A matchup has been announced for Bellator 73, current featherweight champion Pat Curran (17-4) will defend the title against challenger Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (17-1) in August.
The fight was announced by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney at the Bellator 70 event which took place on Friday.
Bellator 73 will take place on August 24th, a venue has not yet been announced for the finale of the Bellator “Summer Series” but it will air on MTV2.
Pat Curran is riding a four-fight winning streak at the moment having defeated the likes of Luis Palomino, Ronnie Mann, Marlon Sandro, and most recently Joe Warren who he knocked out to become champ at Bellator 60. Prior to picking up the featherweight gold, Curran made a run at the lightweight championship but lost a title fight against Eddie Alvarez in April 2011.
Patricio Freire was last seen in action against Daniel Straus in the Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Final on May 21st, winning the fight via decision earning himself a shot at the title. On his way to the final Patricio picked up stoppage victories over Georgi Karakhanyan and Wilson Reis, bouncing back from a split decision loss to Joe Warren in the Bellator Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Final held in June 2010.
Here is what Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney had to say about the fight:
“Both Pat Curran and Patricio Pitbull can finish with relentless strikes or vicious submissions. This is a fight between two of the best Featherweights in MMA and will be a title fight to remember.”
Stay close to Pro MMA Now (www.prommanow.com) for more Bellator announcements as they become available.