For the second straight time, Bellator is taking one in all its greatest stars to Japan.
At Bellator X Rizin 2, which was introduced Saturday for late July close to Tokyo, Bellator president Scott Coker will take former featherweight champion A.J. McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) abroad to struggle former light-weight champion Patricky Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA) within the opening spherical of the promotion’s ongoing 155-pound grand prix.
Coker mentioned doing that high-profile struggle in Japan is a testomony to what Bellator desires to do with occasions there.
“We may have introduced this wherever on the planet,” Coker mentioned at a Saturday information convention saying the occasion in Tokyo. “We thought of doing this in Los Angeles or doing it in New York, however as (Rizin head Nobuyuki Sakakibara) and I continued our dialogue, we thought this was the right struggle for Japan.”
McKee gained the featherweight title towards Freire’s brother Patricio in July 2021, however Freire beat him in April 2022 of their rematch.
McKee determined to maneuver as much as light-weight and after seven years as a professional featherweight, gained a pair of selections at 155 kilos towards Spike Carlyle and Roberto de Souza. The latter victory got here this previous New Yr’s Eve in a co-promoted occasion with Bellator and Rizin in Japan.
As soon as he was within the event and matched up towards Patricky Freire for a pure rivalry, Coker mentioned he began to get antsy about when the struggle would happen.
“A.J. was calling me each week asking, ‘When am I combating?’ Coker mentioned. “However we needed to wait a month and it labored out for the higher. I feel the followers in Japan are going to get an amazing present on July 30.”
McKee mentioned beginning the event with the previous champ and a pure rival is what he wished. He thinks that may add some sparks to the occasion.
“I feel this couldn’t have been a greater matchup to begin off the event, the world grand prix,” McKee mentioned. “The rivalry between his brother and I, and now (us) main as much as our struggle, it’s simply superior. Up till this level, there hasn’t actually been a rivalry in my profession. Me and my teammates are very cordial and respectful, however when it comes all the way down to getting in that cage and dealing with enterprise, we’ll each know what we’re going to do to one another.”
Patricky Freire gained the vacant light-weight title towards Peter Queally in November 2021, however misplaced it to Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288 a yr later. Nurmagomedov is on the other aspect of the bracket, so the primary time the McKee-Freire winner can have a shot on the light-weight title could be within the event remaining.
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