Rising Belgian contender Cedric Lushima and hard-hitting English veteran Jason Radcliffe will get the chance to make a little piece of European MMA history as they go for gold in the inaugural event of Belgian promotion Apollo MMA.

Lushima and Radcliffe will go head to head in the main event of Apollo 1 at La Sucrerie in Wavre, Belgium, with the inaugural Apollo MMA light heavyweight title up for grabs. The entire fight card will stream live via online pay-per-view on ApolloMMA.com from 5pm CET on Saturday, May 18.

It’s the first title fight in the promotion’s history, with the organisation looking to continue on from previous promotion MMA Bushido as the leading mixed martial arts organisation in Belgium.

The nation has already produced such talents as Tarec Saffiedine, Losene Keita, Cindy Dandois, Bolaji Oki and Donovan Desmae, but with the growth of MMA continuing across Europe, Apollo MMA plans on unearthing the next generation of fighting talent from the region.

Belgium’s Lushima will be aiming to keep the title in Belgium and become the first champion under the Apollo MMA banner. The undefeated 4-0 contender defeated Ghassan Abdenabi at MMA Bushido 90 to put himself in line to challenge for the title, but will be conceding a significant experience advantage to his opponent on fight night.

Apollo MMA

Coached by UK MMA legend Brad “One Punch” Pickett, England’s Radcliffe will be making the walk for his 30th professional fight, with the Great Britain Top Team product looking to secure the 18th win of his career.

Radcliffe (17-12) has competed at the top level for promotions across the continent, having fought for KSW, Cage Warriors and Bellator. Now in the 13th year of his professional MMA career, Radcliffe will be looking to write his name in the history books as the first ever Apollo MMA champion.

Lushima vs. Radcliffe tops a packed 18-bout card for Wavre on May 18, with a five-fight professional main card rounding off the night after 13 amateur contests get the action underway at La Sucrerie.

“We are excited to be back in Wavre Belgium, especially at La Sucrerie, on May 18, with a main event like we’ve never seen before in the history of MMA in Belgium!” said Apollo MMA president Gokhan Yildizli.

The night will also mark the commentary debut of yours truly, as I pick up the mic to call the fights alongside veteran MMA journalist and fight commentator, John Morgan.

Apollo MMA

Apollo 1: Official fight card

MAIN CARD

• Cedric Lushima vs. Jason Radcliffe – for inaugural light heavyweight title
• Salamou Dzhamalkhanov vs. Hassani Soidrou – middleweight
• Charly Menama vs. Ivan Krajinovic – welterweight
• Gafin Anatolie vs. Armen Raisi – flyweight
• Brian Soliana vs. Bilal Sadiki – bantamweight

PRELIMINARY CARD (AMATEUR BOUTS)

• Lasha Gogishvili vs. Iskender Salamatov – bantamweight
• Job Tuanuni vs. Martin Kip – heavyweight
• Bryan Sumbu vs. Ferhat Bulgurcu – welterweight
• Saleh Ahmad vs. Mamadou Sangare – featherweight
• Nico Cimen vs. Walid Acherki – heavyweight

EARLY PRELIMS (AMATEUR BOUTS)

• Mechel Goessens vs. Lina Hammouche – women’s flyweight
• Akram Elmarzouki vs. Vlad Voicu – featherweight
• Ismael Berete vs. Kadre Dene – welterweight
• Mucahit Uyar vs. Mola Mayi – welterweight
• Gilles Depuyt vs. Ziayi Rezwanullah – lightweight
• Mathis Ophoven vs. Tibo Willekens – 74kg catchweight
• Adel Elmohamed vs. Gianni Petrucciani – lightweight
• Christevie Mukele vs. Didier Tambwe – 74kg catchweight