Despite the last-minute change, the main event of this weekend’s Bellator x MMA Rizin 2 event is still bound to be a must-watch affair. The cross-promotional spectacle will have Bellator standout Patricky Pitbull going up against Rizin’s lightweight golden boy Roberto de Souza in a crucial tournament bout for the former promotion.

Nitrobetting isn’t holding back any punches regarding previews for the biggest boxing and mixed martial arts events on the calendar. Let’s break down the upcoming Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout between Patricky Pitbull and Roberto de Souza.

Patricky Pitbull vs. Roberto de Souza Fight Info

⚔️ @ScottCoker breaks down how he always wanted to see Roberto de Sousa enter the Bellator cage for the #BellatorLWGP. He now faces @PatrickyPitbull at the Saitama Super Arena LIVE on @SHOsports

… pic.twitter.com/zWQTsi9qCd

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) July 26, 2023

• When: Sunday, July 30, 2023
• Where: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
• Live Stream: Bellator Live
• MMA Odds: A.J. McKee (TBD) / Patricky Pitbull (TBD)

Why Bet on Patricky Pitbull?

No stranger to MMA tournaments, 38-year-old Brazilian Patricky Pitbull has another crack to redeem himself in the main event of this weekend’s card in Saitama. Pitbull (born Patricky Friere) is a kickboxing and BJJ savant who sports a 24-11 MMA record to date, with 16 of his wins coming by way of a knockout.

Before the global pandemic, Pitbull participated in the 2019 Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix Final. He came up one win short of winning the entire tournament, falling in the final round to Tofiq Musayev. In November 2021, he cemented himself as one of Bellator’s top faces by winning the vacant lightweight title with a second-round KO of Peter Queally.

Unfortunately, Pitbull would fall his first and only title defense at the hands of Usman Nurmagomedov last November. Even though he’s lost three of his last four fights, the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix is a perfect place for him to start a new, possibly more dominant run in the division.

Why Bet on Roberto de Souza?

In a spot that was meant for former Bellator featherweight champ A.J. McKee, who had to bow out of the main event due to an injury, Rizin had to agree with putting their top lightweight to the task to keep the show going. In turn, Roberto de Souza will surely have the Japanese home crowd behind his back, as he’s now part of Bellator’s Lightweight Grand Prix picture.

In 17 career MMA fights, de Souza has only lost twice and has had two successful defenses of his Rizin lightweight crown and with all four of his last five wins via submission before the end of the second round. The half-Japanese, half-Brazilian Judo specialist has not defended his belt since April 2022, as his last two fights were non-title bouts. Ironically enough, he lost one of those two fights against McKee.

Nevertheless, de Souza is 6-1 since the turn of the decade and is one of Rizin’s biggest stars to date. The 33-year-old also possesses a contrasting fighting style as his next opponent, which could be a real problem for Pitbull this weekend. Then again, Pitbull has only been submitted once in his lengthy career.

Patricky Pitbull vs. Roberto de Souza Expert Betting Prediction

Before the sudden change to the main event, Pitbull was seen as an underdog against 20-1 McKee. While de Souza did just lose to McKee and had to take this showdown on short notice, he’s still the more decorated fighter with just as much or even better big-fight experience than Pitbull. Chalk this up as a submission or a unanimous-decision victory for de Souza.

Where to Bet on MMA with Crypto

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more MMA previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest MMA betting odds on our crypto sportsbook.