Michael Chandler and Patricky Pitbull are scheduled to fight for the vacant lightweight championship at Bellator: Dynamite 2 next month.
Bellator MMA lightweight contenders Michael Chandler and Patricky Freire are set to fight for the vacant lightweight championship at Bellator: Dynamite 2 later this year, officials announced during the Bellator 154 broadcast on Saturday evening.
Current champion Will Brooks vacated the belt when he was granted a release from the organization on Saturday.
Chandler (14-3) is riding a two-fight winning streak with stoppage wins over David Rickels and Derek Campos since back-to-back losses to Brooks in title fights. The 30-year-old was supposed to fight Josh Thomson at Bellator 154 on Saturday in one of the most anticipated Bellator fights of the year, but UFC veteran Thomson pulled out with an injury. Chandler did not receive a replacement fight for the card.
Freire (16-7) is also riding a two-fight winning streak with a recent decision win over UFC veteran Kevin Souza in the main event of Bellator 152 last month. Prior to that, he knocked out Ryan Couture in impressive fashion. Pitbull’s last loss came to the hands of Derek Anderson late last year. Pitbull lost to Chandler by unanimous decision in a 2011 lightweight tournament final.
Chandler vs. Pitbull is the evening’s co-main event.
Bellator: Dynamite 2 takes place live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO on June 24. In the main event, Quinton Jackson returns to Bellator against Satoshi Ishii in a 215 lbs catchweight contest.