Patrício Pitbull remembers the most emblematic fights of his Bellator career

Patrício submits D. Straus. Photo: Disclosure / Bellator

The Potiguar Patrick Pitbull He has been with Bellator for 10 years and has become one of the American organization's main stars. During this period, he had 22 fights in the circular cage, won tournaments and became champion in two categories. Current holder of the featherweight and lightweight belts, the 32-year-old fighter faced several battles in Bellator, but he highlights three that marked his career in the organization. The first of these was against Pat Curran. After losing the first clash, in January 2013, by split decision, he had the chance for a rematch in September 2014. This time he won by unanimous decision and won the featherweight belt for the first time.

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“This was the first time I was world champion. It was a unique emotion. I achieved my main objective, which was to be champion. And the victory was in a rematch, as I had lost to him in a split decision in January 2013. I remember that at the time we were arguing a lot on the internet... It's inexplicable, I have no words to describe what I felt at that moment. I was world champion, I had prepared myself for 20 years for that. It was the pinnacle for me”, recalled Patrício.

The second fight that marked Patrício was against Daniel Straus, in April 2017. It was the fourth fight between them and at stake was the featherweight belt, which Patrício had lost exactly to the American in November 2015 by unanimous decision of the judges. To regain the title, Patrício landed a guillotine choke at the beginning of the second round and once again held the category belt.

“I faced Daniel Straus four times. I lost in our third fight, in November 2015, on points. To this day I still have doubts about whether I lost that fight. It was a very close fight. But anyway, he took the belt, and in April 2017 I had a new fight against him and took the belt back, and I still hold the title today. Out of four fights, I won three. In this fourth fight, when the title was regained, my son was in the audience. It was the first time my son went to the arena, and I emerged victorious. It was very special, as I was able to dedicate the victory to my son there in the arena,” he said.

And the third most emblematic fight of Patrício's career in Bellator was against his opponent Michael chandler, in May 2019. Chandler had already beaten Patricky, Patrício's brother, on two occasions and the rivalry between the American and the Freire brothers was at its peak. After the organization scheduled the confrontation between Patrício and Chandler for the lightweight belt, the two intensified the exchange of barbs on the internet. On the day of the fight, Patrício only needed a minute to win by knockout, avenge his brother and claim his second Bellator title.

“The third most memorable fight of my career was against Michael chandler. A guy who everyone said could beat the Khabib Nurmagomedov (UFC champion), a very tough fighter, who had, unfortunately, already beaten my brother twice. And there was all that talk, him saying he was going to beat my whole family, and I managed to win and avenge my brother with a minute of fighting. I won the second title and having the belt at home, representing his head, is to close the three most emblematic fights of my career with a flourish”, he concluded.