Patricio Freire-Daniel Straus set as co-feature of Bellator 145

For the second time this year, Bellator MMA will host a major event in the city of St. Louis.

Bellator 145 will take place at Scottrade Center and feature two title fights, officials have confirmed to ESPN.com. MMAFighting.com first reported the event.

A featherweight championship bout between Patricio Freire and Daniel Straus will headline the card.

In the co-main event, lightweight champion Will Brooks will seek his second title defense against Polish challenger Marcin Held.

The promotion is less than two months removed from its last stop at Scottrade Center. Bellator 138, which was headlined by a heavyweight fight between Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock, took place on June 19 in St. Louis.

Freire (24-2) has emerged as a dominant force in Bellator's 145-pound division. The Brazilian champion won the title in September and has recorded finishes in back-to-back title defenses against Straus and Daniel Weichel.

It will actually mark the third meeting between Freire and Straus (23-6). Freire has come away with the victory in each of the first two meetings, defeating Straus via unanimous decision in May 2011 and via fourth-round submission in January.

Brooks (16-1) will take a seven-fight winning streak into the championship fight. He defeated former champion Michael Chandler in back-to-back fights in 2014 and is coming off a dominant five-round victory over Dave Jansen at Bellator 136 in April.

He will look to slow down the surging Held (21-3), who has won six in a row, including five finishes.

In addition to the two title fights, Chandler (13-3) and heavyweight contender Bobby Lashley (13-2) are expected to make appearances on the card, according to Bellator officials.