Bellator 228 “Pitbull vs. Archuleta” takes place Saturday, September 28, 2019 at The Forum in Inglewood, California exclusively on DAZN. “Champ-champ” Patricio Freire (29-4) will defend his Featherweight title against Juan Archuleta (23-1) in the top billed fight.
An equally critical contest for the card will see former Middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi (45-7-2) attempt to bounce back from his loss to Rafael Lovato Jr. in a rematch with “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (26-8). Mousasi spoke about his reasons for taking the fight at a recent Bellator media day.
“They gave me money, they said come fight, I want to fight. It’s not rocket science you know. I’m a fighter. They pay me, I fight. And uh, Machida’s a big name anyway. I’m going to face him now or later. Lovato is injured, that’s what I heard, so we’re gonna move on.”
When it comes to losing a world title though “moving on” is easier said than done.
“It still hurts but you know I’m healthy, I’m healthy, I’m not injured. You’re injured you’re out for eight months, nine months sometimes. Now I can come back and set everything right in three months, get a title shot again. It hurts but nothing to do but look at what we did wrong and come back.”
The opportunity to avenge a UFC loss in 2014 seems like a motivating factor, but Mousasi insists that’s not the case.
“No no no. You know we looked at the roster, who we could’ve faced, but there’s not really anyone big name or what Bellator wants to make, so it’s the only fight that makes sense.”
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