The Bellator Middleweight Title will be defended at Bellator 99 as champion Alexander Shlemenko defends against Doug Marshall. Shlemenko will be making the first defense of the championship, which he won by defeating Maiquel Falcao at Bellator 88. Marshall earned the opportunity at the championship when he won the season eight middleweight tournament, defeating Brett Cooper in the finals. Bellator 99 takes place on September 7th from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut with the aforementioned fighters headlining.