Bellator Champion Patricio Freire Takes on Japanese Kickboxer in Co-Promotional Event

Don’t miss the thrilling co-promotional event between Bellator and Rizin as Bellator champion Patricio Freire takes on Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki. Get ready for an action-packed night of fights!

This weekend, Bellator’s franchise fighter, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, will step into the ring on short notice to participate in a highly anticipated co-promotional event between Bellator and Rizin at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The announcement was made on Wednesday, creating a buzz among fight fans worldwide.

A New Challenge

Freire, the reigning Bellator featherweight champion, will face off against Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki in a thrilling 154-pound catchweight bout. This matchup comes just over a month after Freire’s loss to Sergio Pettis in a Bellator bantamweight title fight. Determined to bounce back, Freire is eager to prove himself once again.

Bellator-Rizin Co-Promotional Card

The event will feature two separate cards, each with its own unique format. The Bellator portion of the card will kick off the action on Sunday afternoon in Japan (Saturday night in the U.S.) and will consist of fights held in a cage. Following the Bellator fights, the Rizin card will take place, showcasing bouts in a ring.

Changes in the Lineup

Originally, AJ McKee, the former Bellator featherweight champion, was set to headline the Bellator portion of the event in a Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal fight against Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, Patricio’s brother. However, McKee had to withdraw due to medical reasons. In his place, Rizin lightweight champion Roberto "Satoshi" Souza will step in to face Patricky Freire and compete in the tournament.

Exciting Matchups

In addition to the highly anticipated Freire vs. Suzuki bout, the Bellator card will feature a historic flyweight title fight. Kyoji Horiguchi, the former Bellator and Rizin bantamweight champion, will go head-to-head with Makoto "Shinryu" Takahashi. This clash of champions promises to be an intense battle for the title.

Fans can also look forward to seeing Mikuru Asakura, one of Rizin’s most popular fighters, in action. Asakura, who famously boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, will take on Vugar Karamov in a Rizin featherweight title bout. Additionally, Bellator’s Juan Archuleta will face Hiromasa Ougikubo for the Rizin bantamweight title in the co-main event. And finally, Seika Izawa will defend her Rizin women’s super atomweight title against Claire Lopez from Combate Global.

With a lineup packed with thrilling matchups and international talent, the Bellator-Rizin co-promotional event is set to deliver an unforgettable night of combat sports.