Kyoji Horiguchi will get the chance to re-gain the Bellator Bantamweight Championship on December 3rd, facing current champ Sergio Pettis at Bellator 272. The fight will headline a card that is set to happen at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA.
News of the bantamweight title fight was first reported by Luke Thomas of the Morning Kombat.
Horiguchi first gained the Bellator Bantamweight Championship in 2019, dethroning Darrion Caldwell via unanimous decision. His run with the belt was short-lived, as injury forced him to relinquish the title just later that year.
Horiguchi was also the RIZIN Bantamweight Champion at that time and had to also lose that belt as an injury sidelined him. He has since regained that championship, scoring a first-round stoppage win over Kai Asakura last year.
It was reported in September that Horiguchi had signed with Bellator. A statement put out by RIZIN mentioned that he would continue to be recognized as their bantamweight champion despite the move.
The fight gives Pettis a chance to defend his belt for the first time. He gained the title in May, going five rounds to dethrone Juan Archuleta via unanimous decision.
The fight was his third win since joining Bellator last year. Previous wins saw him submit Alfred Khashakyan and take a scorecard win over Ricky Bandejas.
Hill Vs. Scoggins Added To Undercard
A press release issued by Bellator on Wednesday revealed two other matchups that are set to happen in December.
Rising bantamweight Jared Scoggins will get his Bellator debut on the prelims, facing veteran Josh Hill.
Attempting to bounce back from his sole career loss, Keoni Diggs will meet John de Jesus at featherweight.
Updated Lineup
Bout 3: Sergio Pettis (21-5) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (29-3) (Bellator Bantamweight Championship)
Bout 2: Josh Hill (20-4) vs. Jared Scoggins (10-1) (Bantamweight)
Bout 1: Keoni Diggs (9-1) vs. John de Jesus (14-9) (Featherweight)
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