Ex-UFC welterweight Lorenz Larkin gets instant title shot at 'Bellator NYC' vs. champ Lorenz Larkin

Bellator’s second pay-per-view card is filling rapidly.

Recently signed free agent Lorenz Larkin (18-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will get an immediate title shot against welterweight champ Douglas Lima (28-6 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) at “Bellator: NYC,” the Viacom-owned promotion’s pay-per-view card that follows Bellator 180 on June 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Los Angeles Times was first to report the booking, and a Bellator official subsequently confirmed it to MMAjunkie. The pay-per-view event now boasts two title fights in advance of co-headliner Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione and main event Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva.

As MMAjunkie previously reported, the Viacom-owned promotion’s plan is to create two distinct events on the same night, with a two-hour, four-fight “Bellator 180” serving as the Spike-televised leadoff before the five-fight “Bellator: NYC” on pay-per-view.

Douglas Lima

Larkin, the No. 8 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, makes his promotional debut at the “tentpole” event, though it’s his second run with veteran promoter and Bellator President Scott Coker after a stint in the now-defunct Strikeforce. He gets an immediate grab at gold after leaving the UFC. On a two-fight winning streak, he collides with No. 12 fighter and Bellator vet Lima, who reclaimed the belt this past November and hopes to show he’s no easy pushover.

Bellator 180 marks the promotion’s second trip to pay-per-view after Bellator 120 in 2014.

With the addition, the “Bellator: NYC” and “Bellator 180” lineup now includes:

“Bellator: NYC”

• Wanderlei Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
• Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione
• Champ Douglas Lima vs. Lorenz Larkin – for welterweight title
• Champ Michael Chandler vs. Brent Primus – for lightweight title

For more on “Bellator NYC” and “Bellator 180”, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.