Bellator 47 Set for July 23 at Casino Rama in Ontario

The second event in Bellator's upcoming “Summer Series” trilogy, Bellator 47 marks the first time that the promotion has ventured to Canada. Sherdog.com first reported that Bellator would make its Canadian debut on July 23.

“Our fans have been asking us to come to Canada since our first season,” said Bellator head Bjorn Rebney in the release. “Casino Rama is an unbelievable venue and should make for a magical night of fights at Bellator 47.”

Limited specifics regarding the event's fight card are known at this point, but Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren (pictured) is scheduled to defend his strap at the event against Season 4 tournament winner Patricio "Pitbull" Freire. The event will also feature the semifinals of Bellator's upcoming 145-pound tournament, which will take place over the course of the “Summer Series” events. UFC veteran Ben Saunders is expected to compete at Bellator 47, but his opponent is not currently known.

Casino Rama opened in 1996 and Bellator 47 will mark the establishment's first encounter with the Chicago-based fight promotion. MMA was legalized in Ontario in 2010, and in 2011 the Canadian province played host to UFC 129, which became the largest UFC event in North American history. The show attracted over 55,000 spectators to the Rogers Centre in Toronto and earned a live gave of over $12 million.