MIAMI – Patricio “Pitbull” goes to combat Saturday within the UFC.
That’s a sentence that for a very long time would shock MMA’s hardcores. However Bellator’s near-consensus promotional GOAT Freire (36-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his debut at UFC 314 at Kaseya Heart.
“I’ve been ready for this second my entire profession, so I’m very pleased with that,” Freire instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a pre-fight information convention Wednesday. “… I’ve had some good experiences in my profession with Bellator. RIZIN in Japan is a giant present. However being within the UFC is totally different.”
Freire, 37, held Bellator featherweight and light-weight gold throughout his 30-fight stint for the promotion that started in 2010. Freire was at all times an advocate of there being a number of choices for high-level MMA fighters.
Nonetheless, greater than the final word firm man, Freire was the final word enterprise man. He cashed giant checks for the No. 2 most-recognizable combat promotion, headlining many exhibits. However when Bellator merged into PFL, Freire felt the promotion wasn’t holding up their finish of the enterprise relationship – and he requested his launch. The discharge was granted.
“I’ve at all times needed to be right here however I by no means had the possibility to actually make it on the market,” Freire stated. “The truth of it’s once I was in Bellator, every part that we agreed upon, every part was carried out accurately. All my contracts have been at all times getting prolonged as a result of I’d be the champion or win a match.
“For so long as it was understanding and the contract was being adopted, I stored my phrase as a result of nothing is extra necessary than my phrase and my honor. However as soon as the PFL purchased them out, it simply felt like they weren’t honoring the contract how I needed it. So I noticed that was my alternative to get out. The very fact of the matter is that I want them success as a result of the game wants different organizations. Possible, everybody desires to be over within the UFC, however the sport must survive by means of different organizations as properly.”
Regardless of the battles and the wars of being the long-reigning face of the promotion, Freire pushed again towards the notion that his journey has weathered him.
“With all on account of respect to anybody who thinks that, particularly Michael Bisping who’s a man who clearly understands preventing, however I’m a man who hasn’t taken an excessive amount of harm in my profession,” Freire stated. “I’ve been knocked out as soon as together with fights in gyms. I’ve been capable of keep away from numerous that and work so much on maintaining my physique wholesome and dealing on my physique within the health club.”
Freire faces prime contender Yair Rodriguez (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) on the principle card and will place himself properly within the title dialog with a powerful win.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 314.
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