Leandro Higo Eyes Bellator Bantamweight Title Shot Against Patchy Mix
After Bellator Paris on May 17, Leandro Higo was promised the next shot at Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, as revealed by Higo himself in an interview with MMA Fighting on Thursday.
Higo, who flew to Paris to serve as the backup fighter for Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov, witnessed the five-round battle cageside at Accor Arena. Mix expressed interest in facing Higo during his post-fight interview, and Higo shared that executive Mike Kogan assured him backstage that he was next in line for a title shot.
Despite not having a contract in place yet, Higo remains optimistic about the opportunity, stating, “When Mike Kogan says something, it happens. His word is enough.”
Having previously challenged for the Bellator title in 2017, where he fell short against Darrion Caldwell, Higo is eager for another shot at the championship. He recently moved up to 145 pounds to defeat James Gallagher in Ireland and is now focused on reclaiming the bantamweight title.
While a date for the championship clash has not been set, Higo is eyeing the September or October shows, with a preference for a neutral territory like London. He believes that this opportunity comes at the peak of his career and is confident that he will emerge victorious this time.
Patchy Mix, with a Bellator record of 9-1 and wins over top contenders, is regarded by Higo as the greatest bantamweight in Bellator history. Higo is determined to face Mix and dethrone him in his prime, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the near future.