Newly-crowned Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull will play a starring role at the top of the fight card at Bellator 283 on Friday, July 22.
Pitbull will make the first defence of his recently-captured 155-pound title when he faces Sidney Outlaw in the main event at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
The Brazilian claimed the vacant title with a TKO finish of Ireland’s Peter Queally at Bellator 270 after his brother Patricio relinquished the lightweight belt to focus his attention on regaining the featherweight title.
Now he’ll face Outlaw, whose lone defeat since the summer of 2016 came against former three-time champion Michael Chandler at Bellator 237. The American has gone 11-1 from his last 12 outings, and heads into the bout on a two-fight win streak, thanks to victories over Adam Piccolotti and Myles Jury.
The co-main event will feature a crucial clash at 170 pounds, as former welterweight champion Douglas Lima looks to reposition himself as the top contender for the title when he faces in-form Jason Jackson.
The card also sees the return of Usman Nurmagomedov, with the Russian set to take on Team Alpha Male’s Chris Gonzalez in a lightweight bout.
The prelims feature some high-level action, too, with Adam Piccolotti set to take on former Rizin FF lightweight grand prix champion Tofiq Musayev, while undefeated middleweight prospects go head to head as Romero Cotton takes on Dalton Rosta, with both men looking to improve their respective 6-0 records.
Bellator 283: Confirmed Bouts
MAIN CARD
- Patricky Pitbull vs. Sidney Outlaw – for lightweight title
- Douglas Lima vs. Jason Jackson
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Chris Gonzalez
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Adam Piccolotti vs. Tofiq Musayev
- Romero Cotton vs. Dalton Rosta
- Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Bobby King
Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA
