Bellator have announced Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire and former lightweight champ Michael Chandler will fight for the vacant 155lb title at Bellator 157 (Bellator: Dynamite 2) on June 24th. The event is set to take place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The title was made vacant after the promotion parted ways with Will Brooks, who held the belt since defeating Chandler in November 2014.
“It was very simple,” Bellator president Scott Coker told MMAjunkie. “Will Brooks’ contract is ending, and we made a decision not to renew it. We’re going to give him a full release, so we’re not going to be in the Will Brooks business any longer.”
Chandler is 2-0 since his Bellator 131 TKO loss to Brooks, most recently beating David Rickels via TKO last November.
Freire is also riding a two-fight win streak, last beating Kevin Souza via unanimous decision at Bellator 152 in April.
Full Bellator 157 card:
Main card
- Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson vs. Satoshi Ishii
- Michael Chandler vs. Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire
- Matt Mitrione vs. Carl Seumanutafa
Prelims
- Kevin Engel vs. Chel Erwin-Davis
- Jordan Howard vs Justin Robbins
- Joaquin Buckley vs Chris Heatherly
- Michelle Royer vs Katy Collins
- Brad Jones vs Tyler Claussen
- Jason Christeson vs Jarrod Thomas
- Lee Burns vs. Byron Stevens
- Steven Mann vs. Mike Estus
- Rashard Lovelace vs. Garret Mueller
- Nikki Smith vs. Ashley Cummins
- Elmir Kulosman vs. Darryl Cobb
- Tara Walker vs. Mimi Kutzin
