Bellator Belfast: Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire to defend featherweight title against Jeremy Kennedy
- Published
Watch: Top five finishes from Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire
Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire will defend his featherweight title against Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator Belfast on 22 March.
The bout will serve as the co-main at the SSE Arena, replacing Leah McCourt and Sinead Kavanagh's match-up.
Northern Ireland's McCourt was forced to pull out of the fight earlier this month with injury.
Canadian Kennedy was originally to face James Gallagher at the event, but the Irishman will now fight Leandro Higo.
Brazil's Freire has not defended his featherweight title since beating Adam Borics in October 2022, with the 36-year-old engaging in two cross-promotional non-title bouts with Japanese organisation Rizin, as well as suffering defeat at bantamweight to former champion Sergio Pettis.
Kennedy, 31, comes into the bout on a three-fight win streak with his last victory coming against Pedro Carvalho one year ago.
The event is headlined by a light-heavyweight title fight between Ireland's Karl Moore and American Corey Anderson, with Moore aiming to become Bellator's first Irish world champion.
The show is also the first under sole Bellator branding since the PFL acquired the promotion in November.
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