Bellator MMA lightweight champion Patricky Freire was scheduled to make his first title defense this month, but an unspecified injury has postponed his July 22 fight with Sidney Outlaw.
The title bout was to headline Bellator 283 in Tacoma, Washington, but a source with knowledge of the fight booking confirmed a Sherdog.com report that Freire-Outlaw will be moved to a later date.
Freire, a 36-year-old from Brazil, fights under the nickname “Pitbull,” as does younger brother Patricio. Patricio, the Bellator featherweight champ, used to reign at lightweight as well, but he vacated that title this past October to focus on the 145-pound division and allow his brother to go for the 155-pound championship. Patricky won the belt the next month with a TKO of Peter Queally.
Patricky Pitbull (24-10) has won eight of his past 10 fights, including victories over former champs of the UFC (Benson Henderson) and Strikeforce (Josh Thomson).
Outlaw (16-4), who is 30 and fights out of Telford, Pennsylvania, has won 11 of his past 12. He earned his title shot with a submission win over Myles Jury in June 2021.