It won’t be a title shot for Cat Zingano that comes next after all.
Despite all signs pointing towards a title fight between “Alpha” Cat and Cris Cyborg, Zingano (12-4) will instead face Pam Sorenson (9-4) in a women’s featherweight fight this March. The bout will take place on the Bellator 276 preliminary card on March 12, 2022, promotion officials announced on Tuesday, following an initial report by The Irish Sun.
Zingano, a former UFC title challenger, has won both her fights under the Bellator banner thus far. Since moving to featherweight, she’s 2-1 overall, dating back to her 2018 contest against Megan Anderson at UFC 232, which ended in a TKO loss for Zingano, due to a toe poke.
After inking a deal with Bellator in 2019, she made her debut the following year, defeating Gabby Holloway in a three-round unanimous decision. Last year, she returned against Olivia Parker, finishing the fight with an arm-bar.
Sorenson, a former Invicta FC featherweight champ, made her promotional debut for Bellator last year, posting a 1-1 record. She picked up a split decision win against Roberta Samad before falling short against multi-time title challenger Arlene Blencowe.
A win for Zingano next month would almost certainly lock her in for a date against Cyborg later in the year.
Bellator 276 will take place at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri on March 12, 2022. The following fights have been officially announced for the card:
Adam Borics vs. Mads Burnell
Phil Davis vs. Julius Anglickas
John Salter vs. Johnny Eblen
Jay-Jay Wilson vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
Cat Zingano vs. Pam Sorenson
Alex Polizzi vs. Jose Augusto
Derek Anderson vs. Goiti Yamaguchi
Romero Cotton vs. Lance Wright
Diana Avsaragova vs. Ashley Deen
Cody Law vs. Johnny Soto
Roman Faraldo vs. Kelvin Rayford
Jordan Howard vs. Trevor Ward
Dan Busch vs. Josh Augustine
