Ruth vs. Kunimoto set for Bellator 223

Ed Ruth will face former UFC veteran Kiichi Kunimoto in a welterweight bout at Bellator 223 on July 12, sources close to the promotion told theScore's James Lynch.

Ruth, an ex-NCAA Division I wrestler, is looking to rebound from his first loss as a professional mixed martial artist. He was the victim of a rear-naked choke from Neiman Gracie at Bellator 213. The 28-year-old claimed six straight victories to begin his career in the promotion.

Kunimoto will make his Bellator debut after staging his last two fights in the Rizin Fighting Federation. He won both those matches, but hasn't seen any action since August 2018. Kunimoto fought in the UFC from 2014-17 and holds a 20-7-2 record as a professional.

Bellator 223 is slated to take place in Thackerville, Okla. A women's featherweight championship match between Julia Budd and Olga Rubin headlines the card.