The featherweight grand prix finally returns on Thursday night from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., as 145- and 155-pound champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire battles Rafael Carvalho in the quarterfinals in the main event of Bellator 252.
Initially, Freire and Carvalho were set to meet at Bellator 241 on March 13 at the same venue. The card went from having fans to not having them to being canceled altogether due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freire and Carvalho have shown a disdain for each other, leading into Bellator 252. Carvalho feels Freire thinks he's the easier route to move on in the tournament and overlooking him.
Freire became the second dual titleholder in the company when he stopped former champion Michael Chandler in 61 seconds at Bellator 221. "Pitbull" advanced to this stage with a unanimous decision win over Juan Archuleta at Bellator 228 in September 2019 to successfully defend his belt for the third time.
Like Freire, Carvalho comes back after a 14-month layoff. Carvalho returned to featherweight three weeks before Freire competed at Bellator 226 and submitted Sam Sicilia in the opening round of the grand prix.
Freire has shown that he's one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. Can he move on and continue his reign, or does Carvalho pull off the upset?
Here is everything you need to know about Bellator 252: "Pitbull" vs. Carvalho.
When is Patricio "Pitbull" Freire vs Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 252?
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12
- Prelims: 4 p.m. ET
- Main card: 7 p.m. ET
Bellator 252 takes place on Thursday, Nov. 12. Prelims get underway at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET. Freire and Carvalho should start about 8:30 p.m. ET, but the time depends on the length of the earlier fights.
How to watch Bellator 252: "Pitbull" vs. Carvalho TV, live stream info
In the United States, the Bellator 252 prelims and main card are available on DAZN. The main card is also available on CBS Sports Network.
In Canada, Bellator 252 is available on DAZN.
In Germany, the main card (1 a.m. CET) is available on DAZN.
Find out more about how to watch on DAZN by clicking here.
Where is Bellator 252?
Bellator 252: "Pitbull" and Carvalho will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It is the fifth time "Pitbull" competes at the venue while Carvalho fights there for the first time.
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire record, bio
- Name: Patricio Freire
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Born: July 7, 1987
- Height: 5-5
- Reach: 65.5 inches
- Total fights: 34
- Record: 30-4
Rafael Carvalho record, bio
- Name: Rafael Carvalho
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Born: June 8, 1995
- Height: 5-11
- Reach: 70 inches
- Total fights: 14
- Record: 11-3
Bellator 252: "Pitbull" vs. Carvalho fight card
Main card
- Patricio Freire (c) vs. Pedro Carvalho for Freire's Featherweight title and quarterfinals of Featherweight Grand Prix
- Yaroslav Amosov vs. Logan Storley; Welterweight
- Daniel Weichel vs. Emmanuel Sanchez in quarterfinals of Featherweight Grand Prix
Preliminary card
- Aaron Pico vs. John de Jesus; Featherweight
- Keri Taylor-Melendez vs. Emilee King; Women's Strawweight
- Gabriel Varga vs. Brandon Phillips; Featherweight
- Devin Powell vs. Manny Muro; Lightweight
- Jornel Lugo vs. Schyler Sootho; Bantamweight
- Lucas Brennan vs. Andrew Salas; Featherweight
- Roman Faraldo vs. Pat Casey; Welterweight
- Khonry Gracie vs. Trevor Gudde; Welterweight