It is only fitting that Bellator 297, the biggest event of the year for Bellator, has a match featuring one of the most decorated fighters since its inception. Patricio Freire flirts with history on June 17 as he faces Sergio Pettis for the Bellator bantamweight title.
Freire, the current Bellator featherweight and former lightweight champion, competes in the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The bout will act as the co-main event under Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nekov vs. Yoel Romero, but this is anything but an afterthought.
The fight and main card will air on Showtime in the U.S.
Why exactly is this fight important? “Pitbull,” 35, has the chance to become the first MMA fighter in a major promotion to win a title in three divisions.
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There have been multiple two-division champions in MMA, and boxers move up and down in various weight classes, with Manny Pacquiao holding the record by winning gold in eight. However, Freire can enter a league of his own.
If he wins, an attempt at a fourth title is also on the table.
“I don’t like to be comfortable. I always like to move forward, to embrace challenges," Freire said. "I don’t think about [my legacy and the history I stand to make]. I’m not worried about what people are going to say about me, I have a fighter that is very good and technical in front of me in Sergio Pettis. My main focus is to become the 135-pound champion, and then we’ll see where to go from there.”
Sharing one bedroom with seven+ siblings in Brazil as a child, Freire would eventually train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He turned pro in 2004 and joined Bellator in 2010. Freire is 22-5 with the promotion (Bellator-RIZIN collaborations aren't counted here) and holds numerous records, including:
- Most wins (22)
- Most fights (27)
- Most title fights (15)
- Tied for most finishes (13)
- The first fighter to have four separate championship reigns
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Freire has held the featherweight title twice and the lightweight title once. The current featherweight champion has beaten the likes of Daniel Straus, Henry Corrales, Emmanuel Sanchez, Michael Chandler, Juan Archuleta, and A.J. McKee. What he lacks in height (5'6''), Freire makes up in skill, with 11 wins via knockout and 12 via submission.
He doesn’t do it for the money. There are plenty of pound-for-pound lists in MMA, with several UFC fighters within them. Amanda Nunes, another two-division champion ranked number one in the women's rankings, just retired. She was considered as good as some male fighters, no questions asked. However, debates arise when asked where someone like Freire fits in.
Then there’s “greatest of all time” status. MMA has seen those like Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva come and go. Freire believes by beating Pettis, there will be no more debates about who the greatest MMA fighter is.
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“There are a lot of GOATs in this game, but no one has three titles,” said Freire. “That is the difference… I never like to talk or think about who’s the best; I think that’s for other people to do. My focus is accomplishing a mission. Let others decide. Let them look at the numbers, let them look for the facts. They can decide for themselves. But the facts are the facts.”
All eyes will be on Freire as he attempts to do what some have thought is impossible. Can he complete his mission on the biggest stage of them all? Where will he rank all-time with a win?