One more trilogy will go down in 2014 as Daniel Straus puts his Bellator featherweight title on the line against former champion Pat Curran on March 14 in Chicago, Ill., at Bellator 112.
Straus (22-4) earned a shot at the featherweight champion after winning the sixth season of the 145-pound tournament, later becoming the champion with a decision win over Curran at Bellator 106.
“Whenever you fight, each win means something different and I know this one is incredibly important,” Straus said in a release. “I want to continue to be a top notch fighter, and earn that respect I think I deserve. I know this is going to be a different fight than the last time. Each time we have fought, Pat and myself have been different fighters, and this will fight will be no different.”
Curran (19-5) will have a chance to get back the Bellator title after suffering his first loss since dropping to the featherweight division in 2011, and he promises to reclaim the title in March.
“I’m just ready to get back into the cage and get another shot at Daniel,” Curran said. “He’s an unbelievable fighter, and I know I have to be better on March 14. I had a few things going on in my life when we fought in November, but those things are behind me and I don’t like to make excuses.
“Daniel is going to be a different fighter when we fight again, and so am I. Hammond has been a great fight city for me, it’s where I won the belt for the first time, and it’s where I’m going to reclaim it.”
Patricio Freire will wait for another shot at the title with Bellator’s decision to give Curran an immediate rematch.
“Daniel Straus and Pat Curran are two of the best featherweights on the planet and deserve every ounce and praise and recognition they receive,” Bellator’s Bjorn Rebney said. “Our featherweight division continues to be the deepest and strongest featherweight division in MMA, and I’m very excited to have this title fight headline a huge night of fights on March 14 from The Horseshoe Hammond.”
Bellator 112 will also have the semifinals of the next welterweight tournament as Joe Riggs fights Sam Oropeza and War Machine takes on Nah-Shon Burrell in the opening round.