After a lengthy delay, Patricio
Freire will finally defend his featherweight crown against
Pedro
Carvalho at a Bellator MMA event on Nov. 12.
MMAFighting.com was first to report the booking. The matchup is
part of the quarterfinal round of the promotion’s 145-pound grand
prix. Freire was initially slated to meet Carvalho at Bellator 241
in March before the event was canceled due to the COVID-19
pandemic. The Nov. 12 card will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in
Uncasville, Conn.
Freire, who is also the reigning lightweight king, advanced in the
bracket with a five-round verdict against Juan
Archuleta at Bellator 228. The Brazilian standout is currently
on a five-bout winning streak.
Carvalho, meanwhile, punched his ticket to the quarterfinals with a
second-round submission of Sam Sicilia
at Bellator 226. The 25-year-old SBG Ireland representative has
been victorious in his last six professional outings, a stretch
that includes four triumphs under the Bellator banner.
The Freire-Carvalho winner is expected to square off agianst the
winner of the other quarterfinal matchup pitting Emmanuel
Sanchez against Daniel
Weichel. That fight does not yet have a date. Meanwhile,
A.J.
McKee will square off against Darrion
Caldwell in a semifinal pairing; a date for that fight is also
yet to be determined.