Former Bellator featherweight champion, Patrick Pitbull will try to regain his position as number 1 in the category this Friday (21), when he faces current belt holder Daniel Straus in the main fight of Bellator 178, in Uncasville, Connecticut, United States. Interestingly, it will be the fourth time that Pitbull and Straus face each other in a fight for the 66kg title. In the three previous opportunities, the advantage went to the Brazilian, who won the first two, but was defeated in the most recent confrontation.
In an exclusive interview to SUPER FIGHTS, Pitbull highlighted the rivalry with the North American created because they are the two main names in the division, and guaranteed that the duel will define who is the best of the pair.
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“Straus is a very tough fighter, I have always faced him in decisive situations in the category. The first time was in 2011, in the GP final, then I faced him in a belt defense (in 2015), and I won the first two, but lost in the third fight on points, which was also another title defense. Our next fight will separate who is the best in the category. It's always a war to fight against him. We are the two best in the division, so we will always be facing each other. Let's see who is the best”, declared the fighter, who guaranteed that there are still new holes to be explored in his rival's game, even though he has already faced him three times.
“There is a very big strategic plan around this fight, he is a well-known opponent. There were some of my mistakes that he knew how to take advantage of, and vice versa, he made a mistake and I took advantage of it. We are training so that this doesn't happen again. (…) We are trying to bring some different things”, said Patricio.
In recent years, Bellator has debuted in countries around the world, such as Italy and Israel, for example. Asked if he had hopes of the organization landing in Brazil, Pitbull showed optimism, and revealed that there were already rumors that the franchise would debut on Brazilian soil.
“There has been a buzz for a long time that Bellator will come to Brazil or Latin America, and we are always in anticipation. The Bellator organization was recently changed, and everything has improved. They target a market when they are sure it will work. I've heard, again, that they intend to come to Brazil, but no one can say for sure whether it will work or not, but I believe they will come next year (2018)”, stated Pitbull.
Pitbull will try to regain the Bellator belt this Friday (Photo: Dave MandelSherdog)
Check out the full interview:
Super Fights: What is it like to face Daniel Straus for the fourth time, a rare event between two high-level athletes?
Patrick Pitbull: Straus is a very tough fighter, I have always faced him in decisive situations in the category. The first time was in 2011, in the GP final, then I faced him in a belt defense (in 2015), and I won the first two, but lost in the third fight on points, which was also another title defense. Our next fight will separate who is the best in the category. It's always a war to fight against him. We are the two best in the division, so we will always be facing each other. Let's see who is the best.
SL: Is there anything new in your game that you haven't shown in previous fights against Straus or any gaps in your game that you've seen and haven't been able to take advantage of in past opportunities?
PP: There is a very big strategic plan around this fight, he is a well-known opponent. There were some of my mistakes that he knew how to take advantage of, and vice versa, he made a mistake and I took advantage of it. We are training so that this doesn't happen again. (…) We are trying to bring some different things.
SL: You fight in the featherweight division (up to 66kg). How much do you weigh Off, outside the competition period? Do you have problems with cutting weight?
PP: I had more (problems) in the past, before I weighed 86kg, but over time I saw that there wasn't much advantage in staying at that weight. When I became (Bellator) champion for the first time, I set a goal that I wouldn't go over 74kg, so today I'm at that weight, I can make a more relaxed descent to 66kg.
SL: Do you think about changing categories in the future? If so, would it be moving up to lightweight or down to bantamweight?
PP: At the time I started wanting to fight MMA, in 2003, at 16 years old, it was still Vale Tudo, seeing Royce (Gracie) fighting. I started jiu-jitsu in 1998, and at that time I saw that there was no weight division, no category, no one was worried about the rules. And I'm old school, I started back then and I'm still here today, for me I'll fight anyone, there's no weight division for me. But depending on the proposal, I can go down or up (category). I like challenges, whatever there is, I'm facing it.
SL: Bellator has been holding events in several different countries, such as Italy and Israel. Do you see any possibility of the organization landing in Brazil?
PP: There has been a buzz for a long time that Bellator will come to Brazil or Latin America, and we are always looking forward to it. The Bellator organization was recently changed, and everything has improved. They target a market when they are sure it will work. I've heard, again, that they intend to come to Brazil, but no one can say for sure whether it will work or not, but I believe they will come next year (2018).
SL: How is the relationship between Scott Coker, president of Bellator, and the organization's athletes?
PP: He is a gentleman (gentleman), we even talk about training. He's a very good guy, simple and objective. When he wants something, he does it. He doesn't have much to hide, he's that guy that everyone sees, who makes things happen. I have a lot of space with him.
SL: Is there a greater difficulty for you, Bellator fighters, to get sponsorships?
PP: Not at all (there is difficulty). In reality, it is our region within Brazil (which makes it difficult). We are in the Northeast, if it is already difficult in the South of the country, imagine in the Northeast, which does not have large media outlets. This is our biggest difficulty, but we have achieved something, yes.
SL: How do you analyze this stampede of former UFC athletes who are migrating to other organizations?
PP: This migration is good, it shows that the sport cannot be monopolized by any company, there has to be diversity of organizations, as this will benefit the fighters. It will add a lot (to the sport).
SL: And if it were the other way around, if you received an offer from the UFC, would this exchange be advantageous for you?
PP: I'm doing very well in the organization, we've improved a lot on what was difficult in our contract. We don't know tomorrow, I'm a sports employee. The day the situation gets bad for me somewhere, I'll go somewhere else. But now my moment is with Bellator and we will continue in this partnership together.
SL: Leave a message for the people who will watch your next fight.
PP: Guys who like MMA, they probably like to see a violent fight, watch it on April 21st, I'm going to fight for the fourth time against Daniel Straus, winning the world title (featherweight) and we're going to bring that title to Brazil.
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