Bellator Books Featherweight Title Re-Re-Rematch
If you thought Bellator's featherweight division was prime for some new blood, you'd be wrong, as the company announced a fourth fight between perennial top dogs Patricio Pitbull and Featherweight champion Daniel Straus for Bellator 178 on April 21.
The fight is a particularly interesting booking as Straus defeated Patricio "Pitbull" Freire just 14 months ago, and Freire hasn't fought since injuring his leg against Ben Henderson last August. in a lightweight fight. Straus also hasn't fought since their November 2015 fight, which will make this 3 of his last four fights against Pitbull.
You can see the press release Bellator MMA issued Fightful.com below.
The main event of Bellator 178 on April 21, 2017 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut will feature the return of featherweight champion Daniel Straus (24-6), who will defend his belt against Patricio “Pitbull” (25-4) in the fourth chapter of their storied rivalry.
Tickets for this massive event start at $30, with an exclusive Bellator Nation Presale offer taking place on Feb. 22 and 23. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Feb. 24 and are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announcing in the coming weeks.
Time away from the Bellator MMA cage has been eating at the 145-pound kingpin Straus, who has been on the shelf due to a hand injury since his unanimous decision win over his Jan. 27 opponent during the main event of Bellator 145: With A Vengeance in November of last year. Now, fully back to health, American Top Team’s standout now looks to bring his record against Freire to 2-2 and finally put an end to the back-and-forth battles the two have been undertaking under the Bellator MMA umbrella since 2011. Set for his 14th appearance with the Scott Coker-led promotion, Straus will be competing for the fourth time where championship gold will be on the line and seeking the first title defense of his nearly seven-year mixed martial arts career.
Returning to action for the first time since his loss via leg injury to Benson Henderson at Bellator 160: Henderson vs. ‘Pitbull’ – a fight that saw “Pitbull” withdraw due to a broken shin – the 29-year-old Natal, Brazil native looks to reclaim the belt that he feels is rightfully his. Back at featherweight following a one-bout foray at 155-pounds, “Pitbull” will bring his impressive mark of 19 stoppages in 25 opportunities to the table against a man he has defeated twice already, once by unanimous decision and the other via dramatic rear-naked choke submission.
