Bellator 249 lost its co-headliner Patricky Freire vs. Jaleel Willis shortly before the opening bell when Freire came down with labyrinthitis, an infection triggered by a cold or flu. It’s unclear what exactly caused Patricky Freire’s condition.
Labyrinthitis causes inflammation of the inner ear or the nerves that connect the inner ear to the brain. It’s unclear what exactly caused Patricky Freire’s condition.
Multiple people with knowledge of the scratch confirmed the news to MMA Fighting after an initial report from MMA Junkie. Both fighters will be compensated for the cancelled bout, per Bellator officials.