A rematch has been added to Bellator 222 according to Ariel Helwani of ESPN and this time it is for the Bellator Bantamweight Title as Darrion Caldwell puts the gold on the line against Rizin Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The report also states that Horiguchi would have to defend the Bellator Bantamweight Title at least once a year if victorious at the event.
Caldwell (13-2-0) hasn’t competed since the first bout against Horiguchi, which was a third round submission loss at Rizin 14. Caldwell is going to be making the second defense of his championship, last defending it against Leandro Higo at Bellator 195. Caldwell has seen six of his fifteen professional MMA bouts go the distance and the champion won all of those encounters.
Horiguchi (27-2-0) has competed once since the initial meeting with Caldwell, defeating UFC veteran Ben Nguyen by first round knockout at Rizin 15. Horiguchi will enter the bout while in the midst of a twelve fight winning streak and he hasn’t suffered a defeat in over four years. Horiguchi has previously challenged for the UFC Flyweight Title, losing to then champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 186.
Bellator 222 takes place on Friday, June 14 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Chael Sonnen and Lyoto Machida headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
