After Teixeira Injury, Patricio Freire Says He’s Fighting Henry Corrales at Bellator 153

It apparently didn’t take long for Bellator MMA to find a replacement opponent for Patricio Freire.

The former featherweight champion revealed on Twitter Saturday that Henry Corrales will step in for the injured John Teixeira da Conceicao and face Freire at Bellator 153. Promotion officials were not immediately available to confirm the change.

“Thank you [Henry Corrales] for stepping up,” Freire wrote. “Much respect. Everyone was saying no but you. I know you’ll come to war, and I welcome the challenge.”

After beginning his professional career with 12 consecutive wins, Corrales has faced a tough draw in Bellator MMA, dropping back-to-back fights to Daniel Straus and Emmanuel Sanchez in his first two promotional appearances.

It won’t get any easier against Freire, who prior to relinquishing the 145-pound belt to Straus at Bellator 145 had won seven straight fights. “Pitbull” is 24-3 overall, with his only defeats coming to Straus, Pat Curran and Joe Warren.

“That said, I”m a man on a mission,” Freire wrote. “When the cage door is closed nothing is going to stop me.”

Bellator 153 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on April 22 and is headlined by a welterweight title bout between Andrey Koreshkov and Benson Henderson. The evening’s main card airs on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.