One of Bellator’s most exciting fighters defends his 145-pound title for the first time this August as the promotion closes out their summer series in Mississippi.
Pat Curran vs. Patricio Freire will headline the show, marking the first defense of the belt he won in March with a brutal knockout win over Joe Warren. The 24-year-old has won four straight and is 7-1 since joining Bellator in April 2010.
The 24-year-old Freire (17-1) finally will cash in on the opportunity he won back in May 2011 in their season four tournament. He’s 5-1 in Bellator and has been on the shelf with a broken hand, delaying his title shot.
Bellator 73 also features Marcos Galvao vs. Luis Nogueira in the bantamweight tournament finals and the light heavyweight tournament finals.
New welterweight signee Marcus Aurelio will make his debut at the August event. The 6-1 Brazilian will go into the event on a six fight win streak with finishes in all of them.