MIAMI – Patricio “Pitbull” is going to fight Saturday in the UFC.
That’s a sentence that for a long time would shock MMA’s hardcores. But Bellator’s near-consensus promotional GOAT Freire (36-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his debut at UFC 314 at Kaseya Center.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole career, so I’m very happy with that,” Freire told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “… I’ve had some good experiences in my career with Bellator. RIZIN in Japan is a big show. But being in the UFC is different.”
Freire, 37, held Bellator featherweight and lightweight gold during his 30-fight stint for the promotion that began in 2010. Freire was always an advocate of there being multiple options for high-level MMA fighters.
However, more than the ultimate company man, Freire was the ultimate business man. He cashed large checks for the No. 2 most-recognizable fight promotion, headlining many shows. But when Bellator merged into PFL, Freire felt the promotion wasn’t holding up their end of the business relationship – and he requested his release. The release was granted.
“I’ve always wanted to be here but I never had the chance to really make it out there,” Freire said. “The reality of it is when I was in Bellator, everything that we agreed upon, everything was done correctly. All my contracts were always getting extended because I’d be the champion or win a tournament.
“For as long as it was working out and the contract was being followed, I kept my word because nothing is more important than my word and my honor. But once the PFL bought them out, it just felt like they weren’t honoring the contract how I wanted it. So I saw that was my opportunity to get out. The fact of the matter is that I wish them success because the sport needs other organizations. Likely, everyone wants to be over in the UFC, but the sport needs to survive through other organizations as well.”
Despite the battles and the wars of being the long-reigning face of the promotion, Freire pushed back against the notion that his journey has weathered him.
“With all due to respect to anyone who thinks that, especially Michael Bisping who is a guy who clearly understands fighting, but I’m a guy who hasn’t taken too much damage in my career,” Freire said. “I’ve been knocked out once including fights in gyms. I’ve been able to avoid a lot of that and work a lot on keeping my body healthy and working on my physique in the gym.”
Freire faces top contender Yair Rodriguez (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) on the main card and could position himself nicely in the title conversation with an impressive win.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
