Patricio Pitbull has reigned as Bellator featherweight king for a few years — and even gained the light-weight gold by beating Michael Chandler. On prime of that, he flew to Japan to beat RIZIN champion Kleber Koike.
Now it’s time for him to compete within the octagon, and his Pitbull Brothers teammate Leandro Higo is assured that he’ll shine within the UFC.
Higo and Pitbull compete this week in Florida, with Higo making his PFL debut in the primary occasion of PFL 2 in Orlando, dealing with off with last-minute substitute Marcirley Alves on April 11. Pitbull enters the octagon for the primary time the next evening, battling Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
“I imagine he’ll change into champion within the UFC,” Higo informed MMA Combating. “Each fighter that went from Bellator to the UFC did nicely. The one former champion that didn’t do nicely within the UFC was Will Brooks. When you have a look at all the opposite Bellator guys, we had Michael Chandler doing nicely, Eddie Alvarez changing into champion, and lots of others. Patricio has all it takes to change into champion, and he’s beginning with an excellent struggle.”
The UFC featherweight belt might be up for grabs in the primary occasion of UFC 314 in Miami, with former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski taking over rising sensation Diego Lopes.
For Higo, an excellent efficiency may put Pitbull as the following man in line within the 145-pound class.
“Relying on the efficiency, he can also change into the following challenger, he all all the things to change into champion,” Higo mentioned. “He trains with champions, and he’s one of the best on the planet.”
Higo and Pitbull needed to break up the staff in half as they’re having the ultimate days of preparation 230 miles aside in Florida, however Higo plans on driving to Miami the day after his struggle to see Pitbull’s first stroll to the octagon.
“I’ll hit the street to Miami as quickly as my struggle is over,” Higo mentioned. “I wish to watch Pitbull’s debut. I imagine he knocks him out.”
On Friday, in opposition to his second short-notice substitute, Higo hopes to safe the primary victory on his technique to a $500,000 prize on the finish of the PFL bantamweight event. Josh Rettinghouse initially stepped in when Magomed Magomedov withdrew from the lineup, and was then changed by Alves after not being cleared on the morning of the weigh-ins.
“My opponents are all the time altering however if you wish to be a champion it’s important to undergo adversities,” Higo mentioned. “Sadly, now I’ve to struggle a Brazilian after each of our opponents didn’t make weight and he was an alternate.
“I do know him, we’ve fought on the identical card earlier than, however we’re each grown ups and we now have a job to do. That is my first step within the event and God keen it’s my first win. After which the second victory, the third, and profitable that half 1,000,000.”
