There have been few moments in the sport quite like when MMA promotions Bellator and Rizin joined forces for a mega crossover event. Now, they have decided to work together again for another inter-promotional mega show.
The first Bellator x Rizin event capped off 2022, going down on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. This card played out well for the Bellator fighters, with AJ McKee, Patricio Pitbull, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Juan Archuleta all earning decision victories over their Rizin counterparts.
Following the success of the first Bellator x Rizin event, Bellator President Scott Coker insisted that there would be more crossover events to come. Sure enough, that sequel event will come only seven months later.
Bellator x Rizin 2 Set For July 30
Coker announced that Bellator x Rizin 2 will take place on July 30th, again returning to the Saitama Super Arena. This card will once again feature AJ McKee, as he faces Patricio’s brother, Patricky Pitbull, as well as Kyoji Horiguchi who squares up against Makoto Takahashi for Bellator’s inaugural flyweight championship.
“Bellator x Rizin 2 π―π΅
President @ScottCoker announces that Bellator will join forces with @rizin_English for another π¨πͺπ₯ππ§π¨ππ€π¬.
@ajmckee101 faces @PatrickyPitbull in the final #BellatorLWGP quarterfinal & @kyoji1012 takes on @makoto0705mma for the inaugural flyweight world championship!
#BellatorxRizin2 | Sun, July 30 | π Saitama Super Arena” the Bellator MMA account tweeted.
ππππππππ π πππππ π π―π΅
President @ScottCoker announces that Bellator will join forces with @rizin_English for another π¨πͺπ₯ππ§π¨ππ€π¬.@ajmckee101 faces @PatrickyPitbull in the final #BellatorLWGP quarterfinal & @kyoji1012 takes on @makoto0705mma for theβ¦ pic.twitter.com/29DXSEElVG
β Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 27, 2023
At the time of writing, it is still unclear how the rest of the Bellator x Rizin 2 card will shape up, but it is already looking to be a reasonably stacked card. Time will tell if the Bellator fighters can sweep the competition once again, or if Rizin will return with a vengeance for this second showcase.
