Pat Curran-Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Rematch Kicks off Bellator Summer Series on June 6

Pat Curran defeated Patricio Freire via split decision in 2013. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Curran’s rematch with “Pitbull” takes place at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla., on June 6 and airs live on Spike TV. The featherweights previously met in January 2013, with Curran scoring a split decision victory over Freire in a hard-fought five-rounder at Bellator 85.

Curran, 26, successfully defended his belt against Shahbulat Shamhalaev one year ago but then relinquished the title to Daniel Straus in a unanimous verdict last November. However, Curran avenged that defeat in their immediate rematch last month at Bellator 112, securing Straus’ back late in the fifth round and forcing him to submit to a rear-naked choke.

Freire, meanwhile, has won four straight fights since coming up short against Curran, knocking out Diego Nunes and then outpointing Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva before stopping Justin Wilcox to capture the Season 9 tournament crown last November.