Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire will face Juan Archuleta in the opening round of Bellator’s featherweight grand prix on Saturday, and if he wins, that doesn’t mean the champ-champ won’t be defending the lightweight title in short term future.

Freire will face Archuleta in the main event of Bellator 228 on Saturday, which will take place in Inglewood, California. While discussing what a victory for Freire could mean recently, Bellator President Scott Coker said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“‘Pitbull’ might have some breaks between the tournament,” Coker said. “If he doesn’t fight until March, maybe he fights Saturday night, and if picks a fight in the March slot or whatever he ends up in the tournament, maybe he could fight in between, and we would definitely welcome that.”

“I think he would like to defend both belts,” Coker said. “We have Benson (Henderson) fighting and a couple other ideas of who is going to fight between now and then.”

The featherweight champion won the lightweight title in May, by stopping Michael Chandler in the first round. Henderson is booked to fight Myles Jury today at Bellator 227.