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Patricio Pitbull has reigned as Bellator featherweight king for many years — and even won the lightweight gold by beating Michael Chandler. On top of that, he flew to Japan to beat RIZIN champion Kleber Koike.
Now it’s time for him to compete in the octagon, and his Pitbull Brothers teammate Leandro Higo is confident that he will shine in the UFC.
Higo and Pitbull compete this week in Florida, with Higo making his PFL debut in the main event of PFL 2 in Orlando, facing off with last-minute replacement Marcirley Alves on April 11. Pitbull enters the octagon for the first time the following night, battling Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
“I believe he will become champion in the UFC,” Higo told MMA Fighting. “Every fighter that went from Bellator to the UFC did well. The only former champion that didn’t do well in the UFC was Will Brooks. If you look at all the other Bellator guys, we had Michael Chandler doing well, Eddie Alvarez becoming champion, and many others. Patricio has all it takes to become champion, and he’s starting with a good fight.”
The UFC featherweight belt will be up for grabs in the main event of UFC 314 in Miami, with former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski taking on rising sensation Diego Lopes.
For Higo, a good performance could put Pitbull as the next man in line in the 145-pound class.
“Depending on the performance, he may also become the next challenger, he all everything to become champion,” Higo said. “He trains with champions, and he’s the best in the world.”
Higo and Pitbull had to split the team in half as they’re having the final days of preparation 230 miles apart in Florida, but Higo plans on driving to Miami the day after his fight to see Pitbull’s first walk to the octagon.
“I’ll hit the road to Miami as soon as my fight is over,” Higo said. “I want to watch Pitbull’s debut. I believe he knocks him out.”
On Friday, against his second short-notice replacement, Higo hopes to secure the first victory on his way to a $500,000 prize at the end of the PFL bantamweight tournament. Josh Rettinghouse initially stepped in when Magomed Magomedov withdrew from the lineup, and was then replaced by Alves after not being cleared on the morning of the weigh-ins.
“My opponents are always changing but if you want to be a champion you have to go through adversities,” Higo said. “Sadly, now I have to fight a Brazilian after both of our opponents failed to make weight and he was an alternate.
“I know him, we’ve fought on the same card before, but we’re both grown ups and we have a job to do. This is my first step in the tournament and God willing it’s my first win. And then the second victory, the third, and winning that half a million.”
