Bellator 24: Yves Edwards vs Luis Palomino official for Aug. 12 in Hollywood

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 29, 2010) - A showdown between one of MMA's most exciting lightweights and a colorful, highly-regarded South Florida fan favorite will serve as the "Local Main Event" when Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood , Fla. , for its Season 3 debut on Aug. 12th.

The much anticipated fight pits UFC and PRIDE veteran Yves Edwards (37-16-1) against four-time Bellator veteran and Miami native Luis "Baboon" Palomino (13-5) in a battle for bragging rights between two of South Florida's top MMA gyms, American Top Team and MMA Masters.

Edwards, one of MMA's most battle-tested veterans, is known as one of the most vicious finishers in the sport with 15 knockouts and 15 submissions to total 30 stoppages during his 13-year pro career. He has notable recent wins over UFC veteran Derrick Noble and WEC vet Kyle Jensen and is one of only three pros to have defeated former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson.

Palomino, who won a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over ATT up-and-comer Jose Figueroa at Bellator 21 on June 10th, has notched 7 of his 13 pro victories via KO or TKO. He also owns career wins versus Strikeforce and EliteXC vet Nick Gonzalez and Bellator, Strikeforce and Sengoku mainstay Jorge Masvidal.

Edwards and Palomino join a stacked Bellator 24 card that also features:

- A special non-title "Super Fight" between reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (26-2-1) and former NFL standout Herbert "Whisper" Goodman (15-8);

- An opening-round fight in Bellator's Women's World Championship Tournament featuring the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter, Megumi Fujii, and veteran submission grappler Angela Magana, the world's No. 8-ranked female fighter at 115 lbs.;

- Another opening-round Women's Tournament fight between the world's No. 6-ranked 125-pounder, Lynn "Lights Out" Alvarez, and Jessica Aguilar, the world's No.7-ranked 115-pounder; and

- An opening-round fight in Bellator's Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament between heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez and British behemoth Neil "Goliath" Grove.

Tickets for the event - which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net - are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

"The Edward-Palomino fight is just part of a talent-stacked Bellator 24 card that will kick off our third season in exciting fashion," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Yves Edwards has a well-earned reputation as a show-stopper and Luis Palomino has been known to knock guys out with impunity as well. It should be a very interesting fight and one that I'm definitely looking forward to watching."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.