For the second time in a row, Bellator is bringing one of its biggest stars to Japan.
At Bellator X Rizin 2, announced this Saturday in late July near Tokyo, Bellator president Scott Coker will take former featherweight champion AJ McKee (20-1 MMA, 20-1 BMMA) outside to battle the former lightweight champion. Patricky Freire (24-11 MMA, 15-9 BMMA) in the opening round of the promotion’s ongoing Grand Prix weighing in at 155 lbs.
Having that high-profile fight in Japan, Coker said, is a testament to what Bellator wants to do with events there.
“We could have brought this anywhere in the world,” Cocker said at a news conference Saturday to announce the event in Tokyo. “We thought about doing it in L.A. or doing it in New York, but as I (Rizin’s president, Nobuyuki Sakakibara) kept talking, we thought this was the perfect fight for Japan.”
Maki won the featherweight title against Freire’s brother Patricio in July 2021, but Freire defeated him in April 2022 in a rematch.
Mackey decided to move up to lightweight and after seven years as a professional featherweight, won a pair of decisions at 155 pounds against Spike Carlisle and Roberto de Souza. The latest victory came last New Year’s Eve at an event co-promoted by Bellator and Rizin in Japan.
Once he was in the tournament and match against Patriki Freire in normal competition, Cocker said he started worrying about when to fight.
“AJ would call me every week asking, ‘When do I fight? Cocker said. “But we had to wait a month and it got better. I think fans in Japan will have a great show on July 30th.”
Mackie said starting the tournament with the former champion and natural competitor is what he wants. He thinks that will add some sparks to the event.
“I think this could not have been the best match to start the championship, the World Grand Prix,” said Mackey. “The rivalry between me and his brother, and now[us]leading up to us fighting, it’s amazing. Up until this point, there’s been no real rivalry in my career. My teammates and I are very friendly and respectful, but when it comes to stepping into that cage and handling business, we’ll know.” What we will do for each other.”
Patriki Freire won the vacant lightweight title against Peter Quely in November 2021, only to lose it to Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288 a year later. Nurmagomedov is on the other side of the bracket, so the first time the winner of McKee-Freire takes the lightweight title will be in a tournament final.
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