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- Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is seen as the best fighter in Bellator MMA historical past.
- The Brazilian advised Insider this week that his legacy is one thing for others to determine.
- For now, he desires to write down extra historical past as he fights in Bellator’s greatest ever battle on Saturday.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Patricio Freire makes one other stroll to the Bellator MMA cage Saturday as one of many pound-for-pound stars of his sport.
A win would cement his place among the many prizefighting Gods — those that have established their identify within the bizarre and wild world {of professional} face-punching, chokeholds, and cruel ground-and-pound.
From a land that produced a few of the combat recreation’s most celebrated names like Jose Aldo, Fabricio Werdum, and Anderson Silva, Freire is one other Brazilian who has solid an indelible legacy in probably the most grueling of sports activities.
He is already executed all of it. Freire’s achieved uncommon, champ-champ standing as a title-winner at featherweight and light-weight. He is received Bellator tournaments earlier than, and he is even acquired a 61-second knockout win over Michael Chandler.
The physique of his work can’t be questioned. In 17 years as a professional MMA fighter Freire has constructed a document of 32 wins (11 knockouts, 12 submissions, and 9 choices) towards simply 4 losses.
And, heading into his thirty seventh combat, Freire’s motivation to run the gauntlet stays robust. He’s as dedicated as ever to open a reduce, crack a cranium, and separate a person from his consciousness.
Insider spoke to the veteran this week, forward of his Saturday showdown towards fast-rising American fighter A.J. McKee at The Discussion board in Inglewood, California.
The high-stakes combat tops the Bellator 263 occasion on Showtime. The winner earns $1 million.
It is likely one of the most important fight sports activities occasions of the yr, pitting the best fighter in Bellator historical past in Freire, towards the younger upstart who desires to beat the world.
It might be a passing-of-the-torch second, akin to Teofimo Lopez beating Vasiliy Lomachenko in boxing in 2020, or Conor McGregor leathering Aldo in 13 seconds in 2016.
It appears nearly ridiculous to ask Freire what’s motivating him right now, contemplating he is already achieved a lot within the sport. However the reply is easy, actually. He desires that torch all to himself. Freire isn’t executed carrying it simply but.
“I need to hold cementing my place eternally as the best fighter within the historical past of Bellator,” Freire advised Insider by means of a translator.
He advised us he “did not depart any probabilities to” any of his featherweight Grand Prix opponents to get to this stage within the competitors — the ultimate. However McKee, along with his TV-friendly type, presents a brand new problem.
“He’s a younger child who has the possibility of creating his dream a actuality, so it makes issues slightly bit tougher for that cause.
“I have been like him, at one time I used to be undefeated and thought nobody might contact me,” mentioned Freire. “There are upsides and disadvantages to that. He must know the opposite facet of the coin, proper now. And I will present him how it’s.”
Insider spoke to Freire mid-week, days after he’d already taken half in a face-to-face media occasion. It’s throughout these moments when combatants can obtain knowledge they may not have in any other case collected simply from watching video footage of their opponent throughout fights.
“The reality is within the eyes and so they do not lie,” Freire mentioned. “The whole lot he says isn’t what he thinks. He provides all that speak — however he is nervous.
“If he tries to dictate the rhythm of the violence he’ll be stunned, as I will be the one dictating that. I believe I win this combat irrespective of which method it goes. I see myself successful all over the place.”
A win additional cements Freire’s legacy
Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images
Although Freire confidently expects triumph it doesn’t matter what sort of combat materializes towards McKee, he isn’t prepared or keen to rank himself amongst the game’s finest Brazilians.
Silva and Aldo are respectively seen as one of the best fighters within the UFC’s middleweight and featherweight divisions, whereas Werdum has loved a profession that put him within the conversion as a prime heavyweight.
Freire’s success is seemingly synonymous with Bellator’s, however he advised us he provides no thought to any of that.
“My place within the historical past of the game is for different individuals to evaluate,” mentioned Freire.
“However I have been combating on a excessive stage for a really very long time, and I am the one man to carry two belts on the planet right now. My accomplishments converse for themselves.”
This weekend’s combat is vital and vital to world MMA.
Freire is dialed-in for the win, however has ambitions to repeatedly hunt down related challenges sooner or later.
He desires to proceed as a champ-champ in Bellator by defending his light-weight championship as soon as, earlier than relinquishing it so his brother, Patricky — the No.1 at 155-pounds — can vie for the crown.
Freire then desires to dip again to featherweight and proceed his run at 145-pounds. Whereas that is happening, he’ll be calling up the executives at Showtime to demand a boxing match towards one of many broadcaster’s prime boxers.
“I actually would like to have a boxing combat,” Freire mentioned. “Some American fighters have been combating in boxing, however have not been boxing for a really very long time. I have been coaching in boxing for over a decade and so I really feel assured in my abilities there.”
With Floyd Mayweather defeating Conor McGregor in 2017, and Jake Paul annihilating Ben Askren earlier this yr, it appeared like MMA fighters dropping to boxers in boxing had develop into a pattern.
Silva bucked that, although, when he outclassed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. — a former boxing champion — at an occasion in June.
Now Freire desires a flip.
“I’ve seen many MMA fighters dropping boxing matches, although we simply had Anderson successful towards a respectful opponent. I want to proceed that pattern,” he mentioned.
“Showtime has a variety of boxers. I would prefer to combat somebody at a excessive stage, who isn’t on the finish of their careers, so I can add that victory to my resume.
“Other than that, I would prefer to defend my light-weight belt, then vacate it as a result of it is my brother’s division. It is his division and he needs to be combating for it.
“I would concentrate on featherweight, my division, proceed to enhance my information, set new information.”
Ought to he beat McKee, few would dare doubt him.
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