Knockdown Daily 8/4/22: Patricio Pitbull vs. Adam Borics To Headline Bellator 286
An upcoming featherweight title bout leads the MMA headlines for Thursday
Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Knockdown Daily. Today is a quick issue, running through just a couple of news stories today.
News
Patricio Pitbull vs. Adam Borics To Headline Bellator 286
With the Bellator Featherweight Championship back in his possession, Patricio Pitbull is now scheduled to headline a card later this year against rising talent Adam Borics.
Their matchup will serve as the main event for Bellator 286 on October 1st, per an announcement made on CBS Sports this Wednesday. The bout is scheduled to take place at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California, USA.
Pitbull is currently on his third run as featherweight champ. His extensive second title run came to an end last year, as he suffered a quick stoppage loss against AJ McKee Jr in the summer.
Pitbull regained his belt in a rematch earlier this year, going five rounds against McKee Jr. for a unanimous decision win.
Borics is seeing a title opportunity after a steady climb up Bellator’s 145-pound ranks. The 29-year-old has lost just one of his 10 appearances since joining the promotion in 2017.
Borics earned a pair of notable wins in recent years, defeating Jeremy Kennedy and Mads Burnell on scorecards respectively. Now, he will challenge for a title for the first time in his Bellator career.
McKee Set For Pro Lightweight Debut
Former champion AJ McKee Jr. is expected to appear in the co-main event of Bellator’s early October show, moving up to lightweight to face explosive fighter Spike Carlyle.
McKee Jr. is moving divisions after suffering his first pro loss in a title fight against Patricio Pitbull last year. Before then, he attained an impressive 18 wins for the promotion.
Carlyle has seen nothing but success since departing the UFC roster in 2020. He picked up four victories in 2021, tearing up the regional scene and then winning his Bellator debut against Dan Moret.
Carlyle is coming off a recent win in Japanese promotion RIZIN, securing a second-round submission against Koji Takeda.
Aspen Ladd Out of August 13th UFC Bout Against Sara McMann
UFC’s August 13th show has lost a bantamweight bout.
Aspen Ladd has withdrawn from her scheduled bout against Sara McMann, per a report from Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting.
The fight was scheduled to take place during a “Fight Night” card at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, USA.
Ladd reportedly had to withdraw from the fight after a positive COVID-19 test. The fight was set to give her a chance to snap a two-fight skid that she developed in recent months.
It is not known at the moment whether McMann will get a new opponent for UFC’s August 13th show. She is coming off a recent victory, going the distance against Karol Rosa for a decision victory in March.
UFC’s August 13th show is currently scheduled to be headlined by bantamweights Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz.
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