Patricio ‘Pitbull’ (photo via Bellator / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Bellator has announced a broadcasting deal with Showtime, which will begin with a card headlined by Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire versus Emmanuel Sanchez.

On Tuesday, the ViacomCBS properties announced a multi-year deal which will see Bellator events broadcast on Showtime on Friday nights.

The first Showtime card will take place on April 2nd. The card will feature the featherweight, grand prix semifinal between the champion Freire and Sanchez.

Freire (31-4) hasn’t fought since November, 2020, when he quickly knocked out Pedro Carvalho in the tourney quarterfinals.

Sanchez (20-4) faced Daniel Weichel in the quarterfinals that same month and won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cards are also planned for April 9th and 16th, which will feature the quarter-finals of Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix.