By FCF Staff

Bellator is just weeks away from its move to SPIKE TV, and the promotion has confirmed several bouts that will be featured on its long awaited premiere. The Bellator 85 card will feature two title fights, as featherweight champ Pat Curran will take on Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and lightweight champion Michael Chandler will battle Rick Hawn.

The January 17th card will be hosted by Irvine, California’s UCI Bren Center and the SPIKE broadcast will begin at 10:00 PM (EST/PST).

In addition, Bellator has announced that Strikeforce and UFC vet Renato Sobral will meet former M-1 light-heavyweight Mikhail Zayats.

“Our Thursday, January 17th premiere on Spike will be an incredible night for MMA fans; two epic world title fights and an amazing collection of tournament fights” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “Spike TV is the home for MMA and this event will be a great way to kick off that homecoming.”

The promotion’s 12 week seasons and subsequent events will air every Thursday on SPIKE.

Curran (17-4) will be competing for the first time since March, when he knocked out former champ Joe Warren at Bellator 60.

Freire (17-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Daniel Strauss in May to win that season’s featherweight tourney.

Chandler (10-0) hasn’t fought since May either, when he stopped Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 in what was a non-title affair.

Hawn (14-1), meanwhile, earned a UD victory over Brent Weedman that month to take the lightweight tourney and secure a title shot.