Pat Curran
Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran (17-4) will not defend his belt later this month against Season Four Featherweight finalist Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire (17-1).
The two were scheduled to headline Bellator 73, which is scheduled for August 24, 2012 at Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
ESPN.com spoke to Curran and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about the injury on Tuesday, reporting a fractured orbital bone as the reason for the champs withdrawal.
Curran: “It’s an incredibly frustrating injury, especially to happen so close to the fight, but these things happen,” Curran said. “I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life, but injuries happen and once I heal up, I’m going to continue to train and come back stronger than ever to defend the Bellator featherweight title.”
Rebney: “First and foremost I feel horrible for Pat, he’s been looking forward to this fight pitting two of the best 145 pounds in the world against each other for months,” Rebney said. “Pat always elevates his game as the stakes get higher and higher. Right now the focus is Pat healing and getting back to 100 percent and we will get that fight rescheduled as quickly as Pat’s health will allow us to.”
Curran beat Joe Warren last March at Bellator 60 to claim the 145-lbs title, earning a third round knockout finish. Curran moved to featherweight after losing to former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez in a title fight in April 2011. Curran won the 2011 Summer Series, defeating Luis Palomino, Ronnie Mann and Marlon Sandro to win the tournament before moving on to beat Warren.