“The Alpha Ginger” Spike Carlyle is set to return to the cage roughly one week’s time.
The former UFC featherweight is set to replace Ricardo Seixas against Dan Moret at Bellator 272, Cageside Press confirmed Friday. News of Carlyle taking the short-notice bout was first reported by MMA Junkie.
With his standout ginger hair and flashy entrances, Carlyle (12-3) became a popular fixture on the regional circuit before joining the UFC last year. His stint with the promotion didn’t last long, however, as he went 1-2 and was abruptly shown the door last November following two straight defeats.
Since exiting the promotion, Carlyle has posted a 3-0 record, most recently defeating JJ Ambrose by knockout just last month.
Dan Moret (15-6) went 0-3 in his own UFC stint, but has turned things around since, winning his first two fights since leaving the promotion, including his Bellator MMA debut opposite Goiti Yamauchi this past April.
Bellator 272 is set to take place on December 3, 2021 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The following fights have been reported for the card to date:
Sergio Pettis (c) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – for the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship
Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Jeremy Kennedy
Johnny Eblen vs. Collin Huckbody
Jay Jay Wilson vs. Alfie Davis
Oliver Enkamp vs. Kyle Crutchmer
Josh Hill vs. Jared Scoggins
Levan Chokheli vs. Vinicius de Jesus
Spike Carlyle vs. Dan Moret
Justin Montalvo vs. Jacob Bohn
Killys Mota vs. Mike Hamel
Alexandr Shabliy vs. Bobby King
Kai Kamaka III vs. John de Jesus
Jornel Lugo vs. Tommy Espinosa
