HONOLULU – Raufeon Stots welcomes the addition of Patricio Freire to bantamweight.
Featherweight champion Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) will attempt to win titles in three different weight classes when he challenges bantamweight champ Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 297 on June 16 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Interim champ Stots (19-1 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) will face the winner if he gets past Patchy Mix (17-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in the bantamweight grand prix final in Saturday’s Bellator 295 headliner, and relishes the possibility of fighting a name like “Pitbull.”
He’s not a big guy,” Stots told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a pre-fight news conference. “So hopefully he makes a good move to 35. I think this is just super exciting for the bantamweight division. Granted I win this fight on Saturday, I have a chance to fight somebody who’s going to be the Bellator GOAT. One of the best in MMA.
“I couldn’t be happier, I’m excited that he’s making that step. He’s also on the cusp of something great, which nobody in martial arts has done, three weight classes champion… that’s just an amazing feat for a lifetime. He’ll be remembered forever if he accomplishes that. For him to come down, and me to have the opportunity to face somebody like that, is crazy.”
Stots is also happy that former training partner Pettis gets to have a name like Freire on his resume. He sees the entire division benefiting from Freire’s addition.
“But if you look on the other hand too, Sergio has a chance to beat somebody who’s done the unthinkable,” Stots added. “I think it’s an amazing fight. I’m super happy this was made. I feel like it’s an extension of a tournament, that just makes the bantamweight division that much more spotlighted.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.
