Welterweight title fight planned for Bellator’s return to Madison Square Garden

Bellator’s upcoming show in New York could feature a welterweight title bout.

The company is scheduled to return to Madison Square Garden on June 14, and the winner of champion Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch is expected to put his title on the line against Neiman Gracie in New York, sources told MMA Fighting. ESPN first reported the news.

MacDonald, the current 170-pound titleholder in Bellator, will defend his crown against Fitch in the main event of Bellator 220 on April 27 for the welterweight grand prix quarterfinal. If the winner comes out uninjured, the company is planning on booking him against Gracie on June 14.

Gracie advanced to the semifinal of the Bellator tournament with a fourth-round submission victory over previously unbeaten Ed Ruth last December.

Bellator will hold a press conference in New York on April 9, the company announced Friday. Gracie is listed as one of the participants, as well as Lyoto Machida and Chael Sonnen, who meet in a light heavyweight contest on the same card, and Bellator president Scott Coker.