MIAMI – Just when it looked like one of the most heated rivalries in Bellator history might be revived in the UFC, cooler heads have prevailed.
Fighting on the same card Saturday at UFC 314, Patricio Freire and Michael Chandler ran into each other Wednesday at the fighter hotel, both fighters confirmed at separate news conferences Wednesday.
“Yeah, he apologized to me,” Freire told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “He said that he said some harsh words. He wasn’t going through a rough moment in his life, and he said some harsh words after fighting me and fighting my brother. So I accepted it. He had the honor to come and say that, so I accept it. ”
Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) echoed similar sentiments – and even as the loser of their May 2019 bout – said he has no interest in a rematch.
“We just saw each other in the lobby and shook hands a little bit and squashed the beef a little bit,” Chandler said. “He and I have some history. But man, we’ll never fight again. I wish him the best. We’ll watch on fight night and see how it comes out.”
The rivalry stemmed from Chandler’s initial fight against Freire’s brother Patricky. After Chandler brutally knocked out Patricky, he scaled the fence and told Patricio he’d kill him. Patricio later responded with the same threat.
While Chandler, who made a similar just from Bellator stardom immediately into UFC contention in early 2021, was unwilling to say how Freire would fare in the promotion, he heaped respect on “Pitbull.”
“If you ask me if Patricio is a competitor, if he’s a championship-level competitor? Absolutely, ” Chandler said. “Is he violent? Is he dangerous? Does he live it? Absolutely. I’m not going to speak for Patricio but I’m sure there were many, many moments where he watched a UFC on a Saturday night or came to a media day with one of the guys he was cornering and wished he was here. Now, he gets the opportunity just like I did a couple years ago. I wish him the best.”
Freire, 37, makes his UFC debut Satuday at Kaseya Center against Yair Rodriguez (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the second bout on the main card. Two fights later in the co-main event, Chandler battles Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round fight.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
