Davis steps in for King Mo, will defend title vs. Bader at Bellator 180

Phil Davis and Ryan Bader are running it back in the Bellator cage.

The light heavyweight champion will replace Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal and defend the divisional title in a rematch against Bader in the main event of Bellator 180 in Madison Square Garden on June 24.

Davis broke the news himself on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour," with the promotion doubling down moments later on Twitter.

The Bellator champ didn't provide a reason for the surprise adjustment, although Lawal appears to have sustained an undisclosed injury, per to MMA Fighting's Danny Segura.

Davis now gets to avenge his last professional loss, a split decision Bader took in what marked Davis' final fight in the UFC. The 32-year-old Penn State wrestling standout has since won four straight in the Bellator cage, outpointing Liam McGeary to win the 205-pound strap in his most recent outing.

One of a growing list of UFC vets to head for greener pastures this year, Bader fought out his contract in November before joining the Scott Coker-led outfit last month. "Darth" compiled a solid 15-5 record over his lengthy stint in the promotion, and now gets the major title shot that had long eluded him in his Bellator debut. The 33-year-old takes back-to-back knockout wins over Ilir Latifi and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira into the rematch.

Davis and Bader will headline the undercard on just the second pay-per-view in Bellator history, a bill featuring a grudge match between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva several years in the making as the main event.

In the remaining bouts, Fedor Emelianenko and Matt Mitrione will tangle in the heavyweight co-headliner, with Michael Chandler defending the lightweight title against Brent Primus, welterweight king Douglas Lima welcoming Lorenz Larkin, and blue-chip prospect Aaron Pico making his MMA debut opposite lightweight Zach Freeman.