Hornbuckle, Blackburn Hit Marks for Bellator 25

Sengoku veteran and 2010 Bellator Fighting Championships welterweight tournament finalist Dan Hornbuckle checked in at 170.5 pounds for his showdown with Brad Blackburn (169) at Bellator 25 on Thursday at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The two welterweights hit the scales with 14 other fighters at Wednesday’s official weigh-in.

Having dropped anchor at American Top Team, Hornbuckle has rattled off 19 wins in 21 fights. However, the 29-year-old Montana native lost a unanimous decision to 2008 Olympian Ben Askren at Bellator 22 in June. The defeat snapped Hornbuckle’s six-fight winning streak and cost him a crack at Bellator welterweight champion Lyman Good. Victories against American Kickboxing Academy standout Justin Wilcox, former Bodog Fight welterweight champion Nick Thompson and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Akihiro Gono highlight his resume.

Blackburn will carry a two-fight losing streak into his promotional debut. The 33-year-old succumbed to a third-round body kick from “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 finalist DaMarques Johnson at UFC 112 in April; the defeat cost Blackburn a spot on the UFC roster. He owns notable wins over former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Delson Heleno, one-time International Fight League welterweight titleholder Jay Hieron and UFC veteran Ryo Chonan -- the last man to cleanly defeat UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva. Seven of Blackburn’s 11 career defeats have come by decision.

Bellator 25 will feature a pair of opening-round matchups in the promotion’s heavyweight tournament, as Damian Grabowski (240) meets Scott Barrett (263) and Cole Konrad (265) takes on Rogent Lloret (250). In addition, Jessica Pene (114) will square off with Zoila Frausto (115) in the Bellator 115-pound women’s tournament.

Bellator Fighting Championships 25
Thursday, Aug. 19
Chicago Theatre
Chicago

Dan Hornbuckle (170.5) vs. Brad Blackburn (169)
Damian Grabowski (240) vs. Scott Barrett (263)
Jessica Pene (114) vs. Zoila Frausto (115)
Cole Konrad (265) vs. Rogent Lloret (250)
* Shonie Carter (176) vs. Torrance Taylor (171)
Kevin Knabjian (170) vs. Brian Gassaway (171)
John Kolosci (170) vs. Kenny Robertson (170)
Keoki Cypriano (155.2) vs. Eric Kriegermeier (155.5)

* Carter was awarded additional time to make weight