Chris Lozano battles UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida in Bellator 31

CHICAGO, Ill. (September 21, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that undefeated knockout artist Chris "The Assassin" Lozano will take on UFC veteran and heavy handed Judo black belt Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida in a Bellator Welterweight Tournament Qualifying fight taking place at Bellator 31 from the L'Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, LA on September 30.

"Chris and Yoshiyuki both have knockout power in both hands, which makes this a very exciting qualifier at 170 lbs," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "They're fighting for one of the spots in our $100,000 welterweight tournament, so fans can expect both of them to put it all on the line."

Entering the fight with a perfect 5-0 record, Lozano has ended every fight by TKO or KO. "The Assassin" is fresh off of a TKO victory of UFC veteran Jason Dent. The Cleveland native takes pride in his accomplishments, but also knows how quickly things can change.

"Any fighter who steps into the cage doesn't want to lose," said Lozano. "With that said, all it takes is one tiny mistake, one split second mental error, and you've lost. I want to maintain my undefeated record, but if I don't, I will return hungrier and more passionate than before."

However, Lozano is not focused on the prospect of losing, rather of going straight to the top.

"Being a Bellator Champion means you are one of the best in the world at what you do," said Lozano. "It means you are elite. It is a dream to be champion for an organization like Bellator."

For Yoshida, the chance to take on a fighter like Lozano is something the Japanese born fighter relishes.

"Lozano seems like a real good striker," said Yoshida. "I have trained very hard for this fight, and I not only expect to win, but also provide a great fight for my fans."

Tickets for the event - which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net along with action-packed highlight shows that will air on NBC Saturday nights - are on sale now at ticketmaster.com

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