Sergio Pettis (image via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Bellator has announced that as many expected, Kyoji Horiguchi’s return to the promotion’s cage will be against bantamweight champ, Sergio Pettis.

Horiguchi won Bellator’s bantamweight title in 2019 by recording a decision win over Darrion Caldwell. But, due to a serious knee injury he sustained, the Japanese star ended up vacating the title.

Last month, Bellator announced that Horiguchi  (29-3) has resigned with the promotion, and now the company’s confirmed he will battle Pettis on December 3rd. Bellator 272 will take place on that date in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The American Pettis (21-5) won the bantamweight championship in May, by outscoring Juan Archuleta for the decision win. The UFC vet has won four straight.

Horiguchi, meanwhile, hasn’t competed since December, when he reclaimed RIZIN’s bantamweight title by stopping Kai Asakura.

Here is the line-up to date for Bellator 272.

BELLATOR MMA 272: PETTIS VS. HORIGUCHI MAIN CARD:

Friday, Dec. 3 – live on SHOWTIME

10 p.m. ET/PT

Bantamweight World Title Bout: Champion-Sergio Pettis (21-5) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (29-3)

BELLATOR MMA 272: PETTIS VS. HORIGUCHI PRELIMINARY CARD:

Friday, Dec. 3 – live on SHOWTIME

7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Bantamweight Bout: Josh Hill (20-4) vs. Jared Scoggins (10-1)

Featherweight bout: Keoni Diggs (9-1) vs. John de Jesus (14-9)

*Card subject to change.