Sergio Pettis set to defend title vs. Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator 272

The Bellator bantamweight title will be on the line this December.

At Bellator 272, champion Sergio Pettis will defend his strap against former Bellator and RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The event takes place Friday, Dec. 3 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with promotion officials following an initial announcement Wednesday by Morning Kombat.

Pettis (21-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) won his first major promotional title in May when he defeated then-champ Juan Archuleta by unanimous decision in the main event of Bellator 258. The win extended his streak to four, which also included victories over Ricky Bandejas, Alfred Khashakyan, and Tyson Nam.

Horiguchi (29-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), meanwhile, will compete under the Bellator banner for the first time as a rostered fighter on a multifight deal. In June 2019, Horiguchi was lent by RIZIN to Bellator for a one-off fight against Darrion Caldwell – a bout Horiguchi won by unanimous decision to become champion. He later vacated the title.

Since his departure from the UFC in November 2016, Horiguchi won the RIZIN bantamweight title twice and went 10-1 with wins over the likes of Caldwell (twice), Ian McCall, Manel Kape, and Kai Asakura.

With the addition, the Bellator 272 lineup includes:

• Champion Sergio Pettis vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – for bantamweight title
• Tommy Espinosa vs. Jornel Lugo