Patricky Pitbull Out of Lightweight Tournament | Bellator MMA | SPIKE

Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (10-4) is officially out of the Bellator Season 8 lightweight tournament, due to a knee injury suffered in training.

Freire's opponent Guillaume "Il Toro" DeLorenzi (10-1) now faces Millennia MMA product Saad Awad (12-4) in the opening round this Thursday night at 10/9c on Spike TV.

It will be the former welterweight's Bellator MMA tournament debut. In Awad's 12 career wins, he has gone the distance just once, with 10 finishes (four knockouts, six submissions) and a recent four-fight unbeaten streak to his credit.

Awad will have his hands full against Canadian prospect DeLorenzi, who is the winner of five straight fights and undefeated since February 2009.

Catch all the Bellator MMA lightweight tournament quarterfinal action Thursday night at 10/9c, immediately following IMPACT WRESTLING.

Don't forget to catch the Bellator MMA prelims at 8/7c on BellatorMMA.Spike.com!