Bellator MMA lightweight champion Patricky Freire's first title defense, scheduled for July 22 against Sidney Outlaw, has been postponed because of an unspecified injury, the promotion announced.
The title bout was to headline Bellator 283 in Tacoma, Washington.
With Freire sidelined, Bellator is elevating a fight between former welterweight champ Douglas Lima and Jason Jackson to a five-round main event, and Outlaw will now fight former Rizin champ Tofiq Musayev.
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.
