Pat Curran's second shot at Bellator Fighting Championship gold will apparently come on March 9.
In a report for the "Chicago Tribune," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney tells Matt Erickson that's the date Curran (16-4 MMA, 6-1 BFC) will face featherweight champ Joe Warren (7-2 MMA, 5-2 BFC) for the 145-pound title.
The contest serves as the main event of Bellator 61 and takes place at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.
As with all of Bellator's upcoming season-six events, Bellator 61 airs on MTV2.
Curran, of course, earned his shot at the belt after an impressive run through the company's 2011 "Summer Series" featherweight tournament, in which he dispatched of Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann and Luis Palmono.
Previously, Curran was the surprise winner of Bellator's season-two lightweight tournament, though in his bid for the 155-pound belt, he lost a decision to champion Eddie Alvarez.
Meanwhile, Warren returns to action for the first time since a September knockout loss to bantamweight Alexis Vila halted the featherweight champ's ambitious bid to also capture the 135-pound title. Prior to the loss, Warren boasted a five-fight win streak under the Bellator banner.
Bellator's upcoming sixth season kicks off March 6. The promotion is hosting season-six tourneys in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions. Each tourney winner gets $100,000 in total pay and a guaranteed title shot.
Source: Champ Joe Warren meets Pat Curran on March 9 at Bellator 61