No fighter has represented Bellator quite like Patricio Freire. The name “Pitbull” is almost synonymous with the brand.
Freire (36-7) built a reputation over the years as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters outside of the UFC – and the Bellator GOAT.
Like many combatants who find success outside of those three letters, Freire frequently received questions about the UFC. His move was always to sidestep those, and instead praise Bellator, its athletes, and MMA as a sport, not a brand.
However, times have clearly changed. Freire’s patience has worn thin since PFL’s acquisition of Bellator, so much so he officially asked for a release.
“I want an unconditional release from my contract with Bellator and fight the UFC champion right away,” Freire recently told MMA Junkie. “… My contract is nearing its end. I don’t have much longer with them. I don’t have any real desire to continue fighting for them. I’d prefer they just release me and we go our separate ways.”
Freire, 37, has been with the brand since his debut at Bellator 15 in April 2010. He competed 30 times in the promotion (mostly in title fights) and was champion for four separate stints with nine title defenses.
“I’ve been in the organization for a long time,” Freire recently told MMA Junkie. “I was the most vocal fighter in defense of Bellator. No one praised the promotion as much as I did. There have been some changes and things went much more different than what I was promised. It just doesn’t feel the same any more with everything that’s going on. It just feels like the right moment for me to be more egoistic and think of myself and thank them for everything the promotion has done for me, but follow a different path.”
As of now, Freire told MMA Junkie he hasn’t received a clear response from PFL pertaining to his request, though his contract will expire within a few months. Freire was among the Bellator champions to publicly speak out about inactivity, along with bantamweight Patchy Mix and light heavyweight Corey Anderson.
The root of the issue
According to Freire, operations within the brand worsened since PFL acquired it in late 2023. The current Bellator featherweight champion, Freire has only fought once in the 13 months and doesn’t currently have a fight on the books.
Freire was booked to fight in February, which was canceled day-of when opponent Gabriel Braga withdrew. He instead competed in March against Jeremy Kennedy, who he defeated by TKO.
After that victory, Freire said he told PFL brass he was ready to return as soon as possible. Initially, it seemed to him September was next. Then, the focus moved to December in a crossover rematch vs. Chihiro Suzuki, who upset Freire in 2023. However, the Bellator event scheduled for Japan was later canceled.
“This was very disrespectful,” Freire said. “They had me on the sideline all this time, waiting for a fight that didn’t end up happening. They said it wasn’t their fault. They just couldn’t get an agreement with the Japanese side. So why don’t they stage an event somewhere else? What kind of promotion can’t put an event together by themself?
“They said they’d do eight Bellator shows a year, and only ended up doing five. I found out on the internet that Chihiro is fighting someone else. Later, I heard the Aaron Pico fight was off. It hasn’t been a good year with them. Things started from the beginning. I had a lot of promises from Donn Davis. But every time we got some news, it was bad news. So that’s why I think it’s time to move on.”
Freire still speaks about his accomplishments with a sense of pride. He says he roots for PFL and Bellator, but thinks the current handling of business by the promotion foreshadows a grim future for the MMA landscape outside the UFC.
“It’s awful for the sport of MMA,” Freire said. “We had two other organizations besides the UFC that seemed to grow and be a home for many fighters. Bellator paid them really well, what they really deserved and their value for the promotion. Now, we have both promotions dwindling. It seems like they’re folding Bellator to focus on PFL, which is a gigantic mistake. PFL doesn’t seem to be getting any traction, even with all the fighters. It also seems like they really don’t know what they are doing many times. … It’s sad to know that if this this promotion folds right now, many fighters will be unemployed and they won’t be able to find opportunities to be paid as good as they are. There are promotions out there, but not promotions that can pay what these promotions pay. It’s not like, ‘OK, I’m going to fight on a regional show. It’s not like that. So it’s sad. It’s sad. That’s why I can’t just sit and wait for whatever is happening next, whatever they have in mind.”
It’s time: UFC
Nearing 40, Freire doesn’t see purpose in sticking around. The expansion of his legacy will come only in the UFC. With a few months left on his contract, Freire doesn’t plan to re-sign with the promotion – no matter what. The current wait is only delaying the inevitable.
“All the things I’ve done the past two decades of my career, 15 years with Bellator, for as impressive as they could be, I always felt like there was some lack of attention from the media and the fans because I wasn’t in the UFC,” Freire said. “I know that the size of the feats that I have, but it’s not acknowledged much by people. I think being champ in the UFC could cement all that and certify everything that I’ve done up until now. I’m in the last years of my career but I’m still very good. … I’m still in peak condition and I can fight everywhere with those guys and perhaps I could even become the UFC champion.
“… I like to compare myself with Alex Pereira. We were born on the same date. We are both 37 years old. He’s UFC champion now. I feel that I still have some good years in me. I want to be the UFC champion as well. That’s what I’m going to do right now. I think there isn’t anything left for me to prove at Bellator. It’s just a matter of everyone doing what’s best for them.”
Dana White reacts to Bellator champs requesting releases from PFL and says “things aren’t looking good” going into 2025. pic.twitter.com/4oM5L35dlw
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 8, 2024
Following Saturday’s UFC 310 in Las Vegas, UFC CEO Dana White was asked about Freire. While he didn’t address “Pitbull” directly, White acknowledged he’s paid attention to the disgruntled comments.
Freire hopes to converse with White and the UFC brass once he’s able. For the time being, he’ll keep a close eye on the UFC featherweight division goings-ons. The idea of a fight vs. Max Holloway for the “BMF” title has entered his psyche, among other things.
“I think all my numbers, all the types of fights I’ve put on in my career, I think they’d welcome me,” Freire said. “I’d like to get the chance to showcase my skills in this great organization. I would like to jump into the shark tank. I would like to fight the top guys. If I can’t get a title shot right away, give me someone who could lead me there sooner rather than later.
“We had some guys like Brian Ortega, Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes, Alexander Volkanovski, and Yair Rodriguez, some of these guys have fought for the title already. So they won’t have much fresh names besides Diego there right now. I think bringing me there would give some fresh blood to the division and would make real shakeup over there. I’d like to prove myself against these guys and show them that I belong.”
Freire sees the promotion as the one who has moved away from the idea fighters can thrive outside the UFC through their actions – but he’ll still root them on because of what they could one day represent.
“I really root for PFL and Bellator to shine,” Freire said. “I just want things to be bigger and better over time so they can change other fighters’ lives and move the scenario of this sport. I want them to respect all the fighters’ contracts and get big TV deals so they can really improve their shows, their pay, and everything else. But I want (PFL) to understand, I’ve been doing this since 1998. I’ve been training since then to be a champion. I’ve never missed a practice because of tiredness or laziness or anything like that. I’ve dedicated my entire life to be a champion.
“I’ve been their champion for many years now, for over 10 years. It’s just time for me to move on. I don’t want to have any trouble with them. I’d really like to resolve this in a friendly way. I don’t want to be fighting publicly. I don’t want to be talking bad about anyone. I just want to move on. I think it’s time.”
