An harm to former featherweight champion A.J. McKee has shaken up the Bellator light-weight grand prix beginning at Bellator x RIZIN 2.
Officers confirmed at a Tuesday press convention that McKee can be changed by RIZIN light-weight champ Roberto de Souza in a 161-pound catchweight bout in opposition to Patricky Pitbull. The bout will now headline the Showtime-broadcast card. Regardless of the catchweight, the bout will nonetheless function the quarterfinals of the light-weight event. McKee will stay out there to function an first alternate, Bellator CEO Scott Coker added.
Bellator x RIZIN 2 takes place at Saitama Tremendous Area in Saitama, Japan, on July 30 (July 29 within the U.S. because of the time distinction). The Bellator x Rizin 2 card, which options fighters from each promotions in head-to-head matchups, serves because the opener for Tremendous Rizin 2.
Becoming a member of that later card, as additionally introduced, is McKee’s outdated rival and Patricky Pitbull’s brother, Patricio Pitbull. The present featherweight champion will tackle Chihiro Suzuki. The bout bolsters Tremendous Rizin 2 after the harm withdrawal of ex-champ Kai Asakura. Hiromasa Ougikubo will now tackle Juan Archuleta in a struggle for the RIZIN bantamweight title.
Bellator x RIZIN 2 serves because the second head-to-head assembly of fighters from Bellator and RIZIN.
De Souza, nicknamed “Satoshi,” outpointed UFC vet Spike Carlyle in his earlier bout to rebound from a choice loss to McKee at Bellator x RIZIN 1.
Patricio Pitbull returns to competitors after an unsuccessful bid for the Bellator bantamweight belt held by Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297. Suzuki most just lately suffered an armbar loss to Kleber Koike Erbst, however the bout was dominated a no-contest as a result of Erbst missed weight and was stripped of the title.
MMA Preventing’s Damon Martin contributed to this report.
