Patricky Pitbull’s first defense of his Bellator Lightweight Championship is back on the schedule.
Pitbull is expected to face undefeated contender Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288 on November 18th, as first reported by MMA Fight Universe. The bout is joining a card that doesn’t have a confirmed location at the moment.
The booking gives Pitbull the opportunity to defend his belt for the first time since earning it in 2021. He first secured the title last year, avenging a loss against Peter Queally to secure the then-vacant belt.
Pitbull was originally scheduled to defend his belt earlier this year. He was booked to meet Sidney Outlaw at Bellator’s July 22nd card, although an injury forced him out of that fight.
Outlaw lost his status as the top contender since then, losing a bout to former RIZIN talent Tofiq Musayev in July.
Nurmagomedov appeared on that same card, earning a first-round submission victory against Chris Gonzalez. That victory moved his undefeated record to 15 consecutive wins and marked his fourth time competing in the Bellator cage.
After that win, Nurmagomedov moved up to the top of Bellator’s lightweight rankings, with Musayev landing one spot below him.
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