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A couple of days ago, MMA icon Patricio Freire (otherwise known as Patricio Pitbull) said via his X account that he will be released from his Professional Fighters League (PFL) contract. The announcement comes after months of publicly voicing his vexation at not being able to compete more frequently, along with disputes regarding his fight pay and with seemingly negligent management.
You wanna know why I’ve been silent for so long? I had a direct chat with @DonnDavisPFL and he said @PeteMurrayPFL would talk to us and we’d come to a 50-50 agreement, which turned out to be a 100-0 stance in favor of PFL and them feeding media with fake news about my contract.
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
His release also comes at a very sad time in MMA, as Professional Fighters League president Donn Davis also announced earlier this week that Bellator will soon be fully integrated into the PFL after buying the company last year. This means Bellator as a brand will soon cease operations and become a full-fledged part of the PFL identity, similar to how the UFC absorbed Strikeforce more than a decade ago.
Who Will Patricio Pitbull Lock Horns With Should He Join UFC?
While his release from his home promotion may not have happened on the best of terms, Pitbull is now free to pursue any opportunities that he wishes, including the UFC.
No warm up fights on Patricio Pitbull’s wishlist 📝 #HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/YbyyFUtI8U
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) January 15, 2025
The winningest champion in Bellator history appeared on prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani’s talk show to discuss who he’d want to face should he sign with the organization.
Setting his sights on the featherweight division, Patricio Pitbull named current champion Ilia Topuria, former 145-lb king Alexander Volkanovski, and divisional dark horse Diego Lopes as his preferred first opponents in the UFC.
Sizing Up Patricio Pitbull vs. Ilia Topuria
At the outset of his possible UFC career, the prospects of Patricio Pitbull getting an immediate title shot against Ilia Topuria are quite slim. After all, even his fellow Bellator alum Michael Chandler didn’t receive a chance to contend for gold until after he slumped Dan Hooker in his first outing to the Octagon.
However, there is still a possibility that the UFC could grant him his wish, as previous Rizin title holder Kai Asakura was allowed to fight reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in his first fight in the company.
For Topuria, having the opportunity to battle a seasoned champion from another promotion would be a great way to build his name as an all-time great in the 145-lb class even further. It would also be a great way to see how he fares against a true veteran of the highest caliber in the sport, as Patricio Pitbull has trounced some of the best featherweights and lightweights outside the UFC like A.J. McKee and Chandler.
What About Patricio Pitbull vs. Alexander Volkanovski?
If he isn’t permitted an immediate shot at the belt, a legacy contest with former five-time defending UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski, would be a spectacular debut for Patricio Pitbull. With nine total defenses across his three reigns as the 145-lb Bellator king, Pitbull has garnered a sterling reputation within the MMA community as the most accomplished Bellator fighter in history.
To add a victory over a decorated UFC name like “The Great” would also help to cement his legacy as possibly the greatest featherweight of all time, other than his fellow countryman José Aldo.
While it appears that Volkanovski is gearing up for a rematch with Topuria following the Spaniard’s knockout win over Max Holloway, an intriguing matchup with Patricio Pitbull could convince the Aussie to take a slight detour.
Having locked horns with many of the top 145-lb legends in the sport’s history, and defeated them, Volkanovski can continue to add to his already impressive resume if he manages to conquer the Bellator staple.
Looking at a Possible Patricio Pitbull vs. Diego Lopes Tilt
Coming off a statement victory over two-time title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC 306, as well as two previous wins against Sodiq Yusuff and Dan Ige the same year, Diego Lopes is a force in the featherweight division. By all means, the streaking Brazilian has all but guaranteed himself a title shot sometime in 2025.
However, it is very likely that Topuria’s next bout will be a runback with previous champion, Alexander Volkanovski. Should he desire to not remain inactive for too long in the year, a high profile clash with Pitbull might just be on the table.
In the realistic scenario that Pitbull needs at least one win to earn his chance to battle for the strap, turning away a hot contender like Lopes would easily punch his ticket to a lucrative pay-per-view main event. With his laundry list of victories versus some of Bellator’s finest, he stands as the toughest test that Lopes can face at 145-lb right now, other than champion Topuria and Volkanovski.
