Patricio Freire welcomes super fights with UFC champions

Patricio Freire joined the shortlist of double champions in a major MMA organization last weekend when he knocked out Michael Chandler in the first round of the main event of Bellator 221 to win the promotion’s lightweight title. “Pitbull” was already the Bellator featherweight champion, making him the promotion’s second current dual champion alongside Ryan Bader, who is the Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion.

But Pitbull doesn’t just have his sights set on the titles Bellator has to offer. Now, he wants to go after the UFC’s champions as well.

Speaking to BloodyElbow.com, Pitbull admitted he is happy with his current position in Bellator, but that he would welcome a superfight against a current UFC champion:

“I’m very comfortable in Bellator,” he said. “It would be interesting to have superfight between a Bellator champion and an UFC champion. I wouldn’t have to necessarily migrate to the UFC. We could just have one duel. When it comes to the best fighters in the UFC, I think I’m better than all of them.”

Imagine Pitbull going against the top lightweights in the UFC like champion Khabib Nurmagomedov or interim champ Dustin Poirier? Or Pitbull against the featherweight champ Max Holloway? These would be incredible fights for the fans, and for the fighters, they would likely provide huge paydays.

That being said, even though the fans would love these super fights, the UFC and Bellator are unlikely to have a cross-promotion fight anytime soon due to the nature of the MMA business. But a fan can dream, and the prospect of a future superfight between a UFC and Bellator champion to determine the best fighter in the world is something that is very exciting to think about.

For now, though, Patricio Freire will have to decide what he wants to do next: either defend the Bellator lightweight or featherweight title in his next outing.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/16/2019.