |
| Mansour Barnaoui | $50,000 |
| Douglas Lima | $75,000 |
| Costello Van Steenis | $40,000 |
| Thibault Gouti | $30,000 |
| Kane Mousah | $36,000 |
Bellator 296 full fight card winner and results
In the main event of Bellator 296 on Friday, Fabian Edwards outpointed Gegard Mousasi in a one-sided but fairly listless contest to win by unanimous decision and earn a chance to face Johnny Eblen, the undefeated middleweight champion of Bellator. Following the verdict, Edwards and Eblen squared off in the cage and almost started a brawl inside the Accor Arena in Paris.
The 30-year-old Edwards routinely outpaced the 37-year-old Mousasi with a steady offence on the feet, dismantling the legend in a game that was rife with fouls. In the fourth round, Mousasi tried his hand at wrestling for the first time and even managed to get into the mount position. Edwards ultimately managed to free himself, though, and he used a takedown of his own to reverse the situation.
Main Event Result: Fabian Edwards defeated Gegard Mousasi ( Decision)
| Main Card (Showtime) | |||||
| Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
| Middleweight | Fabian Edwards | Gegard Mousasi | Decision | 5 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Brent Primus | Mansour Barnaoui | Decision | 5 | 5:00 |
| Middleweight | Douglas Lima | Costello Van Steenis | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Thibault Gouti | Kane Mousah | KO | 2 | 3:58 |
| Preliminary Card (YouTube/Pluto TV) | |||||
| Women’s Flyweight | Denise Kielholtz | Paula Cristina | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Welterweight | Luca Poclit | Oliver Enkamp | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Saul Rogers | Davy Gallon | No Contest | 1 | 2:12 |
| Featherweight | Yves Landu | Piotr Niedzielski | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Catchweight (141 lb) | Sarvarjon Khamidov | Kevin Petshi | Submission | 3 | 1:33 |
| Lightweight | Tim Wilde | Chris Gonzalez | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Featherweight | Fabacary Diatta | Keir Harvie | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Catchweight (150 lb) | Asaël Adjoudj | Georges Sasu | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| Welterweight | Romain Debienne | Bourama Camara | KO | 2 | 1:04 |
| Light Heavyweight | José Augusto | Simon Biyong | Decision | 3 | 5:00 |