Daniel Straus will return against Patricio Freire at Bellator 178

          • Brett OkamotoFeb 18, 2017, 11:24 AM ET
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          After missing all of 2016, Bellator MMA featherweight champion Daniel Straus will return to action against Patricio Freire at Bellator 178 on April 21.

          Bellator officials announced the 145-pound title fight on Friday. The televised event will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

          Straus (25-6) has not fought since he won the featherweight by out-pointing Freire in a five-round decision in November 2015. The 32-year-old underwent hand surgery in early 2016.

          This will mark the fourth time Straus and Freire, aka "Pitbull," will meet in the Bellator cage. The first meeting occurred in 2011, under Bellator's old tournament format. The other two came in the form of title fights in 2015. Freire holds a series edge of 2-1.

          Freire (25-4) hasn't fought since he suffered a TKO loss to Benson Henderson last August. The bout ended abruptly when Freire suffered a leg injury that prevented him from continuing.

          ESPN.com ranks Straus and Freire the Nos. 6 and 8 featherweights in the world, respectively.