It feels weird to see Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire without the Bellator featherweight title. The Brazilian, of course, is one of the greatest champions in Scott Coker’s promotion and was one of the only two Bellator concurrent double champs. But even that description doesn’t do proper justice to just how good the Brazilian juggernaut is, considering that he is considered the greatest homegrown talent other than Michael Chandler in Bellator history.
The Brazilian, of course, is set to make his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314, after which he will be in title contention if ‘Pitbull’ wins. The April 12 card in Miami, of course, will be headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes fighting for the vacant 145-pound title. But for those who cannot bear to see Freire without a belt, there is a chance (albeit a very small one) that he will walk out the new UFC featherweight champ after UFC 314. Sounds like wishful thinking right? Well, not so much!
“If Alex Volkanovski or Diego Lopes falls out of the fight, who steps in? Is it you?” CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri asked ‘Pitbull’ in a recent interview. And the MMA legend’s answer was exactly what you would expect of a great champion like Freire.
“A bunch of UFC guys, they like to deny fights, not take fights last minute. I’m the opposite. So put the world out there [that I will step in as backup for Volkanovski-Lopes]. If they need me, I mean,” ‘Pitbull’ answered in his native Portuguese through a translator.
MMA fighter of Bellator, Patricio Pitbull attends a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz of RIZIN.40 at Saitama Super Arena on December, in Tokyo, Japan on October 26, 2022. Photo Motoo Naka/AFLO Noxthirdxpartyxsales PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxJPN 202364195
Hearing this would, of course, be music to UFC CEO Dana White‘s ears, who loves fighters who are always ready to go. And why wouldn’t the Brazilian step in on short notice to fight in the main event? After all, he is going to fight on the card anyway. Not to mention ‘Pitbull’ has extensive experience in saving MMA cards on short notice.
After all, this is the same man who stepped up and defended his Bellator featherweight title on three weeks’ notice against Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 302 just last year. But that’s not even the best part. ‘Pitbull’ was on a two-fight skid when he took the Kennedy fight. The Brazilian had lost his previous fight– via a first-round knockout– to Chihiro Suzuki on the Bellator vs. RIZIN 2 card two years ago, which he also took on short notice!
Taking a short notice fight is one thing. But taking a short-notice fight when you’re the champion, and on a skid is truly remarkable and incredibly courageous. But then again, you don’t get to be the greatest ever Bellator fighter for nothing. It would make perfect sense for him to step in and potentially fight for the title if the UFC offered it to him.
It would be right up his alley, too, and he would be stupid not to accept a fight against either ‘Volk’ or Lopes if one of them is forced to pull out on short notice. In fact, if the Brazilian former featherweight champ doesn’t get to fight for the title on UFC 314, he will have to wait to get a title shot.
Both Diego Lopes and Alexander Volkanovski want this undefeated phenom after UFC 314
Diego Lopes rapidly rose from UFC debutante in May 2023 to fighting for the featherweight title less than two years later at UFC 314. The reason for this is that the Brazilian has beaten every opponent the UFC has put in front of him, and beaten them violently and emphatically. Well, everyone except one man! The undefeated phenom, Movsar Evloev. The Russian beat Lopes via a decision on the latter’s promotional debut at UFC 288. And if Lopes wins the title on the Kaseya Center card on April 12, he wants to avenge the only loss on his UFC record.
“Of course, this fight for me is important because this guy beat me in the past. But now it’s different. It’s different things. I’m at the top, and this guy, too. Maybe we’ll fight for the title. I’m so excited for the next step, but my focus is on Volkanovski. I win the belt, and I will ask the UFC for the fight with Movsar,” Lopes told ‘MMA Junkie’ in a recent interview.
And in bad news for ‘Pitbull’, Alexander Volkanovski agrees with Lopes. Evloev should fight for the title next. After all, not only is the Sunzha native undefeated but he is ranked #4 in the division and is coming off a win over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling last year. All of which, according to ‘Volk’ make Evloev the most deserving to fight for gold after he and Lopes take care of their business.
“I’m telling you that I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna win the belt and I’ll call out (Evloev) so he can probably wait if he wants to. I’m winning that title and I’ll fight him three months later, tell me the date that we can do it and I’ll call the shots that night. I think Movsar is definitely deserving,” the Aussie former champ told Ariel Helwani in a recent interview.
What do you think about Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire’s comments about being willing to step in for Volkanovski-Lopes on short notice?
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