Bellator Vets Look to Kick Off New Era with a Bang in Belfast

Get ready for the launch of @BellatorMMA 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 this Friday March 22nd! @KarisaMaxwell breaks down everything you need to know about Bellator’s new home in the US! Streaming exclusively on @SportsonMax 📝#BellatorBelfast pic.twitter.com/lvjp8YJXr9

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) March 20, 2024

The Professional Fighters League vowed to give Bellator MMA a makeover, but the organization's face remains the same -- just ask Eric Albarracin.

“There will never be anybody to pass the Bellator GOAT because we’re in a new home,” Albarracin said of Bellator featherweight king Patricio Freire during a Zoom conference Wednesday. “Patricio started with MTV2 and then MTV, and then he was on the Spanish channel, Spike, Paramount, Showtime; and now we’re debuting on Max. Patricio has been a champion for all of that.”

The 36-year-old “Pitbull” will defend his title against Jeremy Kennedy on Friday at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to kick off the Bellator Championship Series era. A light heavyweight title showdown between Corey Anderson and hometown hero Karl Moore headlines the 11-fight card. Bellator 302 begins at 12:55 p.m. ET on Bellator’s new home, Max, the streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

For Bellator veterans like Freire, Anderson and middleweight contender Fabian Edwards, Bellator 302 is a chance to get back to business while enjoying a fresh start. Freire is Bellator’s most accomplished fighter, but he’s on a two-fight skid that Kennedy hopes to extend.

“I think his gas tank’s going to get pushed, and that’s where my youth comes into it,” the 31-year-old said. I have the momentum. He’s coming off two losses, and I’m coming off three wins. Every fight’s different, but my confidence is there.”

Friere (35-7) is coming off one the worst years of his career. After falling short of a third title against bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis in June, Friere was knocked out for the first time by Chihiro Suzuki a month later. Looking to bounce back, he trained to fight PFL featherweight tournament winner Jesus Pinedo at PFL vs. Bellator, made weight for Pinedo’s replacement, Gabriel Varga, and still didn’t get to fight.

Needless to say, Friere is eager to put his hands on someone.

“I have more to lose than to gain fighting Jeremy Kennedy because my legacy is on the line,” Friere said. “I need to maintain that; because of that, I’m not going to give him an inch.”

Friere isn’t the only fighter with legacy on their mind. Anderson fell short of gold in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and against former Bellator light heavyweight king Vadim Nemkov. With Nemkov’s move to heavyweight, Anderson believes it’s his time to rule — even if that comes at the expense of the pro-Moore Irish crowd.

“I don’t care if I win the crowd or not the plan is to go out there and win,” Anderson said. “They can hate me. They can boo me or whatever. They still have to come watch me if they want to support their boy. They better hope for the best because I’m prepared to stop the show.”

Anderson beat Phil Davis by a split decision in his last bout but hopes to end Moore’s four-fight win streak in swift fashion. Anderson has shared the cage with top-tier guys like Nemkov, Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz, so he’s not impressed by anything that Moore brings to the table. The 32-year-old Irishman says he’ll use that to his advantage.

“I think the fact that I’m not as well-known as Corey, and there’s not as much footage on me as there is with him,” Moore said. “He’s really tough and well-rounded, but I think stylistically what I bring to the table can be a big problem for Corey.”

Moore has hometown support without the burden of huge expectations. At 34, Anderson has been chasing the title for over a decade. He’s put the losses behind him and reached heights that most fighters will never touch but refuses to stop climbing until he claims a world title.

“You’ve got to let it go, but you can’t forget,” Anderson said. “There are no setbacks, they’re stepping stones. You can cry over spilled milk all day, but it’s not going to pour you a bowl of cereal.”

Edwards can relate to that message. It’s a tough road back to another shot at the middleweight title, but it starts with a win over Aaron Jeffery. Edwards had to put a third-round knockout loss to Johnny Eblen behind him to prepare for the hard-hitting Canadian. He’s chalked up the loss to the game and is ready to get back on track.

“A fight’s a fight, and sometimes you’ve just got to take your licks and move on,” Edwards said. “I’ve handed out many stoppages to people and they’ve gone on to keep fighting. The last loss I took on the chin because it’s the game we’re in, and a lot of people have gotten stopped and gone on to do great things.”

Bellator 302 is headlined by a trio of veterans but loaded with young Irish talent. Undefeated Ciaran Clakre (8-0) is on the card. Nathan Kelly puts his nine-fight win streak on the line and fan-favorite Tim Wilde battles undefeated Manoel Sousa.