Bellator returns to Japan, launches men's flyweight division

PRESS RELEASE – TOKYO — Following final 12 months’s historic New Yr’s Eve co-promotion, BELLATOR MMA and RIZIN Preventing Federation will deliver one other industry-altering, star-studded occasion to battle followers in Japan on Sunday, July 30. Headlining the occasion, which departs from the head-to-head format of final 12 months’s iteration of the crossover card, might be a Bellator Light-weight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal matchup between former Featherweight World Champion AJ McKee (20-1) and ex-Light-weight World Champion Patricky Pitbull(24-11).

Along with the extremely anticipated conflict between McKee and the second of his Pitbull household foes, former BELLATOR and RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) will return to battle on dwelling soil when he fights for the inaugural BELLATOR Flyweight World Championship towards Makoto “Shinryu” Takahashi (16-1-1), who enters the bout on a blazing sizzling, ten-fight successful streak.

Plus, Japan’s personal Kana Watanabe (11-2-1) places her No. 3 flyweight rating on the road former title challenger Veta Arteaga (7-5), who ranks No. 7.

Followers in attendance on the historic Saitama Tremendous Area will get to observe each parts of the occasion with the BELLATOR fights happening within the cage with the enduring crimson and blue BELLATOR gloves, plus white gloves for the World Grand Prix opponents. The BELLATOR contests might be adhere to the Unified Guidelines of MMA.

The RIZIN FF fights might be happening of their regular ring, and BELLATOR stars Juan Archuleta (28-4) and Tofiq Musayev (20-5) are scheduled to compete through the RIZIN portion of the occasion.

Broadcast particulars and ticket info might be introduced at a later date.

McKee, 28, is likely one of the most outstanding faces of BELLATOR MMA, having competed beneath the promotion’s banner for the whole lot of his spectacular skilled profession. McKee reached the head of the game in 2021 when he dethroned rival Patricio Pitbull, the brother of upcoming opponent Patricky, within the finale of the $1,000,000 Featherweight World Grand Prix to change into the Featherweight World Champion. After their rematch, McKee moved north to the light-weight division, the place he has confirmed his worthiness of the promotion’s No. 5 pound-for-pound standing, besting Spike Carlyle and RIZIN champion Roberto Satoshi — the latter in the principle occasion final 12 months’s BELLATOR vs. RIZIN card — on his path to the Grand Prix. At BELLATOR X RIZIN 2, McKee will look to advance to a semifinal matchup towards Alexander Shabliy by including one other Pitbull to his prolonged checklist of victories.

In search of to place an finish to the McKee saga in emphatic trend for his household is former light-weight title holder Patricky Pitbull. BELLATOR’s all-time knockout chief, Pitbull is understood all through the game as a fearsome striker with harmful punching energy. Whereas he got here up quick towards the prodigious Usman Nurmagomedov in his final outing, the sting of shedding his title has solely strengthened the starvation Pitbull has to reclaim the championship gold he wore throughout his waist. Armed with the information of two outings towards McKee fought by brother Patricio, Pitbull hopes to dispatch of the American in entrance of an adoring Japanese crowd this July 30.

Regardless of combating at flyweight for a lot of his skilled profession, Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi dominated the bantamweight division in each BELLATOR and RIZIN, changing into champion on the energy of his clever karate-based fashion and well-honed battle IQ. Nevertheless, the will to battle at 125 kilos has remained for the American Prime Crew-trained fighter, who has received two straight fights in dominant trend — together with a call over Hiromasa Ougikubo on final 12 months’s BELLATOR vs. RIZIN occasion. On July 30, Horiguchi will compete for the inaugural BELLATOR Flyweight World Championship as he ushers in a brand new division for the promotion, one positive to bolster the general expertise of the BELLATOR roster.

“Shinryu” will make his second look for the BELLATOR model when he challenges Horiguchi on this championship bout. Initially from Miyagi, Japan, “Shinryu” has change into a fan favourite in Japan over his spectacular, younger profession. At simply 22-years-old, He’s already secured championships from DEEP and CFFC and now hopes so as to add BELLATOR gold to his rising trophy room.

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