With Lombard UFC Bound, Winner Of Spang vs. Falcao To Face Shlemenko For Vacant Bellator Middleweight Title

With reigning Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard headed to the UFC, promotion officials have a plan in place to fill his shoes.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced via Twitter on Wednesday that the winner of the upcoming Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Finals between Andreas Spang and Malcao Falco will go on to face last season's tournament winner, Alexander Shlemenko, in a bout to crown a new 185-pound champion.

Spang and Falcao will meet in the coming weeks to determine a middleweight title contender, however a date and location have not been confirmed.

Spang entered the tournament last weekend as a late replacement for an injured Bruno Santos, seizing the opportunity and knocking out Brian Rogers in spectacular fashion. The victory marked his third-straight by way of stoppage.

Falcao, meanwhile, took a more tested road to the tournament finals, earning a pair of hard-fought decision over Norman Paraisy and Vyacheslav Vasilevsky. The Brazilian has posted an impressive 4-1 record since his release from the UFC last year.

Currently riding an eight-fight win streak, Shlemenko was forced to the sidelines last month after suffering a broken collarbone and dislocated thumb in an auto accident. The Russian has posted 7-1 record under the Bellator banner thus far, with his lone loss coming to Lombard over two years ago. 

(Pictured: Alexander Shlemenko)