David Rickels Moves to Welterweight, Faces Brennan Ward at Bellator 185 on Oct. 20

Former lightweight title challenger David Rickels will try his hand at 170 pounds when he faces Brennan Ward at Bellator 185.

The California-based promotion recently announced the pairing. Bellator 185 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Oct. 20 and is headlined by a middleweight showdown pitting Gegard Mousasi against Alexander Shlemenko.

Rickels last appeared at Bellator 171, where he scored a third-round technical knockout of Aaron Derrow on Jan. 27. “The Caveman” debuted with Bellator in 2011 and has compiled a 12-4 record with two no contests in the Scott Coker-led organization.

Ward, meanwhile, has lost three of his last four fights, including a third-round submission defeat against Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 182 on Aug. 25. The 29-year-old Waterford, Conn., is 9-6 in the promotion, with all of his victories coming inside two rounds.